Most of us are familiar with the odd Road Safety Campaign that graces our newspapers and telvisions now and then.
You know, the ones about slowing down so you can be there for your family at the end of the day, or possibly encouraging you to trade in your dodgy rustbucket in exchange for something more safe.
These Road Safety Campaigns are usually commissioned by our governments and they hire an expensive advertising agency to come up with commercials and advertisements that are aimed to scare the pants off us.
But I found a very simple, yet effective way to promote Road Safety with a new kind of Road Safety Campaign.
Check out this display I spotted on the way to Muara Takus Buddhist Temple on the way from Pekanbaru, in central Sumatra, Indonesia.
Yes, it’s a car wreck from an actual car accident, on display outside of a police station.
The rough translation into English means:
‘Who want’s to join me? Death is always around you. So be careful when driving. Just let me be the victim. Obey the traffic rules’.
A Road Safety Campaign like this this would be politically incorrect in most Western countries, but this powerful scene grabbed my attention like rabid dog wanting to chew off part of my hand.
Somehow, I’m not sure if the drivers involved were following the Road Rules.
I've been back home in Brisbane for the last few days thinking about the awesome trip to Indonesia I have just experienced.
The 4 week trip felt like it lasted for 4 days! I had such a blast, and I'll never forget it!
I was amazed at the variety of experiences I had on this trip. Each place was just so different in character, feel, and food!
When I originally thought of this trip idea, I wanted to experience the real Indonesia – not the tourist one.
The only way to do this is to stay with the locals and have them show you their world. That’s exactly what I received – and so much more.
I was shown the very best of Indonesia. And I saw the very best of the Indonesian people.
So to all of Indonesia – Thanks so much for everything.
Unfortunately, Indonesia does receive some bad press, but the hard reality is that 99.9999999% of their people are extremely wonderful, hospitable and caring human beings, and I have definitely been grateful to receive this hospitality.
My job was to show all the good in Indonesia, and I think I've accomplished that!
Thanks to the local blogging communities, there were so many things that I experienced that would have been almost impossible as a solo traveller.
These are experiences that money cannot buy. I am so grateful that I was able to be part of your lives. I consider myself very lucky.
And I think I’ve made a few more friends in Indonesia!
Thanks so much again, and I hope to see you again soon!
I would also like to thank Air Asia for their support for flying me to and from Australia. Hope to to this again sometime!
For other bloggers out there in cyberspace, the websites of each Blogging Community I visited are listed below.
Drop an email and say hello – I'm sure the Indonesian bloggers will be happy to hear from you, and follow each other on Twitter. They're a friendly bunch and love to have a good time.
Muara Takus Buddhist Temple is located a couple of hours drive away from Pekanbaru, in the Riau region of central Sumatra.
This place is located smack bang on the Equator, in the dead centre of Sumatra.
Muara Takus is not mentioned in the guidebook that I’m using. And that would be a fair indicator of why I was the only non-Indonesian there on the day I visited.
The only way I know about this place is via the local Bertuah Blogging Community which is based in Pekanbaru, in central Sumatra.
They told me about this magnificent place and wanted to show me this part of the world, and I’m glad they did.
If you were trying to get here as an independent traveller, it’s a bit difficult. You have to take the road from Pekanbaru to Padang, be dropped off on the side of the road at the turn-off (which is not easy to spot), and then maybe ask a local for a motorbike ride to Muara Takus.
Muara Takus is thought to be constructed by the Sriwijaya Empire about 800-900 years ago. This empire built tonnes of temples throughout Indonesia, of which many are probably undiscovered.
I visited another of the Sriwijaya Empire temples near Jambi called Muara Jambi which is a spectacular work in progress – watch out for this post in a few days.
One member of the Bertuah Blogging Community, Syahruh, grew up around this area. He is so passionate about this place, that he wants more people to come and visit.
So the least I could do was create a post about Muara Takus!
You can see more about the Riau region at the Riau Tourism website. One of the Bertuah Bloggers talks about the Riau Region on his website (in Indonesian).
Air Asia has many flights to Indonesia from other Asian cities, and also Australia. Check out their website for a flight somewhere different!
Pekanbaru, Indonesia - is in central Sumatra, Indonesia.
It’s best known as a centre for the oil production industry in Indonesia.
However, I’ve spent the last couple of days here enjoying the hospitality of one of the local blogger’s family, and meeting with the local Blogging Community here.
Here is a photo of them:
Firstly, from the top left, there is Taufik. He works in the public service and is the chairman for the local blogging community in Pekanbaru, called Bertuah.
He has been showing me around the place, including the Muara Takus Buddhist temple which I will write about later. He’s also introduced me to the unexpected joys of Teh Telur, or Tea With Egg.
Then there is his wife Poppy, who works part time as an English teacher whilst juggling the demands of being a mother as well.
Taufik and Poppy have two kids – Askan, who is 8 (pictured), and Aurel who is 5 months old (who was sleeping at the time of this photo).
They live together with Poppy’s parents’, Anwar and Puti, or Atuk and Nenek for Grandpa and Grandma, and Poppy’s brother.
This kind of scenario is common in Indonesia. While we might call this situation an ‘extended family’ in the Western World, these guys call themselves just ‘family’.
Taufik calls his in-laws his father, mother and brother.
There is no word called ‘in-law’ attached.
Family is an essential focus of daily life here.
Askan is now my new best friend. He likes to play with me and practice his very good English as well. He was really upset about me leaving, but I’m sure I’ll see him again somewhere!
Whilst family is a major focus, the greater good is also in the forefront of people’s minds.
It’s been an interesting few days since the tragic events of the Padang Earthquake in West Sumatra.
Even though people here are poor themselves, that does not stop them from giving money to street collectors raising funds for the Padang Earthquake relief effort.
These street collectors are located all over Sumatra at the moment, and people are sparing what they can to help out the effort.
They also know that Australia (and other countries) are helping out with the relief effort, and I have received many comments of appreciation that my country is helping out.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the great hospitality shown to me from everyone, and I will never forget it!
It’s been a fascinating insight into the Indonesian way of life, and frankly, people around the world do want the same things.
They want food, shelter, have fun, and to be with their family and friends.
We just do these things in different ways.
There are more posts coming about Pekanbaru, so stay tuned!
Air Asia has helped me get to Indonesia to experience this fantastic trip. Check out their website for their airfares all over the place!
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