Moto GP redefined or Can my goat have a ride?

This past weekend, huggems and I decided to break out of the neighborhood and take my Scoopy and his Ninja beyond the confines of our usual close to home route. We decided to venture out on to one of the main drags in Kemang (that is the area of South Jakarta that we live in)and live large.

Sunday morning is the most likely time to spot bules behind the wheel. This can be attributed to necessity, they are desperate to get a behind the wheel fix that they are denied 99.999% of the time, or they just want to go for a Sunday drive unassisted. Our outing would fall under the last two possibilities I think.

While in the US, our friends Rick and Nancy took us to a motorcycle shop where I purchased a girlie looking "do-rag" to wear under my helmet. I have begun to call it my "Scoopy-Do-Rag." I know, you are groaning as you read this. I just can't help it. Maaf. It is cute and it does keep the hair from being ripped off my head when I put my helmet on or take it off. So, thanks guys for your help in making me cool, stylish, and even more American looking than I already am.

About 7:30 we roll out of the gate and begin to make our way to Kemang Raya and then to the coffee shop where we usually eat Sunday morning breakfast. The route we chose was one that included almost exclusively left-hand turns. That way we did not have to cross traffic on the busier street and I am much better at left-hand turns. Sweetie put me in the lead position because not only is he a gentleman, but my scooter has got a lot less get up and go than his Kawasaki Ninja. He didn't need to be constantly looking for me as we were driving along Kemang Raya.

As we made our way through the neighborhood, we turned left at the bunga (flower)stands that are at the end of the street and begin our assent up the hill that leads to Kemang Raya. As I get to the end of the street I think to myself, "Do I turn around now or do I do this?" I decide, as I look up and down the street, that it looks pretty calm and I feel confident I can keep myself in one piece. I bravely turn on my left turn signal, and roll out on to my path of adventure no matter how brief the trip.

As I drive along, I stay pretty far to the left so other motorists can pass me if necessary. I think I am going pretty fast but in reality, everyone is passing me. But you know, I am OK with that. I was not in the way and it was mainly lots of other scooters and motorcycles going by so I know I was not impeding their progress. Thus, I Scoopied along and felt pretty happy with myself.

As is my normal experience, driving a route is different than riding as a passenger and I missed my turn because it came up quicker than I expected. So, I just kept driving until I got to the street that we fondly dubbed Lake Kemang.

It was so named because when it rained, it would get about ten to twelve inches deep all the way across the street and about ten to fifteen feet down the street forming a lake. If you got caught on foot instead of in your car during a rain storm, you had a problem. It has been repaved, and this is not much of a problem any longer. However, my friends, Gayna and Laura, got stuck there one time and had to have a guy on a motorcycle get them across because they didn't want to walk in the icky water. This was a very wise choice because you don't want to walk in flood waters here if you can at all help it. Sanitation is a massive issue. Goodness only knows what is mixed in with the water or if you might get the added bonus of having a squashed dead rat go drifting by. Nuff said.

Down the street we go and wind all around the neighborhood before we decide that we are really getting hungry and want a cup of coffee and some food. We head back toward the bunga stands and as we approach,I see a motorcycle in front of me with strange cargo.

Now I have seen a lot of things on motorcycles and scooters here. Motor bikes rigged up with baskets to haul orchids and other lovely flowers, a man riding with a car tire around his waist, 2 guys with a 6 foot ladder, 6 people on one bike, women riding side saddle decked out in high heel shoes and matching purses, live chickens hanging upside down, a guy riding on the back holding a car windshield, rolled up carpets being transported, adorable young school girls who could win a cuteness award, insulated boxes rigged on the back to get your KFC, McDonalds hamburger and fries, and Pizza Hut pizza order to you somewhat hot.

However, on Sunday I saw two men on a motorcycle with a full grown goat riding in-between them. Now the goat was not riding like a person would. That would have made me fall off my Scoopy. The goat was on his side being held by the guy on the back. His little goat head was tilted up so he was able to view his world from the correct angle. This was a very healthy brown goat. Most likely he was about 65 or 70 pounds. He, without a helmet, was just riding along as calmly as could be with his long goat ears flapping in the breeze. I just burst out laughing at this sight.

Now, this is Jakarta and one never knows what they will see. What made this make sense is that the holiday known as Idul Adha is quickly approaching. Idul Adha is known as the festival of sacrifice. It is a time when lots and lots of animals are slaughtered, usually on the steps of the mosques, and the meat is butchered on sight and given to the poor. I have been told that it is really quite the sight. It is not one I care to witness. I am not sure I would ever be able to eat meat again after that. Last year I did not even leave my house on that day. However, as gruesome as all of this is, it has a purpose and I cannot diminish what that is. For many of the poor in this country, this is the only meat they will have all year long. Animals are purchased and donated to the mosques and it feeds many very hungry mouths.

When I first saw this goat, and stopped laughing, I realized where he was heading and I wanted to shout out "Get off that bike and RUN!!!" However, I guess his destiny is to help the many and not the few. May you go in peace brother goat.

I titled this post "Moto GP redefined." We don't live in a world of Sunday afternoon football games on TV here. Instead, we have lots of coverage of MotoGP and Formula 1 races on Sunday. MotoGP is short for Motorcycle Grand Prix and Formula 1 race cars are the open wheel style and they go very, very fast while looking very stylish. Both of these types of races are international races. We have seen race coverage from Australia, Spain, Japan, France, UK and lots of other destinations as well as California and Indianapolis, Indiana. Yep, we tour the world from our lounge chairs most Sundays. After seeing my four legged friend riding along, I decided maybe he was in the Moto "Goat" Prix. How prestigious!

With all of that silliness behind, here is hoping that the hungry will be fed, that the world will find some balance and that no one ever asks me to give their goat a ride on my Scoopy.