Monday Urban Moments - Meeting "Andra and the Backbone"

Today´s Monday Urban Moments is special, because Ilham has met the Indonesian rockband "Andra and the Backbone" in their recording studio in Gandaria, Jakarta and in the band-office in Pondok Indah, Jakarta.

They met for the preparations for the first Marapulai Clothing order of the rock band "Andra and the Backbone" for their Germany and Europe tour "Rock for good" next year in May and June 2013. We vest the band with Marapulai shoes. The concert organizer is the PPI Hamburg, an Indonesian student organization.

The members of the band "Andra and the Backbone" are: 

Guitarist: Andra Junaidi,  Guitarist: Stevie Morley,  Vocalist: Dedy Lisan

Photographer: Gun Nadi
Cameraman: M Dien Nur Nirwan

Band: YouTube Channel

Thanks for meeting you guys!

Monday Urban Moments - Ride a motorcycle in Jakarta

For a new Monday topic I choose motorcycling in Jakarta, because it was really an experience for me. I never ever drove on a motorcycle before, well let´s say I was afraid and always had the possibility to get a car in Germany. :-) But in Indonesia the problem is the traffic jam. If you drive with a car, you need so much longer for a route than with a motorcycle. And that´s why... Ilham requested that I just try it, to sit on the motorcycle with him.

There we go!

You see some impressions, how it is to be on the street with a bike. In Indonesia to wear a helmet is an obligation. Don´t wonder, I need a scarf on my nose and mouth, because there is so many waste gas. In the raining season you have also the problem of flooded roads and holes in the asphalt. But you cannot go fast anyway, like you see on the speedo it´s about 30 km/h. So, maybe take a break and have something to drink in front of this small colourful shop?!  

In the end... I survived a 4,5 hours (one way) trip!  And like to go again! ;-)

Monday Urban Moments - Transportation

When you are on the way through Jakarta, you see really weird and funny transportation variations. Here in Germany you think, you always need a car for transporting a washing machine?! No you don´t, but if you try this in Germany, I think you have to pay.

In Indonesia, no one says, it is impossible to carry anything on a motorcycle.

And for animals of course you need a bigger vehicle. A pick up car is enough, just like you can see here a cow and three buffaloes.  Just watch and enjoy!

Monday Urban Moments - Highcycling

We want to show you more about the place, where Ilham comes from and where Marapulai´s second foothold is, so we now just start the series "Monday - Urban Moments". Ilham is currently there for three months and is giving us a few impressions of the streets of Indonesia.

A highcycler in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo by Marapulai.

It´s a high cycler in the middle of Jakarta. Unbelievable! 
Ilham was talking to him. The guy is an a high cycle club and 
they made the cycles by themselves.