Human's Survival Mode: ON!!

Last Sunday, my family and I did a short road trip to Lawang in business of commencing traditional "ancestral grave visit." Leaving from Surabaya there can be only one way (as far as my family know) that is through city of Porong, and yup, it is the place where the tragedy of Lapindo mud flood happened. After almost 5 years, the damage still hasn't been neutralized completely. The public infrastructure still blocked by the mud and the only way is through a narrow road along side of the mud dam. 2 way-narrow road plus extremely high volume of vehicles equal to CRAZY TRAFFIC JAM!! It took 3,5 hours for a trip that is supposed to be 2 hours max before. Well, cursing Lapindo mud flood could make an interesting blog by itself, but there is another side of the tragedy that trigger my interest. It actually creates a new job opportunity for some local people. Food stalls on the side road is spreading rapidly trying to take advantage of bored and hungry passengers stuck for a long time on the road. So amazing how people could see this opportunity. Some other group of local people standing in the middle of the road holding sign "Guide to alternative path." They are locals with motorcycle will lead you through confusing and extremely narrow alternative paths to escape the queue. The good thing about it is the price is negotiable!! Darwinist will call this the survival-of-the-fittest evidence in the small and isolated scale. Those who survive are the ones who refuse to give up and to find another open door when some doors are being shutted. With all being said, I do not mean here to glorify the tragedy or to belittle the damage done. I still demand the responsible party to step up and pay up the spilled cost they created at the first place. For the record, along the trip I kept cursing the Lapindo for bringing so many casualties to both direct and indirect victims like me. I hope this post will once again remind us of the tragedy that still remains unsolved and while I applauded those locals who inspired me personally to keep standing tall whatever life throws at you. God bless you all!