i photograph, therefore i am

Journals entries from Yogyukarta

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I slept at about 2am after packing 70% of my bag for the trip to Yogyukarta. The flight was to be at 1240pm today. Woke up at bout 730 to go shop for a few more stuff with mum and ate a light breakfast with her as well. We parted ways after that and I went on home to continue packing. Joe called. Flight delayed to 1540. Laze around somemore until bout lunch time. Went to pass the GV voucher which would expire today to sz. Body feels like on the brink of falling ill. Kept praying for good health. Had a great time trying to figure out the all so many keys to so little locks and time was running short; I’m late! Found it, dressed up and left home. Flight delayed again to 1615. Flight delayed again. Started boarding at 5pm. Reach Jakarta at 630pm. Came out and couldn’t find the person who is suppose to pass us the tickets for the domestic flight to Yogyukarta. Waited, made a few calls and finally he showed up. Our flight is suppose to be at 7pm (Indonesia time; Singapore time is 8pm) so we rushed to the airport (it’s not together strangely). Managed to get on Lion Air and sat right at the back of the small squeezy plane. Rough landing. It bounced quite hard on initial impact. I felt like I was super Mario for a moment. Met a pastor from medan church and he helped us so much!
Ate KFC at the airport and then head to the hotel. HOTEL! Goodness, I was prepped for living in the field. Even brought rations and all. Situation turns out that it’s not as bad as it seems. The city is fine just that the rural areas are quite badly hit (I heard). Settled in and rested.

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Everyone met at 7 at the lobby. Took a group picture and off we go to the medical centre. Stayed at the medical for a little while, prayed and started off our day. Three of us, Leonard, joe and me, followed the mobile clinic to the villages. At the same time, we are also tasked to locate the SAF field hospital or any other local ngos around the area. We took a long while to find the SAF camp. At least I got in touch with my friends from PAFF! Thank God for that. Although it seems jethro’s being a little weird, but it’s ok. Doesn’t matter. Went into the village to see patients. Pockets of fallen houses and tents everywhere because everyone’s afraid of being killed by their shelter if the earthquake strikes again. I forgot how hot Indonesia is. Went back to shower and proceeded for dinner. Pretty much like lunch although I preferred lunch’s meal. The internet place we went to is so so so slow in connection and expensive comparing with the one wai chin went to. 7000 for one hr. I couldn’t wait to leave that place til I forgot that I left my mp3 player there. But thanks be to God. When I went back to take it, it’s still there. It seems like no one saw it! Praise God. Decide to bless the mp3 to the Indonesia workers here. Although I don’t know who exactly to give it to. Holy spirit, guide me please! Time to sleep now. Tiring day. Goodness. Tomorrow would be a better day! Thank you Jesus for everything that you have done in my life!

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Today, I took the chance to head out with the mobile clinic; a family car then drives into the remote villages in the mountain top. I’m the closest to the temperamental mountain puking it’s guts out. 1 hour drives is all that separates us. Anyway, we are safe because the lava can’t flow upwards to the mountain I’m at. Thank God for gravity. Took pictures, saw the doctors in action, feel like I’m back to bmt cause my bag now weighs like my field pack because of my lap top, weather’s hot still, no cold water to drink, back to looking for pictures to take, pack up, load up, sleep in the car, wake up, take pictures while car is moving, sleep again, unload from car, look around, click some shutter, load back up cause it’s the wrong place, back to taking pictures in the car, sleep, lunch at 3pm and it’s back to base. Tonight we ain’t sleeping in the comfortable air-conditioned soft king size bed with hot shower room. We are logging at the HQ of the medical team, where all the supplies are stored. It’s like a 3 storey semi-D kinda house. The rooms are quite small and hot! Oh, how the morale of the pampered Singaporeans dropped. We suggested among ourselves that since tomorrow night is the last night, we would rather pay to stay back at the hotel. Dinner and the internet place today is so so so so much faster, cooler and nicer than yesterday! Praise God! After that, it’s back to base. My friend and I talked so loud that the doctors who were having a meeting outside had to come me and tell us to quiet down. Wahaha. The joke of the day from my friend. No wonder the houses in that place so easily collapse. The wall are so thin. Silent laughter. Talk until I fall asleep. I have always wondered how a tremor feels like. I would be died if Singapore have earthquake. Why? I slept through one tremor in Indonesia tonight. I only waked because of a scream outside the room I’m at. And I miss to experience the tremor again! ARGH!!!

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Today, I stayed at the medical post to take pictures. When patients not as much, I went for a walk nearby, to take pictures as well. So walk walk walk.. then head back to medical post. Take pictures. Go out with a car to village. Click click click. Head back to medical post. Wait for transport to head back to hotel. Bathed, burned CD of photos for them, treat the whole team for dinner and went to shop around before we leave. I forgot to mention that I met this chap who is the same age as me. We talked and he really is a nice chap to talk to. Learn a lot from him although we tried to understand what we trying to tell each other. Language is such a barrier.

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We are super super duper early. Someone mistakes the flight time 1hr before. So we’ve got 3hrs to spend in the boring airport. Oh well, time passes and I’m in Jarkarta. Ate A&W, deposited our bags and left for a shopping mall. Well, it’s either that or rot in the airport til 1740, and the time is now 1330. Haha.. A lot of road toll man! And the shopping centre is a whopping 40-50mins drive! Then walk here and there, back to Singapore! Home sweet home! Lalalala… Humph. Felt bit weird though. Not used to the comfort that I’ve been deprived for a few days. Heh. Anyhow, I’m glad I’m back. And I can’t wait to head out again to some where else!

posted by Alvin Lim @ 2:26 PM