27/09/2025
Last night, I was brought to a local favorite restaurant and told I needed to try Beef Rendang. I had heard of this dish many, many times so I knew I was in for a treat.
We stepped into the restaurant and it hit me — I had no idea I would love Indonesia this much.
The culture, the food, the warmth of the people; everything tells a beautiful story of love and resilience to anyone who will listen.
You see, Indonesia has been attacked by colonizers many times. These people have fought proudly for their country, for their communities, for their people. Millions have died, yet are not forgotten. I walked through a war museum yesterday, I have seen the evidence of the heinous acts of violence these people survived.
And yet, their hearts remain soft. They remain full of kindness, love and respect.
This is a culture where people sit down and eat together. Food, water, and shelter are celebrated. If you need anything - and I mean ANYTHING - the people here will go out of their way to help you.
It is a humbling experience.
Like, who am I that you are so willing to help me? I'm just a random guy who is thankful to be here. And here they are, literally opening up their culture to me and making sure I feel at home.
I find myself saying "terima kasih" quite often, or 'ma kasih for short, which is an informal thank you. And, always bow to show respect. It's very simple.
Almost every time I am thanked for showing them respect - and yet, all I did was say thank you in their language. Again, I simply cannot tell you how kind, sweet, and wonderful these people are.
Okay, enough of my rambling. I could write all day about my recent experiences here, but let's get back on topic:
Here the Beef Rendang. And yes, I ate with my hands - the traditional way. See my last post for the video.
I love Indonesia. 🇮🇩