Travel preparation – The long and short of it. Mongrel boots.

(This Postcard was written 48 hours before commencing October 2023 Indonesian adventure. I was pondering travel preparations, the 40 yearlong planning cycle that found me arriving where I am today, and off course the new experiences ahead.)

Travel preparation captures many issues. Finance, how do I pay for it. Time scale, long term thinking, yes that’s very boring, but it’s also a superpower. Achieving most things in life requires planning over time. Excitement, really important to embrace the passion and excitement of travel adventure, the thrill of experiencing new things. History, many people travel to Indonesia and know nothing of its history, I’m fine with that. Indonesia offers unique adventures, and a travel budget to suit everyone. But I believe knowing something of the history of a travel destination, adds immeasurably to the experience.

Kenalkan, saya nama Peter. Siapa nama Anda? (Let me Introduce myself, my name is Peter. What’s your name?)

Well, that’s me!

Travel preparation and language.

Ok not time for Bahasa Indonesian but soon. For in less than 48 hours I’m in the air to Indonesia for October. Learning something of the language of the countries you visit is recommended but not critical travel preparation. I taught myself Bahasa Indonesian starting from age 40. I’m far from fluent, and it’s not the easiest language to maintain in Australia. Contemporary Australia is indeed multicultural, most of the Planet’s cultures and languages are represented. But, unless you reside in a major metropolis, English is generally all most people speak. What other critical travel preparations require consideration?

Foundations of travel preparation.

Footwear and luggage are fundamental travel preparation considerations. I favour Australian made ‘Mongrel’ work boots. The Aussie boot is tough, durable, traditionally made, yet includes contemporary technology to ensure foot support and comfort. They are also exceptionally economical, when a long-life cycle is taken into account. Experienced military and construction professionals, careers involving long hours on your feet, know well, look after your feet and the body and mind will follow. What about luggage.

I favour bag packs, a small one and a larger one. As my travel companion, my wife Lizzie, opts only for a suitcase, well back packs give me free hands to add to my gentleman credit and man handle that suitcase downstairs and over common obstacle. The small pack is versatile. Well packed as carry on, it captures 7.5 Kilograms, as well as essentials for flying: food, water, electronics, notebook and reading material. It also becomes an everyday hauler when the adventure commences. With 7.5 Kg captured, my large back for a month will come in at around 13 kilograms (easy all-day haul if necessary), well excluding spill over from that bloody suitcase!

I currently use US Designed 5.11 backpacks. Durability, comfort, and storage design are my primary travel preparation considerations in selecting luggage. The 5.11 ticks those boxes. Constructed of 100% nylon, a little more expensive, but much superior to the common use of polyester. Wide, well padded, and adjustable shoulder harness and hip belt, bring excellent comfort, especially for the ‘well-built mature’ person. The storage design in the smaller 5.11’s is excellent. I find them perfect day travelling packs, good security zones, hidden areas, and plenty of smaller compartments for essentials.

Travel preparations over a lifetime.

Since my trip to Singapore this time last year, well I’ve been busy. Yes, I’m reaching the end of my third year of retirement, but that does not mean life stops. I’ve been busy, renovating an old Aussie farmhouse, reading, trying to learn how to write, and squeezing in some running and gym work. I’m 61 in two weeks, it’s important, increasingly so, to try to keep the old corpse in some condition.

Getting to now has taken some planning. Forty-one years of planning. At age 20, three years into my architectural apprenticeship, my work environment inspired the itching desire to retire early in good condition financially and health wise. Three years’ work had introduced me to many ‘mature’ people, who were worn out physically and financially broke. I knew that’s not for me.

A crash course in handling money, practice, patience, a whole lot of years, enduring four international financial downturns, I slowly gained knowledge. All that combined with Australia’s tax effective superannuation system: Well, I made it in the end. My travel preparation was effective. Not to say there were not a few false starts, dead ends, new beginnings, and plenty of tears along that way. Key learnings? Focus, clear understanding of the end state desired, some luck, resilience, determination, and a big swag of discipline. Now it’s time for some fun!

Anticipation rising with the Phoenix Hotel.

