Xacus goes to Indonesia
The longed-for holiday has arrived, at least. After months of preparation, including plane ticket purchases, domestic flights, hotel reservations and beach bungalows, the suitcase is packed, heading for Indonesia. Laura and me decide to travel light: our trolleys don't weigh 10 kg, however, between swimming costumes, sarongs, shirts and linen dresses, we have everything we need to stay comfortable and cool along the itinerary we have set ourselves.
We landed in Sumatra, in Banda Aceh, a city risen from its ashes after the 2004 tsunami disaster and began our itinerary with a few lesser known but not worthwhile stops. We pass through Medan, unload our bags and get comfortable: bermuda shorts and a Xacus linen shirt, white to reflect the sun's rays, given the island's rather hot temperatures.
One of the noteworthy attractions where we immediately decide to head for is Toba Lake, of volcanic origin, home to a Protestant community famous throughout the world for its hospitality. In fact, we rent a motorbike and get in the saddle, and after just 15 minutes we find ourselves in the middle of a procession: a wedding to which we are immediately invited, forbidden to refuse. After the ceremony, at the Pastor's house, his wife teaches Laura how to coock golden fish, one of the local dishes, to be eaten strictly with the hands. What a great experience!
Leaving Yogyakarta by bus, it was time for another amazing site, the Borobudur temple, a Mahāyāna Buddhist monument dating back to around 800 DC and a Unesco heritage site. Waking up at sunrise because the gates open at 4.30am, about twenty minutes to climb to the top and enjoy a breathtaking view and a sense of peace impossible to forget.
Given the spirituality of the place Laura showed off her handcrafted mala together with her Xacus linen set: a mandarin collared shirt in earthy colours and floral printed shorts. It was perfectly in harmony with the colours of the mystical and still untouched place.
I was able to convince Laura to spend three days in the jungle of Kerinci Seblat and experience nature together with a group of local natives, among lianas, orang-utans, tigers, chimpanzees and the dense vegetation of the tropical jungle. It wasn't easy, not least, because we caught a couple of hours of rain during one of the treks, which raised the difficulty level of the trail, but it was certainly fascinating.
The virgin Karimunjawa archipelago
After such an intense experience, our greatest wish is to go and relax among the crystal-clear waters of the Karimunjawa archipelago, still unknown until 35 years ago, consisting of 27 islands, most of which still have no electricity: a true unspoilt paradise.
Ready to go! Off to Java, flight from Sultan Syarif Kasim Ii at 07.10 to land in Jakarta, from where we take an internal flight to Semarang.
Exhausted from the long journey, here we are finally in Pulau Karimunjawa. We couldn't wait to change and slip into our favourite outfits: my Xacus flower-print shirt, bought specially for this wonderful holiday, while Laura is looking more beautiful than ever in her blue linen dress. We spent the evening with a roving dinner at the Alun Alun fish market, among the characteristic stalls shrouded in barbecue smoke where you can choose your blue or red fish to grill in minutes. But also crustaceans, freshly caught seafood and noodles: you sit at tables inside the nearby football field.
The next morning we set off from the west pier, the one near the night market, to reach the islands of Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil in a group boat and all had lunch on Gleyang beach. The landscapes are enchanting and the seabed still pristine, of rare beauty. I can still taste the freshly picked coconut from the palm tree that the local guides open in front of you to quench your thirst.
