Back at Yogya, we told the 4PM bus driver that we were waiting for the 7PM bus and he looked at his friend and just laughed. I didn't like that. I thought that maybe there was something that he knew that we didn't ... so I told Josie that we should take their bus ... we probably should have waited.
We got to Probolinggo bus station at 1:30AM and at first glance, it looked so shady that Josie said we probably should have taken the later bus ... I agree now.
I'm being very cautious out here. Maybe even a little too cautious, but everything I gave for the next 2 weeks is on me and if I lose it, I'll probably give up backpacking forever. Naomi's lucky she and Regan lost their stuff (TWICE) in Japan and not here. Had it been here, she wouldn't have gotten it back.
My friend from UCLA ... she used to be an avid backpacker and when she was touring south america, some taxi drove off with her pack and the lesson she learned was not to be so materialistic. I understand her feeling in a way. I'm so worried about someone stealing my stuff, that I'm probably not enjoying my trip as much as I should.
Even though it was this early in the morning, there were plenty of taxi drivers waiting to give us a ride to Mt. Bromo. It was maybe a difference of only a few dollars, but it's supposed to be about 40°F (10°C) up there and we'd have to wait in the freezing cold ... We'll take our chances with the shady station.
For the first hour, it was all fight or flight ... with a 25 pound (16kg) pack. I studied everyone around me with CIA precison, except I didn't notice the security camera right above me until 3 hours later. I didn't trust ANYONE! I strapped my pack to my leg, ziptied my bag, strapped that to my waist, doubled wrapped everything to my arms ... geez, I'm so stressed out here. Josie wanted to sleep, but I was worried, so I didn't let her.
Eventually, I eased up, but only a little. I started seeing women and children, so it couldn't be THAT bad right? Also, most of the people around us were just waiting for the incoming buses so they could sell stuff. It really put a humanity side to them. They'd hang out at the station for hours just to sell a couple of things on the 5 buses that would pass by. These guys have a tough life ... also, Josie fell alseep.
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I so know that feeling... and wish that I had been more cautious at times. Wouldn't have lost that backpack in Peru at least! But in the end maybe they needed it more. It didn't take very long at all to replace all the stolen items (well, some were irreplaceable). Truth is, though, that had you fallen asleep or let your guard down something may well have happened. It's usually best to trust your instincts. Just wish you had a better time there, but that's traveling: you have to take all the bad with the good and learn some sort of lesson wherever you go. ;)
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