Ok, so I’m not backpacking. Been there, got the ‘T shirt’. In my time in harness for my Queen, I lived plenty out of a backpack. However, Indonesia offers delights for backpackers. Accommodation with breakfast is available under $20 AUD. Such accommodation varies from a beachside bungalow to shared dormitory style in a major city. This trip however I’m travelling 5-star all the way. Well similar, the 5-star western system is not generally used in Indonesia, outside the major cities like Jakarta. I’ve booked some interesting hotels. To place some financial context around my choice, my maximum expenditure per night with breakfast $140 AUD.

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta started life in the 1890’s the home of a Chinese spice entrepreneur. In the European Art Deco style, infused with Javanese architectural aesthetics. It is an inspiring example of Indonesian-Dutch architecture, known as Indische. European colonization of Asian and African countries rightfully gets a bad rap today. But, if you look hard enough, you can see evidence of the results possible when cultures merge and inspire each other. Due to its great historical significance, in 1996 the Indonesian Government, designated the Phoenix Hotel a national historical landmark.

The original owner’s fortunes crashed with the stock market in the 1930’s. Perhaps he should have realised all good things end. On life’s journey we encounter waypoints, whispers that it’s time to change course, to get out, to renew. That’s my view, the trick is too really listen to those voices, and to act.

Damn! I built it now you’ve knicked it:

A new owner transformed the house into a hotel. Such a splendid place that in the 1940’s the Japanese Imperial Army said, “We’ll have that thanks”, and they did. Japan off course was tossed out, however the Dutch wanted their empire back. All the Europeans wanted their Asian empires back. Ironic given the blood and treasury expended destroying Japanese empire building. Indonesia descended into a war of liberation, achieving independence on 17 August 1945.

The Phoenix rose from the ashes in 1951 becoming another fine hotel. So fine that the Indonesia’s first, President Sukarno said, “I’ll have that thanks”, and made it his home. In 2009 the Phoenix Hotel, as it now is, emerged.

Travel preparation budget – Indonesia can be ‘Murak sekali’. (very cheap)

So, I’m extremely excited about exploring such a fine restored example of Indonesian architecture. You may think I’ve sold mum’s silver service to fund this trip? Well, this is part of the attraction of getting off the main Indonesian tourist beat, it’s very economical. A night in the Phoenix, including a ‘Rijsttafel’ breakfast (think smorgasbord), costs less than an average motel in Wagga Wagga, Australia. No offence to Wagga Wagga, it’s a typical rural Aussie Town, but it can’t make spicey Nasi with a side order of sambal. Actually, I was born in Wagga!

Currently the Aussie Dollar has been in free fall. Quite a concern for an Aussie time travelling adventurer, blame the Chinese economy. What? Well despite many warnings, all my homeland sells internationally is iron ore and invites to come Down Under and “Toss a shrimp on the Barbie”. What a horrible travel slogan. Australians don’t use the word shrimp. So, the Chinese don’t want any more iron ore, and have plenty of shrimp at home, thank you very much!

So what else am I up to?

Yogyakarta, Indonesia adventures – Spiritualism and eating!

Borobudur – World’s Largest Buddhist Temple

Yogyakarta has many fine historical examples of Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist architecture. Some date back to the 10th and 13th Century, collectively they illustrate the complex history of contemporary Indonesia. I’m an infidel myself, but very much interested in all traditional faiths. So, I will indeed be spending time exploring this history. (PS: Actually, I had a human spiritual experience at Borobudur. My story available by clicking this link.)

Then there is eating?

Growing up a 1960’s child in Australia, well let’s say the food was very ho hum. The basic British meat and three vegetable style. Fortunately, in consequence of immigration, and that my Country generally embraces multiculturalism, international food styles are now commonplace. But there is nothing common place about Yogyakarta food, especially the everyday street food.

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I’m extremely excited about my journey. Hopefully, I can squeeze in some writing around developing my spiritualism and savouring some ‘Nasi Gudeg Ayam Paja Atsa’. Although I have truly little idea what that is.

Life is a journey of exploration, it should be fun, it requires planning and defined objectives. Also, a willingness to embrace change. Oh, and a dose of luck and good fortune, for my share of such things I am incredibly grateful.

Selamat tinggal.