Touring Indonesia Harmoni #30: Boarding the Ferry from Semarang to Kumai, Kalimantan

  This former terrorism convict recounted what he had been doing all this time, namely helping friends who had once been terrorism convicts return to a normal life in society. For them, stigma and economic need are crucial problems for those who have only just been released from prison as terrorist inmates. For that reason, this former convict undertakes various efforts to bridge other ex-convicts with stakeholders in Central Java. Naturally, in the midst of his account, he often wove in the story of why he had been drawn to becoming a terrorist. This story can certainly serve as a lesson that terrorism brings no benefit to the Muslim community or the nation. After taking photos, we were finally escorted to our lodging to rest. The next morning, our PCR test results were sent to us exactly as we arrived at the DLU office to buy tickets for the crossing to Kumai. As soon as we presented all the requirements we had completed for departure, the tickets were finally issued by the officer. The ship would leave for Kumai at 2 p.m. Once the ticket matter was settled, we headed to a roadside stall for breakfast. Because we were wearing our touring gear, the stall owner remarked that we looked like astronauts about to head into space. As soon as we explained our mission and spoke in Javanese, the woman running the stall finally smiled. Usually, when I meet Javanese people, I use Javanese as the language of conversation. This certainly smooths the process of being accepted by the Javanese I am speaking with. Quite a few of them are surprised that an Acehnese man can speak Javanese. Then my story of having lived in Yogyakarta for years becomes the seasoning that endears me to Javanese people. Although, sometimes, when