Palembang Sumatra - Weekend!

Hangin' Out in Palembang ~

Our hotel Zuri Express has this cute retro seat hangin' in the corner...had to try it out! 

 Today we decided to visit the Bukus Museum here in Palembang by the River.  We transferred with a few  buses and arrived by the Musi River where the Bridge was the other evening.  It was very busy with the Saturday Market going on.

We wandered over to the museum and there was a kind gentleman there that was willing to take us through and shared much of the history and displays.  He spoke English well but had a heavy accent!

 Three other girls followed along...they too were listening to what he was sharing with us...and we spoke with them.... - they are attending the university in town and getting a degree in architecture....and hope to help in improving the town's infra-structure.  Good for them!  They were ever so friendly and we enjoyed the time together!

 Then to cool off...we decided to go to the mall again - yes we had heard about another mall in the area and we are drawn to them because it is COOL in there!  Come on everybody - yes this is true!  

AIR CONDITIONER! 

 ...and what do we see in the mall...but a ACE HARDWARE STORE!  Gosh we were so surprised to see that and they had a very large selection - it was a large store at that!

Nick had such a chuckle in that....! We actually found a "rubber door stopper" for a needed repair on my suitcase...yes one of the pegs had broken off when we have it upright.  Too much traveling! 

My handy Nick can fix anything! For sure!

 It was Saturday and so there was a lot going on in the mall...a children's fashion show and all the parents were taking pictures of their little ones as they danced on the stage!  So cute!  And the music was blaring!

 We asked around if they sell LUMPER here in Palembang - it is a Javanese treat but Nick had hoped he might already find some here on Sumatra...well there it was...at a particular bakery shop...."spicy chicken mix surrounded by a sticky rice" and it is so good! Brings back lots of good memories from our past!  YUM!  Yes and it was as good as we remembered it!
                                                      So cute - they had wrapped it in a banana leaf..!

 Strolling down the mall we came across this bike and of course we had to get on it...THE DIEMEL'S TOURING INDONESIA... Nick hinted shall we travel this way?  Well how about those suitcases and back-packs we lug around?                    Well it sure sounds healthy anyway!

 Traffic is pretty hectic around town...lots of motorcycles, scooters, cars and people....EVERYWHERE!
Can you see in the picture how many motor bikes are waiting for the green light??????????????????  YES all the way across and six, seven rows back...Do you dare and cross over that street - ?

 Nick & I decided to hope onto the opelet mini-bus (private bus) again...and oh my goodness you just have to laugh when you get in there...loud music...jammed with people and the guys that run the bus are hyper as can be...calling out  to people - and do you see all the decorations hanging from the ceiling?

 Yea it is a ride to remember...even hard to believe this BUS still drives...I saw one today that had a broken rear window....and a broken door...just taped and held open....hardly any shocks!  But it keeps driving!

Walking back to the hotel we stopped at a local market and picked up some items for the room...and these workers were laughing and talking and smiling all along...as we nosed through the store.  Then when we got to the register they asked if we would take a picture with them...well sure we will!  They were so pleased and were so interested to hear where we were from and we always tell them the story - Nick is born in Palembang and then they have the biggest grin ever!  We are pleased to share it with them and they are tickled we have a little Indo blood flowing through our veins! 

                                Sedikit! (a little bit!) 

oh they get such a kick out of that!  And we are proud we do!  It amazes us as we walk down streets how people will say "hey mister how are you?" We answer Salamet Pagi! Good morning or Salamet Sian Good afternoon!  They love it when we speak the Bahasa language...and we are learning a little everyday...just learned the days of the week: Sabtu Saturday Minguu Sunday Senin Monday Salasa Tuesday Rabu Wednesday Kamis Thursday and Friday -Jumat!

How's that for being here a few weeks??? Is that Indo blood coming out?  Well I think Poppa would be proud of me....!  And Nick's Mom too!  

We relaxed for the rest of the evening...tomorrow we meet up with Steve, Tamara and the kids - might be taking a boat ride down the Musi River! We shall see!