~ some impressions ~
Sun. Mar.21. Dave's last day in Madura.. After housekeeping to music, he heads out and has a soto ayam at the usual place then pedals up to the park for the wifi. He encounters lots of local tourists at the historic main street mosque and at the palace. Later on Dave takes Adi's bike back to him after washing it down. “Saka lang kong” friend. Out of 'the Maduran living-room' into the Surabaya kitchen tomorrow. No definite plan of where to go next. Where to stay? The Paviljoen Hotel is apparently an option. It's where Adi stays. Dave wants to check out Pelni boats to Kalimantan.
Madura and Sumenep in particular. The central park with its on-line hot-spot right across from the historic mosque. The park has always been a hot-spot of sorts. It's situated between the palace and the mosque. The Sultan of Sumenep used to hold court here with his subjects. Another contrast ~ the colonial buildings and the post modern.
Other observations. D. detects that the Sumenep people think they're a cut above other Madurans. The famed bull races pit different areas in competition and indicates perhaps that they are provincial and intensely competitive. Slightly obese people. Sweet sugar drinks and fatty, deep-fried snacks. Delicious! There are some old people wandering the streets and hotels begging for money. No family?
You're a big curiosity attraction. In Madura these days they don't see [m]any foreigner tourists. There's a terrific ambiance and atmosphere in Maduran towns.