27 January 2007
Today as planned..We were about to go on another journey but this time to a place we have never been to before. The place? A garbage disposal area (huh..really this wasn’t my idea). So as usual, we started packing the instant we knew. We got on board our fancy transportation (wow..this time I get to ride in an ambulance-which was quite stuffy though as the air-cond wasn’t functioning properly. Not to mention the amount of people stuffed in. It was more than it should have taken) But before we reached at the location we had (well, maybe not we but our ‘pengiring’or guide) stopped at several places. It was a wonder actually that we stopped at ROMPI, a organization that was established for the sake of ‘anak-anak jalanan’. By the way the name ‘rompi’ was inspired by an airplane life jacket which in this case symbolize as a protector.
The sound of the azan than rang in our ears. We went to a nearby mosque to fill our duty as a Muslim (actions speak better than words eh??).. But shockingly, we were disappointed by the mosque ajk.. They said we could not pray here as we seem to bring‘ajaran sesat’(they were judging us from our outfits I gues as we girls were wearing long veils-well that’s what I heard correct me if im wrong). So Pak Udi decided to take us to another mosque which was far-far away. The journey was worth it as we went to the biggest mosque in the Asia pacific!(every happening has its ‘hikmah’ right?). The mosque was magnificent! And huge of course. I listened to Pak Udi explanation which was very interesting who could have guessed that the mosque was once a place which illegal activities were carried out. But alhamdulillah Allah’s hidayah had reached the heart of a big fellow in this case had power and manage to make this place as we see it now. Subhanallah.
Ok, after praying, resting and filling our hungry tummies, we set of again. This time, I was lucky, I got a ride in a van (mind you each of us in the van got a whole set each!-very rare to get on our stay here) and because of that very comfortable condition i had a short snooze...zzzzzzzz. which was waken by the ‘lovely’ smell of garbage (well, not really. I think the rough road was the cause of the interruption to my beauty sleep). Everything, I repeat everything! is made from garbage. Garbage was everywhere (enormous piles up to 12 meters tall! Ah! and take note that the depth of the hole did not count!!) even their houses were made out of plastic litter mostly the roofs and walls, there were so many children but their clothes were not a pleasant sight, many went not wearing t-shirts at all. I nearly vomit once because of the stinging smell. I could not imagine staying here for just an hour, I possibly wont survive. My friends and I also tried to get rid of the smell (or at least lessen it) by using lotion.Our awakened act was caught by Pak Udi unfortunately and so he laughed and smiled meaningfully at us.
Then, we went back on the van and went deeper into a village. The location we went to was a school (which was more like a huge gazebo, no windows, no seats, none at all). Later on, i found out that the school was ‘gratis’ or in English means free of charge, no strings etc. It was just built recently by some caring and good hearted citizens for the benefit of the children here. The question that was buzzing in my head for quite a while was that is where do they answer their nature call was finally answered (although it wasn't me who asked the question) The answer was anywhere and everywhere and by all means they don't take a shower often too (whats the point if you're going to be dirty again pretty soon huh?? ). But it is a wonder..they don't seem to be ill or sick in other words they seem to be as fit as a fiddle not infected by deadly diseases and so on(superman and superwomen eh??). Although the food they eat are mostly from the source around them.half rotten fruits tend to be delicious delights to them. As for a living they collect plastic and sell them to buyers who are interested.
It was getting darker by the minute so we had to take lift again. As usual I dosed off again (I always seem to be the first to sleep in my family car when going on long journeys) and awoke with a dizzy head ...
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