Malang and a Breath of Fresh Air

It rains a lot in Malang. Usually at least once, but often at least three times. Today disembarking from the aeroplane after my flight back from Jakarta, there was a moment where I was stuck halfway down one of those portable staircases they use, when the airport (or flight) isn't big enough to justify one of those strange, accordion-like hallways. I'd been in a delightful passive aggressive mood all day, and was enjoying counteracting the pushy man behind me (who'd also been the pushy man sitting next to me) by taking up a lot of space and time moving along out of the plane. It was raining outside, and the line along the staircase was moving slowly down beneath the cover to the tarmac. It was one of those curiously ingenious but inefficient Indonesian moments; each person, once they were clear of the staircase, was handed a large silver umbrella to walk with to the tiny Malang terminal. It was very whimsical watching all these little silver mushrooms disappear off into the distance, and I nearly laughed aloud when one poor young lady had her umbrella collapse uncooperatively on her head. I was very disappointed when the umbrella distributor ran out of stock and I had to catch the bus. I had quite looked forward to joining the mushroom collective.

Although I've had a few secret laughs today, Malang isn't always an easy place to live. Or a particularly interesting place to live. It's strange that today I feel revitalised after a trip to Jakarta to visit my dad. A place I've only visited in memories these last 15 years - still full of the same old pollution and traffic jams. Malang seems to wear me down a little, physically and psychologically. I'd had a rough couple of weeks where everything that could have gone wrong did. Problems with immigration when all I wanted to do was visit my dad in KL, my flight being cancelled (to visit my dad in Jakarta) and a plethora of other issues...they wear a person out. After seeing my dad, and doing a couple of things that I haven't done for a long time...read a novel, swim some laps...I feel much better. I've also seem to regained my joy in all things passive aggressive. Just over a month left here in Malang, and I feel like I can do it.

Thanks for tuning in. :)