"Always fascinated with people who can realize their dreams, and the fact that they're doing it with all of their limitations. It's like another slap in the face for us for never realize how lucky we are" (Aisy '10)
Yesterday (1/7) I've meet Yunara and Rahma; they were husband and wife from Bandung. They are traveling ('journey') around Indonesia using bicycle. I just amazed about them, and the one makes me more (and more) amazed that they do it with all their limitations. They have earring problem, or Indonesia people says that as "Tuna Runggu". Actually they were arrived at Palembang on June 29th, and stay at one Bike2Work Palembang member ('Amran'). But because my office activities, it's impossible for me to visit them at Amran House.
First of July and the first thing I do are goes to nearest ATM for checking my credit balance. After a couple Kilos cycling, and I find out that I haven't receive my monthly payment **sniff**. Oh wait, why I becoming so out of issue like this? Back to main issue Please **smile**
After morning bath and a small breakfast, I go to Amran House. Cycling as fast as I could, my overwhelming happiness makes me cycling faster and faster.
left-right: Yunara-Rahma- Dendy-Yeppy
Finally I meet the greatest couple on my life, it's like a dream come true. I read about them at local newspaper at 2009, and in that time I wish if I could meet them. Meet and greet for a little time, after that must takes them to Kantor Dinas Pendidikan dan Olahraga ('KADISPORA'). I accompanied with Dendi, Yeppy and Agus takes Yunara and Rahma Cycling to KADISPORA. Yunara and Rahma need to go to KADISPORA, because they need to makes a Legal Letter for the province government. The Letter will be a proof that they already visit the province. And soon I find out that they always make a visit to KADISPORA, major, and governor office of the provinces they visited. An Idea that I never thing about, when I'm doing travel with my Motorcycle, ask a legal letter from the provinces I'd visited.
click to enlarge
At KADISPORA, I'm also finding out that them already cycling over Java, Bali, NTB, NTT, Maluku, West Papua, Sulawesi, and Papua—Sumatera will be the last island. After Palembang they will visit BangkaBelitung at Monday, because at Sunday (4/7) we ask them to joint the fun bike at Palembang.
Yunara Rahma with DISPORA South Sumatera
leftright: Chief ogf KONI - Yunara - Rahma - Chief DISPORA
"Until two days ago, I'm still thinking that my journey that I've been trough was the hardest journey ever. But after see those couple, and hear they stories. It makes me so little and my journeys was nothing? Thumbs up, for their willingness and their braveness. Traveling using motorcycle even a fancy big bore motorcycle was nothing compared to traveling using Bicycle."
I never had any live conversation with person with earring problem before. So at the first time, I'm typing the word at my hand phone and show it to either Yunara or Rahma. Both of them are good on reading or lip movement, but the conversation must face to face with them. At KADISPORA, we have a communication issue, because there is no interpreter available. So to communicate between the KADISPORA chief and officer, we use a paper and pen. And also the same with interview process with the local newspaper journalist.
written communication
At KADISPORA, I read some of they resume. Rahma was athletic athlete, and winning 8 gold medals on national championship between years 1996 to 2008.
What makes me so envious to Yunara and Rahma? Are about that they already finished travel around Indonesia? No, I so envy to they strong will, and don't know if I have the same strong will. They, with their limitation and they simple idea—search a better Job (that's the first reason for them to start the journey) and announcing bicycle habit. Hey just Kidding at the 'envy' stuff, I salute them and hand up for Yunara and Rahma.
After the informal meeting, we decide to ride our bicycle around Palembang. Visit to Palembang famous heritage, the AMPERA Bridge—and Musi River also. A heavy rain struck after we make some documentation with the AMPERA Bridge as the background. Rahma don't want to wait until the rain stop, because it's already 12 o'clock—time for lunch. It's a wet cycling, it sure wet. **SMILE**
Dendi decided to take up to famous local Padang-food restaurant. Fortunately, the rains stop when we finished with our lunch. And we continue to (again) famous local Pempek Restaurant, Rahma would like to send her son a pempek package.
It's done for the day; we need back home for take a bath. Yunara and Rahma also need an enough rest, not like us—they still have a journey to finished it with.
A little tips for you who planning to travel using bicycle (or motorcycle), there is no need a lot of money or expensive bicycle/motorcycle. What you need is a strong; when I'm say strong I mean it as very strong will. Will to accomplish the journey, will to reach the destination with safe. Expensive or full customize bicycle (or big-bore motorcycle) will not help a lot.
Below some photos when we cycling around Palembang:
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- left-right: Yunara-Rahma- Dendy-Yeppy
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- click to enlarge
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- Yunara Rahma with DISPORA South Sumatera
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- leftright: Chief ogf KONI – Yunara – Rahma – Chief DISPORA
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- chief of KONI SUMSEL, trying the Yunara bike
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- written communication
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- Rahma and Yunara at Palembang Bicycle route
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- The West Borneo Equator Certificate
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