Old Seaport Jakarta

We walked thru the docks filled with the last remaining fleet of wooden merchant ships in the world.They were loading ( by hand) supplies bound for Sumatra and other remote islands not serviced by modern steel merchant ships. I hired a guide ( I should say he attached himself to us) and with excellent English he guided us around the docks.I talked him into taking us aboard one of the old schooners, They average 100 years old. No radar, no GPS, no radios, just old fashion seamanship . The crew was dozing in the shade hiding from the sweltering heat. He told us the trip to Sumatra took 3 weeks and they occasionally took adventurist tourists along. . Karen said forget it, anybody want go with me some time? What an adventure!! Most cargo was cement, steel , soda/ food items even an occasional car. People were all very friendly . Whenever I said I was American, they in veritably said Obama! Obama ! When these old ships disappear , an era will have passed into the history books. This was a special day.