The Flying Hippo

Yesterday, I went to Simpang Lima in Semarang all by my onesy-self. Very surprisingly, the conductor spoke to me in Indonesia. As of course, my response as usual was a "???" I really didn't want to do this, but I was convinced otherwise. My friend was visiting Semarang and really wanted to hang out with people, and although I kept saying that it was difficult for me to go by myself and return by myself so late at night, I did it anyway against my better judgment. So I wandered the mall for awhile, it was very nice. It's difficult for me to go shopping with other people besides my mother. Thus, at last, it took me three visits to the mall before I actually enjoyed it. Although it may just be my imagination, I think maybe going to malls by yourself is a rare thing because I attracted a lot of unusual glances. After awhile, I met up with my friend and watched "Harry Potter: The half-blood prince." Hilarious, but dark movie to say the least. I'll always remember watching Harry Potter in Indonesia, as I remember watching the Dark Knight in San Diego.

It's almost 10 PM here in Ungaran, Indonesia. Today was the most awesome day ever. Finally, I visit Sidomukti with Hera. Flying fox was ....awesome. I feel like some sort of fangirl blogging about an encounter with a tween superstar at a movie premiere. As I was high in the sky, moving across from hilltop to hilltop with only air separating me from the ground below, I could not help but laugh. I screamed at first because I don't like surprises much, and for some reason, it surprised me how short the duration of anticipation lasted and the conductor behind me just pushed me off the edge. But as I 'flew,' I could not help but feel ecstasy running through my veins, and that every part of me loved that I could feel nothing but the rush of moving air.

After the Flying Fox, I crossed the marine bridge. This was not as scary as I thought, but it was a lot more difficult than I thought. Silly me did not bring walking shoes, thus I had to walk across it barefoot because i was positive that if I wore my scandals, it would drop into the abyss below. Kidding, there's no abyss, but not kidding about the dropping. I was more worried about making a fool out of myself than falling off the bridge, which in fact would be pretty humiliating, so I suppose I was afraid of that, but not for the same reasons a normal person would be afraid for. I could not bear the thought of getting my leg stuck on that bridge and go through the humiliating process of it all: 1) Everyone discovering your embarrassing predicament; 2) Everyone watching as you struggle to get out of your predicament; 3) Failing and looking like a fat cow; 4) Succeeding to get your right leg out only to discover that your left leg just fell in as well. I was lucky to not have looked like a fool out there. I was not scared at all, but the person in front of me seemed very nervous and kept shaking the bridge as she walked. Several times, it made me fall off balance. But it was a wonderful experience. For some reason, being stuck on a bridge with other people and having people on both sides watching, encouraging, discouraging, and laughing at you really forms a human bond. For that one hour I spent AT the marine bridge (I wasn't ON it for an hour), somehow, everyone learned my name, probably because Hera kept screaming it, which then caused everyone else to scream it. And it's very interesting, because I managed to influence everyone to speak in English, at least to the best of their abilities. All I did was complain to Hera in English and before I knew it, people were speaking to their Indonesian friends in English. For me, it was very interesting. I guess I am very impressionable, despite what country I am located in. After I was done, it was my turn to laugh as Hera stumbled around the bridge. We met some guy that kept shaking the bridge, or as Hera calls him, "crazy man." It was so hilarious when people are all bunched up together on the bridge, and people start shaking it from the ends, and the people on the bridge fall down like dominoes. Oh, it's the best.

After the marine bridge, I did some rapelling. It was my first time. All my new found friends from the marine bridge sure enjoyed watching me struggle.
"Haven't you ever watched S.W.A.T.?!"
"I'm not S.W.A.T."
"They do it in movies, you know!"
"Well, it sure looked easy in the movies!"
"Be like Spiderman!"
"I'm not a spider, nor a man, and I'm certainly not Spiderman!"
"You're suppose to be like, in a 'sleeping' position."
"I really don't feel like 'sleeping' on air this very moment."
I managed to overcome my reluctance to be almost perpendicular to the ground. It was very easy after that. Although there was a moment where I slipped and I was just hanging and bumping my fat head and ass on the rocks. I believe my exact words were, "Ow, aw man."