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10 Jul 2018
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Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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At 3 our ship tied up beside another ship that was already docked at Bira and was almost fully loaded and all our foot passengers climbed off the upper deck onto the main dock itself.
We had to wait until this other ferry was loaded and left the only docking station. We finally were almost off after 26 hours, but the truck blocking us in was dead and they had to push it off.
IMG_2942 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7231 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7244 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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10 Jul 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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Makassar is only 189 km from Bira, but google says it takes 5 hours….should be lots of traffic then? There are a lot more Muslims here so far than we have seen on Timor or Flores (where they were very sparse) and so a lot of Mosques. Arriving to the guest house we were already very hot after just 30 min in the suits. We had our cold water only shower and then walked down to the beach. Several people asked to have their photo taken with us?! The tide is out and all the boats are beached! The sand is white, but has a clay like feel. It is pretty humid here and so after a quick meal we retreated to our fan and air con.
FILE7341 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
IMG_2944 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We had a “halal” breakfast of deep fried plantains and donuts and coffee so strong it was thick with grounds we had to let them settle.
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10 Jul 2018
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: No Fixed Address (formerly Toronto)
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Hey Sara!
We might be in Toronto when you roll through, PM us when you get close!
Have a safe journey home!
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10 Jul 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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We set out a bit late at 9 and headed back to the road thru Bira the 189 km to Makassar.
Screen Shot 2018-06-14 at 20.40.55 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7357 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Initially there was little traffic and we headed north west and along the sea. There is a history of boat building here and there are quite a few on the shore between the garbage!
FILE7367 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
There is a lot of traffic and almost constant urbanization and a stream of traffic. Several of the villages had roadside hand pumps with regular benzene. We also passed many villages drying the seaweed from the nearby beaches. We also passed the greenest rice fields we have seen yet.
This 39 km to the main road at Jalan Poros took 90 minutes. This included 30 minutes at the gas station waiting in line at the 2 pumps that were in use. We passed other stations during the day and though not as bad all had lines. There is no gas in Bira except from water bottles on the side of the road.
FILE7371 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7380 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7390 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7398 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7422 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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10 Jul 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,579
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On the main road the traffic was almost constant, but mostly moving. The flow is hampered by cars driving for some reason at 20 km per hour that need passing, but there is an oncoming stream of vehicles as well. There are slow moving scooters and tug tug and horse drawn cars as well. Add to this scooter boys who think they are in the moto GP in passing close to you in both directions and the cars oncoming who are often half in your lane. We have an aggressively defensive style that serves us well in this situation and though intense we survived unscathed. We passed huge salt farms as well.
FILE7438 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7445 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7455 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7464 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7481 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
FILE7511 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We stopped at 1300 after 4 hours and only 90 km for lunch of fried chicken! The guys there wanted a photo Op.
Sulawesi-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
The traffic after entering the city was actually much better as there were finally 2 lanes. Because of Ramadan the hotels are empty and we could get a room at the 4 points Sheraton for 45$. We paid more for the sketch cold shower no flush toilet place in Bira. They have a nice pool area on the 9 th floor and even their own mosque. We had a simple dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Sulawesi-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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10 Jul 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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We had been contacted by a local rider Aditya, who had seen our friend Jo’s post on What’s app Overland Indonesia thread. Jo was letting people know to watch out for us. Actually Orvar is on this stream and so even he was sending us messages about this guy looking for us.
We had only planned one night here, but we could not miss the opportunity to join in the annual Hari Lebaran celebration to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. On the first day of Lebaran you go from house to house of the senior relatives.
We had a convoy of 10 vehicles. Aditya with his wife Isti, and the very cute Mika chauffeured us all day. You greet everyone with “Selamat Aidil Fitri”. We were warmly welcomed by the entire family and fed very well at each of the 6 stops. This was a very special day for us to experience!
Sulawesi-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Sulawesi-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We did not eat dinner of course, but met up with Aditya, Isti, and Mika for breakfast. Well at least we ate as they are parents and up at 630 so have eaten, plus it is day 2 of Lebaran and they have a lot of food to get thru again today! He also took us to a station that sold 98 octane and also on th route out of town.
Sulawesi-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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Lots more comments here!

Every book a diary
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