Spotlight: Makassar, Indonesia!

Who was she? Who was Makasaar? Would it still be dry? Yes! Thankfully, I was only a few days away from letting loose in Bali! Makassar would be my final stop before a double serving of island life would be served up! Fort Rotterdam? I didn't know her! That evening call to prayer was powerful! Makassar shone bright, it was time for her 'Spotlight!' Halal, did I look? Oh, yes! 

South Sulawesi was calling! Where was that part of Indonesia located? Before Indonesia was on my radar, I didn't have any clue about Makassar or its previously named land mass! I wanted to try a path less trodden, people usually bypass places like Makassar even Yogyakarta and just head for Bali or Lombok! My first day in the city was more like an afternoon and evening, with the city in darkness almost, I stayed in my hotel. The pace of my trip was ferocious, I gave myself a little rest before continuing with a self-guided trip around Makassar the following day! I became a 'Room Service Queen' with a rare order up to the room! I deserved it! Makassar was about to show me a few unspoiled finds, embracing that very 'non-touristy' city was the right thing to do! Bedding down for a restful sleep early on was the right thing to do, boozy plans were a non-starter in Makassar because it was drier than a camels foot in a desert! Iced teh was found! Indonesia had me hooked on that soft drink, I wasn't playing around with that beverage! 

Bright and early, I was in those streets, I walked along the 'Losari Beach' to no avail. I had a message on a certain APP, I was suggested the port had some local sites to clock! I was a fool getting on that street tricycle because the price was 3x than a Grab car but I soaked in the experience and the wind against my face, it was worth it in the end! The port area was a redemption moment, I was able to see what I had envisaged in Jakarta. Cooling down after that price, I clocked those maritime vessels that oozed 'Portside Realness!' Down to earth? I was soaking up every bit of culture with appreciation! Fishing boats galore were docked, it was a hub of everyday commerce. I clocked what I had wanted to, moving towards street level was golden. Those Dutch had been everywhere! 'Fort Rotterdam' was my next stop, a car would be called! Realness on the streets fronted me as I waited for my car, the morning had been something. The weather was golden, my cotton threads had people asking again if I was muslim? Maaf! I'm not.

Fort, what? Orang-orang Belanda ini telah melakukan banyak hal! Translate that! 'Ujung Padang' tried! A former fort had been originally built to counteract Dutch firepower, in the end the Dutch took the crowning moment during those 1700s moments of 'Orange Shame!' Those walls were high! I didn't want a guide because the proof was in the view, I saw those European looking buildings, they gave what I had envisaged. It was strange that most of the buildings were tight shut, I wanted to roam around to see what those bunks might had looked like? Rude! Makassar's 'Fort Rotterdam' gave me something that I wanted, it had been reclaimed as a partial museum but it wasn't touristy. I had done some digging, the former Indonesia fort stood in the centre of Makassar as a firing point for the Indonesian to attack the Dutch! It was bizarre to see the buildings so still and locked, I wonder if the guides had the key to the secret? Hey, I was saving my Rupiah for Bali! 'Orange Shame?' Now, that is phrase I want to patent and prosper! 

I was looking out for my guy, 'Diponegoro' because these Dutchies had him under arrest at Fort Rotterdam. I wasn't allowed to see those quarters because like I mentioned before, things seemed locked, shut! Rude or hiding a secret? It was giving 'Dapitan Hideaway', like I had seen in the Philippines, even 'Rizal' couldn't get a minute of peace from those colonisers? No, sobrang annoying! In that moment, I just wanted to take my pictures and find something chilled because the sun was beating down! Bring me that roadside coconut with the quickness, M? Rotterdam had a lot to answer for, Makassar lay on waters that made the Dutch make connections, they wanted those coasts! 'Bastian Bacan' was where that Indonesian prince spent his last days, not the mood I was looking for such a sunshine moment in Makassar but we must shout louder! I'm British and know but, be the change because the Dutch did this mess, the Indonesian people deserve accountability! Babes, I was on holiday not on a mercy mission! That coconut though! 

The streets were being kind to me, I was able to find a delicious coconut opposite from Fort Rotterdam. That pit-stop allowed me to get my route straight, I wanted to head back to my hotel for some much needed air conditioning but I had other plans! 'Jalan Somba Opu' had other plans! That intercity street was literally just a turn away from the waterfront, I had gone in a literally circle but I wasn't mad about that! Clocking gold dealers in every direction along that street, the sun literally shimmered onto those products! It was thrilling to walk down that street because Makassar served something so ordinary, it prepared me for the noise and muchness of Seminyak! Taking that unrefined and unplanned walk allowed me almost meet again with my hotel before time, I knew better to turn an ocean facing corner with a rustic feel. That street gave me something lively, sober I was still! Hungry didn't cut it, no room service lay on that street! Turning that corner revealed my lunch choice! The summer sun beatdown, it did! Noodles or? 

I wanted to eat but those staff members were giving 'rudeness' and I wasn't going to support a business employing such an energy! The owner was an old Chinese man, he melted my heart! I knew that his staff weren't going to smile nor extend a friendly demeanour, I ordered on his behalf. I even tried to speak t0 him in Chinese, I was like I need to at least show that English isn't my only language spoken. He side eyed his employees and I was served a gorgeous noodle plate, the peanuts in the dish saved my awaiting scathing customer service review. I am not a complainer but you know, those two had me wondering if my coin was worth their disposition? I was more than that, I enjoyed those noodles and appreciated their offended mood because it added character. Why you mad? The road finally led to my hotel, air conditioning I found and a quick reset was on the cards before the 'call to prayer' was made. Makassar had served a lot, I was pleased that I had trusted the unknown! A reset was seen to, Makassar saw me moving on! 

Makassar knew that I was going through it, secretly I was trying to plan my summer school trip to London, Windsor and Oxford! Those work commitments snuck in and I wasn't impressed but you have to stay on top, that British Airways flight had clocked me at the start of my holiday! In this drier than dry city, I either needed a prayer or a drink! The latter was not going to happen because my hotel didn't even have the advertised stock from the menu! I headed out before the call to prayer happened, I needed some divine intervention because I was going through it! Crossing a bridge larger than life, the map held made that path look intimidating but I felt fine. Facing that orange-looking mosque, I wanted to say, "Girl, look how orange you look?!" As the sun set, I was able to see how the orange tones marinated under the crimson skies. Those pint-sized minarets glowed, it was a whole moment! Certain developments transpired, the trip after my trip felt real! Coins needed to be paid! I have a lot to say but you know, success would follow!

As the sun started to set, I had already said my prayers inside of the masjid hall. A prayer had been answered, the less I say about that the better. I soaked up that spiritual moment, hearing those thoughts in my head, I knew that Bali was going to be something different! Knowing that a cocktail or beer would pass my lips, I ordered an iced milky drink with a view. I already wore the Halal garb, I was living that simulation! I was adamant that there would be more booze in Saudi Arabia or Dubai than those selected spaces? Yes! Makassar's healing orange and glowing mosque had guided me through the shadows, before lying down to sleep, I tried 'Pisang Goreng!' A BBQ'd banana that was! Saba Banana if you have sense! Hearing that call to prayer as I walked across that pedestrian friendly bridge, I felt so moved, it was the price to pay for full sobriety! I was going mad for a drink but the advertised goods were not present! Bali would be happening soon! After my Rammang x2 village trip, island debauchery was about to commence! I'm ready! 

Destination, Unknown? 

Desperately Seeking Adventure