I am at the airport of Makassar, Sulawei. The lady in front of me puts her trolley on the conveyor belt. For a second, she turns around, looks at me, and says, “You need to help me.” Then, she takes the second trolley and puts it on the conveyor belt. Then, she walks through the body scanner, follows the procedure, and proceeds—so much for my help. Here’s a story about group travel in Indonesia.
It is nice to observe this lady. She wears a long, white-ruby red dress. Her trolley is the type that fits into the hand luggage’s compartments. More interestingly, if you see her, you directly see her thirty fellow travellers. At least, her female fellow travellers, that is. The men wear different outfits but share the same colours.
Solo travel
This summer, two Indonesian friends confirmed that travelling alone is rare in their home country, especially not for women. In this country, one expects group travel! One friend mentioned group trips by friends. The dress code is a serious matter; each day may have a theme and colour. Much of it is discussed in the typical WhatsApp group. You can imagine all the conversations going on…
My visit to Indonesia taught me that group travel is not just a norm; it’s a way of fostering a sense of community. In fact, travelling on your own is quite a different experience. During a previous trip, a tour guide asked me whether I travelled alone, and I confirmed his question. However, I also explained that I would visit friends along the way. My journeys are always filled with beautiful meetings and moments to reflect on. For me, it does not feel like travelling alone in so many cases. However, to many Indonesians, it does.
(One note: I always feel safe when travelling solo in Indonesia. Here are some tips as provided by CultureTrip: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/indonesia/articles/a-solo-travelers-guide-to-indonesia )
The group in front of me confirms it all. However, this is not, by definition, a group of friends. This is a group joining a tour organized by a tour operator. The outfits and trolleys were included in the price (I guess). Nevertheless, they come across as prepared. I get curious about their destination or tour.
Everlasting memories
The group looks happy and excited, looking forward to new experiences and sights. They chat happily, sometimes paying less attention, but above all, energetic. When moving, they move as a group, happily chatting and laughing, seizing the day. They do not harm anyone, but sometimes they are unaware of the procedures at an airport. Therefore, I try to pass customs ahead of them. As expected, some need some extra time when answering questions at customs. I saved some time here.
(I need to admit, this also seems to be a group of senior travellers. They therefore needed some extra time. Here’s one of my stories on travelling seniors: https://travelisinthedetails.com/reislustige-ouderen/ )
I hope the group had a great time visiting Singapore or continued travelling from this famous hub. Whatever happened to them, I hope they made a great trip, gathering unforgettable memories forever, as individuals and as a group.
All good things come in threes or even more.
