JP/Wahyoe Boedwardhana

For those of you driving on the roads of Eastern Indonesia, across Java and Papua, you may well one day encounter on one of your trips a long-haired cyclist who rides a hybrid mountain bicycle (MTB).

You are also likely to see three bags on the rack at the back of that bicycle. One bag lies on top of the luggage rack while the others hang on either side.

Many messages and signatures from people of all walks of life are scrawled all over the three bags.

Two other details distinguish this bike and its rider from the rest – two red-and-white flags tied on the front of the bicycle, and a piece of plywood stating “Around Indonesia”.

That cyclist is none other but Egi Suryana, 32, a resident of Tanjungsari sub-district, Tanjung Raya district, Tulang Bawang regency, Lampung.

This single young man is determined to cycle around Indonesia.  He began his journey in Lampung on Jan. 28, 2009.

“I only have one goal. I want to see for myself the districts and communities across Indonesia because up to now I’ve only known about them through television and books.

“I also want to spread the spirit of brotherhood and unity as a fellow citizen of Indonesia,” said Egi, when he passed through Malang city.

With his old gearless MTB bicycle, Egi began his spirited journey across thousands of kilometers of Indonesia by first choosing to explore the roads of Sumatra.

Starting off with Rp 50,000 (US$5), the young man began his journey from Bandar Lampung, and then went straight north, heading for Medan. The province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) was the only province Egi did not visit while exploring Sumatra, mainly for security reasons.

“When I left home, my mother told me to avoid conflict areas for my own safety. And so I obeyed,” said the child of the couple Ponimin and Jayem.

After Medan, he continued his journey around Indonesia exploring Java, though he deliberately skipped Jakarta.

Egi, who has harbored dreams to tour Indonesia since the middle of 2008, only carries four sets of clothing for this long bicycle journey.

He has successfully handled all obstacles he has encountered so far, such as bends, hills and downhill rides.  At one stage, Egi was forced to push his bike for 25 kilometers in the area of Setinjau Laut, Solok Regency, because the road was so steep.

While sitting on the saddle of his bicycle and pedaling away, Egi decided that to achieve a goal, the journey had to be creative too.

“Unity and oneness aren’t just things that can be said. They must be put to action. And who can create that appreciation? Well, only ourselves, not other people,” said Egi.

Egi always carries four folio books, which he presents to the people he meets.

Those books contain written messages, impressions and community support from people living in the areas Egi has visited. All the messages are supportive of Egi, encouraging him to continue his noble effort of spreading the spirit of unity and oneness to so many cities by riding his bicycle.

Egi only has one regret: of the hundreds of areas he has stopped in, he has rarely received a positive response from government officials.

“Maybe they thought I just stopped by to ask for pocket money. And I had no such intentions. I just wanted them to write down their impressions and messages about my efforts. That’s all,” he said.

In the 11 provinces he has cycled through, only one official — a sub-district head in the Purworejo regency of Central Java — agreed to jot down some comments in Egi’s book.

However, Egi says the words were written in the office yard because the sub-district head had to go out for lunch.

Egi laments the fact that few officials were willing to meet him, giving him all sorts of excuses not to, even though they should be the ones leading society by example.

Because of these experiences, Egi said he preferred to meet people with educated backgrounds.

“I was sick for a week in Purwokerto. It was a university student and nature lover from Sudirman University who helped me get better,” said Egi, who often sleeps the night in fuel stations, restaurants or police stations.

Egi was also humbled when he managed to help a community in West Java after an earthquake had struck the area some time ago.

“There I just felt right; there was a strong sense of brotherhood and mutual help among community members. I also assisted victims of the earthquake there for a few days,” he said.

When asked how he has managed to get by financially during the trip, the eldest of two brothers answered that his funds had come from various sympathetic donors.

For example, Zuhdi, 43, a resident of Lowokwaru riding a moped, Malang City said he deliberately turned back to meet Egi when he saw him being interviewed by several journalists.

“Excuse me; may I give you some money? I hope you will not be offended. I’m just amazed by how brave you are to go around Indonesia riding a bike like this,” said Zuhdi, while handing him Rp 50,000 (US$5).

Surabaya, Suramadu Bridge, Madura are all stops on Egi’s long journey. At the time he was interviewed, Egi was on his way along the northern coast of East Java, and planning to go to Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, then cross into Papua, and continue heading north to Sulawesi.  

His travelling plans will end at the equator monument in Pontianak.

“When I get home, maybe my parents will ask me to get married,” Egi said smiling.

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