I was planning to visit my dad’s birth place not for its scenery but for its sentimental value and so the search began. I arrived in Yogyakarta to arrange my visa (read other post for the ins and outs) and visit the surrounding sites like Borobudur and Prambanan.
After almost a week in Java I took the train to head for Tegal in Central Java, after a taxi ride followed by 2 hrs bus trip I arrived at Solo Jebres Station where the train would leave. I had a couple of hours to kill so had a delicious street meal lunch and took some snacks with me for the 5 hrs train ride. It was obvious that Teemu and I were the only tourist waiting for the train but when we entered our carriage all heads turned our way and that never changed during the trip. There’s lots of entertainment in the train as locals walk up and down the aisle to sell, kopi, teh, tempeh, kroepuk, nasi, air, (coffee, tea, tempeh, crisps, rice and water) but also t-shirts, belts and survival sewing repair kits. The train conductor asked several times if we really were travelling to Tegal as it’s not a tourist destination at all. So when we almost entered the station he came over and sat with us to make sure we got off at Tegals station. After some commotion at the train station with police, becek- and taxi drivers we got to a hotel after a long day.
The next three days Tegal was our home to explore the surroundings and for me to find the earliest beginning of my dad’s and mine roots. Tegal is a coastal and business town so not much to see and no reason for a tourist to stop here hence the looks from the locals when you’re walking around. Many people come over to chat or ask for a photograph with us. The level of English is very poor so we had to up our Bahasa Indonesia and the app on our phone made overtime to help us to find our way. The first day we walked around to take in the surroundings and I planted a little tree for my dad in the local park, this again doesn’t get unnoticed so some kids and locals came over to see what was happening. I do hope that the tree will grow and who knows I will visit it again.
I’m leaving Tegal with a feeling of leaving my family, the locals here were so welcoming and nice even without being able to communicate much. Maybe it was my imagination but lots of older men looked like my dad or had similar features so this was really the start of his roots. These men had similar looks, body posture or laughs, worked in the gardens, cycled or were inquisitive just as he was. Many times men came over to see what these Westerners were doing or were just ‘hanging around us’ to see if they could have a chat or help us even with the language barrier.
We experienced priceless moments as communication was difficult but when entering a shop everyone just came over to find out what we wanted while giggling and trying to understand what we were doing. The most precious one was the older lady who helped me t plant my dad’s tree, I was struggling to make a hole in the soil but she just took a stick and ‘digged’ one within 5 minutes. We couldn’t really talk but she knew this was something special for me and she hugged me afterwards and smiled. When we left Tegal I said goodbye to her and she gave me the biggest and warmest hug which made me cry as it felt I said goodbye to a family member. I am pleased that I made the effort to travel to my dad’s birthplace and mingle for a couple of days in a non- tourist environment. Maybe it gives me a more in depth idea where I come from but maybe not. Whatever it turns out it is something what I will take with me for the rest of my life. Thank you Teemu to join and support me during this emotional trip.
More photo’s from my Tegal trip: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/5n4xoqrw0eyz73h/N7iq1Ww4t2
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| tree planting with lovely lady |
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| The tree.. |
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| Local kids playing with their doves |
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| "head, shoulders, knees..... |
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