Thursday, 30Nov06

Highlights: internet & travel to Jambi

Sandjaja hotel turned my experience in Palembang around. It started out rough, and I was ready to leave after the first day. I had a great time talking with the staff at the hotel, and found a couple hours of wireless internet access! How about that!

With a phone call, I arranged a $10 ride to Jambi, capital city of the Northern Province by the same name. It was a 7 hour ride, leaving at 3pm.
I’ll say this about the drivers at Top Travel; they are not smooth by any stretch of the imagination. I’m happy enough that he didn’t cause accidents along the way. He seemed fond of jerking the steering wheel around, and employed the gas pedal as if there was a roach in the front of the car he was trying to stomp on. The roads were anything but even or smooth, so I’m sure we were dodging potholes & other road damage- we also spent a considerable amount of time dodging in & out of trucks, trying to sneak through on the wrong side of the road.
Jarring ride.

I saw a lot of traditional Gudang homes in the Palembang countryside though. Wood is definitely the most common housing material here.