Leaving on a jet plane

Not much has really happened since my last post, until Sunday evening. Lenna invited me back over to the Rahmania Foundation office to meet Pak Rahman, the head of the foundation. He is a hilarious older man who has much insight about Islam, and just life in general, and the three of us sat drinking tea and eating potatoes (random- they were honestly just baked potatoes that are eaten plain, but they peel off the skin first) for three hours. Lenna and Pak have truly been amazing, and I can already tell that if it weren't for them, I would still be amiss in this crazy city. More to come on their help in a bit...




I am leaving Jakarta tomorrow to head to the northern most point of the island of Sumatra, a city called Banda Aceh. This area is best known for two things: the tsunami and islamic law. Naturally, my interest in visiting this area is due to the latter. I have been anticipating this part of my trip with much excitement, but mostly with great caution- for many reasons. As most of you know, I am really good at putting things off until last minute... and fortunately enough for me, I live with the belief that everything works out in the end. Well, I planned to book this flight months ago and after several failed attemps (too expensive, stupid websites, etc..) I figured I'd just try and book something once I was here. Somehow I was able to wander into a travel agency and book a roundtrip with less than a week's notice for a price less than half of what was originally expected. score. So now that I actually have a flight, it's time to actually focus on the destination. I have been somewhat nervous about going there because they rule under Shari'a Law, meaning that all women must be covered (except for hands and face), no alcohol may be consumed, and other laws regarding curfews and mixed company are strictly enforced. Now when I say strictly enforced, I mean by Morality Police. I have ready many different things regarding if these rules apply to non-Muslims or tourists, but I plan on abiding by them to avoid any conflict.


When I showed up to the RF to meet Pak, he was very excited to hear that I was heading to Aceh because that is where he is from. Within minutes he was on the phone, planning to find somewhere for me to stay (I was just going to find a hostel or couchsurf somewhere, last minute planning again haha) and even had Lenna on another phone. Unfortunately they were speaking bahasa Indonesia so I had no idea what they were saying but they insisted they would find me somewhere to stay that wasn't a hotel so I could actually meet people. On another note, Lenna has been trying to convince me to get a cell phone so we can contact eachother more easily. Long story short, at the end of the night she gave me her phone (she is going to use one of the three that Pak has), took me to buy a SIMcard, and had her driver and Pak take me all the way to the other side of Jakarta to my hostel. Talk about hospitality! Then, a few hours later Pak called to say he apparently secured me a place to stay with the ex-President of some Islamic University in Banda Aceh.


Long story short, I walked away (or got driven, rather) from a simple afternoon meeting with ample Islamic readings and hijab fashion magazines, delicious tea and food, lovely conversation, a cell phone, a place to stay, and crazy connections. I can't even begin to thank the two of them for their generosity. Needless to say, I am now much more at ease with my next adventure that I am about to embark on.


As a heads up, I have NO IDEA how good my internet access will be in Aceh... I'll do my best to keep everyone posted!


Love,
Liza


Comical side note- Pak gave me his theory on gay people.  He said that when women dress very provacatively they become unattractive because they leave nothing to the imagination, and therefore men no longer desire them... so, they become gay.  haha, gotta love that logic.