Lebaran Holiday

Idul Fitri, more commonly referred to in Indonesia as Lebaran, is the celebration that comes at the end of the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadhan. The Arabic meaning of Idul Fitri is “becoming holy again”. Lebaran will fall on October 1st and 2nd this year - so we have a long vacation! It seems strange to be having a long holiday in October, and stranger still that it's not cooling down. Amazing how accustomed I am to the change of seasons.
Strongly held traditions to visit family at this time necessitate the exodus of 3 1/2 million (yes million!) people from Jakarta alone, as well as additional millions from other urban centers, to rural villages and hometowns for the Lebaran holiday. The logistics of this exodus cause headaches for the government each year. During this period the streets in Jakarta are nearly empty as the population decreases by nearly one third. The hardships and inconveniences endured by the travelers in overcrowded buses, trains and cars is unbelievable, yet they feel that this is a small price to pay to spend the holidays with their family and friends. Traditionally these urban dwellers come bearing gifts or money earned during the previous year for their family.
I'll be joining the exodus. I am leaving today (Saturday) to go to a city called Manando, which is located on the island of Sulowesi. Sulowesi is the island that is shaped like a k with a squiggle on top. I'm taking a train to Jakarta and then a bus to the airport and will fly out this evening. I'm amazed at how large Indonesia really is - and how inaccessible many places are.
I am going with Regina and her family - Regina is from this island. I will be staying at a hotel, while her family stays with her mother and father. Rumor has it that the hotel has a hot shower! If it has a flushing toilet- I may never leave the hotel room.
I am hoping to get in some beach time, and go snorkeling, since the island has a coral reef, and many people go their for diving.
As I've told some of you, the food in Manando is very different. They eat snake, wild hog, bats, and dogs. I think I'll be sticking to rice and vegetables.
I will keep you posted as I enjoy my holiday.