Overland with Kids

AJ’s experience of going off with a local fisherman in his boat to catch fish around Palau (Island) Pagang in the Indian Ocean (Western Sumatra)……….
AJ “I didn’t catch a fish. Only the man did and when he gave it to me I accidentally dropped it out of my hand. The man showed me how put [...]

On seeing breathtaking Sumatran jungle scenery and three huge volcanoes including Gunung Merapi as they came into view en-route to Bukittinggi……..
Jessica “Wow!”
AJ “What’s the big deal about? They’re only mountains!”
(AJ wanting to play football, go swimming and play with his toys).
On looking back at recent photos from our trip while whizzing past one of many [...]

On suffering the never ending mountainous/volcano ascents, descents, bumpy roads and sharp bends of Sumatra…..
Jessica “I love Sumatra but I hate it’s roads!”
On dad trying to talk to AJ while crossing the equator at Bonjol, West Sumatra
AJ (with fingers in his ears) “I’m not listening, la, la, la, la!, la, la, la, la!”
Dad “I don’t [...]

Moving at speed in the Sumatran interior, a pigeon flies straight into our car, badly smashing our windscreen (the pigeon doesn’t make it!)….
Jessica “Of all the things that could bang into us while we’re driving deep in the Sumatran jungle, it had to be one, big, fat pigeon!. Couldn’t we pretend a beautiful Rhinoceros Hornbill [...]

Following a three hour trek into the Sumatran jungle to see orang-utans:
Mum “What did you think of the trip?”
AJ ” I thought we’d see more orang-utans than we did - but we did see four or five plus their babies. There was one big fat wild one and he had a name called Chewee”.
Jessica ” [...]

Dad on Indonesia
“It’s brilliant being in a country like Indonesia. It’s exciting because we know so little about it.”
Dad while driving out of the mad Medan traffic
“Go on - get aaaahhht of it!”
Room conversations following dad making funny noises from his bottom end.
Jessica “Right dad! That’s it! Put your hand to your heart and repeat [...]

We provided Jessica an exercise to write a report following a visit to Sibayak Volcano in Sumatra. Jessica’s responses following are a mix of what she wrote as well as what she said following her trip.
Report title
Bambang the Guide takes Western Tourists to Sumatran Volcano
Author
Jessica O’Flaherty, aged 10 years old
Climb Date
Monday 14th February 2011 (St [...]

On being dressed up as a Sultan’s wife
Jessica, “I hate skirts!”
On Victorian dad giving AJ lines to write for misbehaviour and to improve his writing:
“I will walk properly along the street!”
“I will keep all my writing neat!”
“I will sit nicely in my seat!”
“I will not pick or eat my feet!”
Typical conversation in a hotel room [...]