Bus adventures

Photo 1: The inside of a city bus
Photo 2: Merapi finally showing itself
The last week has been a little bit mucky with at least 7 ACICIS students (including myself) coming down with various stomach bugs and fatigue. Thankfully the worst of my bug got itself over and done with in about 6 hours. Not much to complain about really, considering one guy is in hospital with dengue fever!
In other news, I have finally braved the Yogyakartan bus system. I still have absolutely no idea where the buses actually go, but I know which one to get on to get to uni, and which ones to get to Malioboro (though im not sure where it leaves from exactly...) Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be anywhere where all the routes are written down, so I think I'll just have to rely on word of mouth plus trial and error. The buses dont opperate to a timetable - you just have to wait on the side of the road until you see the bus that you want. When it comes by you just flag it down and jump on as it slows down. Im still not sure exactly what the deal is with the bus fare - no one asks for a exact amount, you just seem to have to guess. It seems that Rp2000 for a shortish journey is ok. When its time to get off you just have to stand up and hope that they slow down and move over enough that you dont have to jump into a second lane of traffic! Or else just yell at the driver to stop. Most of the buses here are of questionable roadworthiness. I alway try to tread lightly so that I dont put a foot through the rusy floor, and to avoid the windows (often with no glass) so if we stop suddenly I wont be thrown from the bus. Luckily as a general rule the intercity buses don't manage to get up enough speed to threathen their structural integrity.
Over the last couple of weeks I, along with a group of other ACICIS students have been involved/tagging along with an international symposium that is being organised by a student committee at UGM. The symposium will happen next wednesday and aims to strengthen Australian-Indonesian youth relations. It has been interesting to see how a committee of this type opperates over here - not nearly as organised or on top of things as they could have been! But I wont pass judgement until I see how the even turns out next week. Last night we had a dinner at the ACICIS house to have group disscussions about the ideas and potential of the symposium. Part of this included a food cultural exchange, so we feasted on hotdogs with tomato sauce and onions, fairy bread, SALAD, lamingtons and imported Australian bree and rice crackers (thank you Carrefour!). As pathetic as it sounds to get so excited about food, it was such a brilliant change from what I've been eating as of late.