Day 382 Lake Toba – Bukittinggi (Indonesia) / motorbike GS Dakar RTW overland adventure traveller

• Left – 6.45am
  
• 22nd April 2015
• Miles rode – 273 (437km)

I woke early in the rubbish hotel where cockroaches had taken residence in then bathroom, ah well what should I expect for £3.75 including breakfast?

We left early and the kids were already out and about going to school, one of the many things I love about Asia is that however poor the country the kids are always clean and immaculately dressed in their school uniform, no ‘Chelsea Tractors’ taking them to school, they walk along busy roads  however young they are.

The roads were bad again in places today with water filled pot holes and mud, after a late breakfast we made good progress as we headed south towards the equator through the jungle negotiating the many twistbacks.

At 3.30pm we arrived in the poring rain at the equator. It was a special moment having been away 1 year, 2 weeks and 1 day through 30 countries all in the Northern Hemisphere. Even though it was poring with rain and I was soaked through, it was a highlight of my trip along with crossing The Bosphorus in Istanbul where you leave Europe and arrive in Asia and riding up the Karakorum Highway arriving at the Chinese border. All very special moments.

I’ve arrived in the Southern Hemisphere, how long will I stay here?

I made a mistake in Bukittinggi by checking into a hotel directly over the road from a mosque where the ‘call to prayer’ was so very loud! Out in the evening and street food again, wonderful Nasi Goreng, satay, omelette and fried chicken for £1.50