34 Days around Java

Day 1 - part 1

Several minutes before 11 P.M, I was fully conscious of my surroundings. After all, I didn't want to get caught right when I was trying to get out of this place. I had to listen to the night's silence. As minutes passed,I grew more and more anxious about whether I could pull it off. After I steeled my resolve, I decided to go YOLO and checked if everyone was asleep. After I was sure that they were asleep, I hastily but sneakily got out of "that place". There were some people in the neighborhood, but I doubt that they even knew me. They didn't bother to approach me either.

The moment I stepped foot outside, I officially became a runaway. Reasons? Well, there are several, but I think it's going to be such a lengthy explanation that it became such a bother to type. It wouldn't be far from the usual reasons people became a runaway, so just look it up. Besides, it's not the point of this journal.

That being said, there were two goals in mind that I set by running away, the first being finding a place where I can settle comfortably. Looking back, I was amazed by myself that I was able to hold on for such a long time. Perhaps it was because I fairly went out quite often, mostly because of school and uni. However, due to Covid, I had no choice but to stay indoors in a toxic environment. And what do people say about toxic relationships? Stay away from it! Though practically it's easier said than done. Some people do try to keep you in their social circle whenever you try to keep a distance.

The second goal that I wanted to achieve is that I wanted to go around ZA WAARUDO! (okay, not funny) At this time, I had a limited amount of budget. However, it was never wrong to dream. Moreover, there are many ways to do it. That's why, in my runaway days I decided that I would go around Java island by walking. I hoped that, on my way, I could find the place where I could settle. It would also help me by reducing the expense.

Thus began my journey. It all started from South Tangerang, and my first destination would be Serpong, though there was nothing I wanted to see there. It might sound like that I went anywhere on whims, but I had an actual route in my journey. I just coincidentally had to go through Serpong. And to get there, I had to pass by Pamulang.

Going through Pamulang road wasn't easy because some parts of the road are just not suited for pedestrians, because it lacks the infrastructure (most part of Java, really. Jakarta has it better, but there are still places that's just not pedestrian-friendly). Sometimes I felt that trucks from behind would bump my shoulder.

After walking for one and a half hours, I sat in a fried rice stall to take some rest. It was my first time in years walking for so long that it felt really painful. It's not nice to just sit there so I guised it by ordering one portion of regular fried rice. Somehow the Pamulang road was quite lively in the middle of the night. There were several food stalls like fried rice or martabak here and there, and also some repair shops and vehicles washing services.

At the fried rice stall, I was faced by the culture in Indonesia: getting talked to out of nowhere! The fried rice cook tried to talk to me since the place was rather quiet. I didn't remember whatever he said, but at least he asked if I was on my way from work, to which I only responded with a 'yeah?'. Well he picked the wrong person to talk to since I'm not quite a talker. Poor guy.

Since I wasn't exactly hungry I only ate half of the portion of the fried rice and asked the cook to wrap it so I could finish it later. I'm not quite a taster myself, but the taste of the fried rice is just regular. I wouldn't bother with any slight difference, so it was an okay. When the cook finished wrapping it, I excused myself and continued walking towards Serpong.

When I arrived at Serpong, It was already near 2 A.M. I took a break at a bench because obviously I was tired. Imagine walking for almost 3 hours. I wasn't exactly sleepy (probably because of the adrenaline or smth), but I thought that I needed some sleep else I would fall ill, and that wouldn't make for an enjoyable trip. However, I couldn't just sleep on the bench since I heard some thunder on the cloud. I had to find a place that could protect me from the rain.

Unlike Pamulang, the street I took in Serpong wasn't as lively, though perhaps it was because it was already way past midnight, or the street was in the less crowded part. I don't know about the safety in Serpong, but if someone were to do some robbery, it seems like it would be successful. I barely even saw any patrolling cars. Fortunately It didn't happen to me nor did I see it happen. I wouldn't know what to do.

I continued walking after I regained my energy, and while I walked I also looked around to see if there were any parts of the street decent enough for me to sleep on. I mean, I saw that some dude slept on benches or shops' porch, but since this was my first day, I was anxious about it.

At some point I finally found a decent spot to sleep. It was a bike shop, and it was closed (I can't sleep in front of open stores. If I do that would be chased out immediately, most probably). The front was quite clean and there was something above my head that could protect me from the rain when it poured. I took out a sarung from my bag and used it as a blanket. Then, I lied on the floor, rested my head on my bag, and closed my eyes. However, I didn't get to sleep at all. I didn't take into account that there would be mosquitos there and I didn't prepare a repellent. Not only mosquitos, there were occasional vehicle noises from the road. Since this was my first time ever sleeping in an open space (not counting camping; the area difference is too far) I was not used to those things yet. In the end, I decided to continue walking after lying on the floor for a few minutes.

At some point I started to see some angkot operating on the street. I had no intention to ride any, but their presence gave me a rough estimate of time. I guessed that it was already past 3 A.M., but i couldn't be too sure. I walked past the ITC already, and as time went by I grew more and more tired so when I saw a bus station nearby, I lied on its bench. I finally managed to drift away from my consciousness, although it was only for several tens of minutes.

It was still dark when I woke up from my nap. I was a little bit hungry, so I ate the remaining fried rice that I bought back in Pamulang. It already became cold, but I had to put up with it.

Just beside the bus station, there was a man preparing his stall. How commendable of him. I guess he holds the proverb 'Early bird gets the worm'. I don't know. Why do you have to be an early bird? A night owl gets the rat, and rats are bigger in size in comparison to worms. Either way is good, I guess. They have their own life.

Anyways, after I finished my fried rice, I went over and asked him if it was already subuh since I didn't hear the call to prayer (azan). I also asked him if there were any masjid or musholla nearby. He said that it was already subuh, and there are no masjid nor musholla nearby, except inside the ITC.

There's no way that I could go in there. I thought to myself.

I thanked him for the info, and proceeded to walk in the opposite direction of ITC.