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Who are we?

This travel blog is created by me, Lars Aldman, a Swedish journalist and traveller, always in the company of my wonderful wife V. who is also a journalist and a fantastic photographer.

I worked for many years for the Swedish National Radio and Television, as a reporter/producer/studio host and a bunch of other roles.but now I’m retired and do whatever I like.

We love to visit foreign countries and cultures and meet people all over the globe. So far we have been to Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean and of course Europe. And we’d like to share with You, dear reader, what we have experienced and seen. We hope You want to join us and possibly find ideas for Your own adventures.

PS. To see more of my photos from journeys far and near, head over to aldmangallery.com 

To contact us via mail: info@resormedv.se

 

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Asia

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Who are we?

This travel blog is created by me, Lars Aldman, a Swedish journalist and traveller, always in the company of my wonderful wife V. who is also a journalist and a fantastic photographer.

I worked for many years for the Swedish National Radio and Television, as a reporter/producer/studio host and a bunch of other roles.but now I’m retired and do whatever I like.

We love to visit foreign countries and cultures and meet people all over the globe. So far we have been to Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean and of course Europe. And we’d like to share with You, dear reader, what we have experienced and seen. We hope You want to join us and possibly find ideas for Your own adventures.

PS. To see more of my photos from journeys far and near, head over to aldmangallery.com 

To contact us via mail: info@resormedv.se

 

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Indonesia

Travels with V

Indonesia

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Fortsätt läsa här

From mother to daughter only

Bukittingi

V has heard about an ancient culture with some sort of matriarchy, not far from where we are. In the Sumatran town of Bukittinggi, surrounded by volcanoes. The city itself is rather dull and noisy and almost devoid of restaurants, but with an unbelievable amount of mosques. At praying hours a deafening cacophony rises as every caller tries to drown out and outshine the others. Birds are excited and join in the racket:

And this is how we travelled to Bukittinggi:

LIVLIG GATA I BUKITTINGGI
BUSY STREET IN BUKITTINGGI
VANLIGASTE FAMILJETRANSPORTEN
MOST COMMON FAMILY TRANSPORT
KYRKOGÅRD I BUKITTINGGI, HÄR VILAR MUSLIMER, KRISTNA, JUDAR, ALLA MED HUVUDET MOT MECKA
CEMETERY IN BUKITTINGGI. HERE LIES MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS AND JEWS, ALL WITH THEIR HEADS TOWARDS MECKA
I STADSPARKEN SAMLAS MAKAKERNA FÖR ATT KOLLA PÅ MÄNNISKOR
IN THE CITY PARK MAKAKS GATHER TO WATCH HUMANS

The special thing about Bukittinggi is the so called Minangkabao culture, and that’s what we’re here to find out more about. Its most eye catching characteristic is the pointy roofs of most houses, mainly the older ones. The sharp roof ends are symbolizing the horns of the cow, we are told.

TYPICAL MINANGKABAO ROOF
THE CITY GATE, WITH MINANGKABAO ROOF

But the most odd part of Minangkabao is the fact that it’s matrilinear, meaning that family property is owned by the family mother, and only inherited by their daughters. We meet Yefri who explains how this works. The sons inherit nothing when the mother dies. Unmarried sons are forced to move out, and the oldest daughter’s family takes over the house and the farm. On the wall inside one house we see a map of a big family tree. But all the names on it are female, men don’t count in this map.

-Though when it comes to the real power in society, Yefri says, it’s still the men who decide. Though women may be present in assemblies and whisper their meaning, she adds with a smile.

When we enter Yefri’s village it’s time for Idul Fitri, the feast that marks the end of Ramadan. Many relatives have gathered to eat and share gossip. In Yefri’s narrow kitchen food is prepared for 42 persons, and served on the floor on banana leaves.

If you can read Swedish text, V:s piece about the Minangkabao women is found here!

Next we head on into the jungle, where we hope to see some of Indonesia’s last living orangutans.

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