Morning Soccer: Plastic Balls and Pure Passion
I started my day keeping a promise I made yesterday—playing soccer with the local neighborhood kids!
I don't even know their names yet, but kicking a ball around is the fastest way to make friends. Interestingly, we didn't use a standard leather soccer ball. Instead, we played with a bright yellow plastic ball. Apparently, that's just how a lot of people casually play around here!
It really reminded me just how much Indonesia loves soccer. You can feel the passion everywhere you go, especially with how crazy they go for their national team.
Diving into the First-Ever "Festival Marawai"
Later in the day, I headed out to an event called "Festival Marawai" held in Negeri Hatalai, Maluku Province.
Get this—it was actually the very first time this festival was ever held! It's designed to celebrate local music, traditional culture, and art. Hearing that local artists would be gathering there, I was super pumped to check it out.
Entry was just an ink stamp on the hand and cost 35,000 rupiah (about $2.50 USD).
The moment I walked in, I was greeted by people playing the Tifa, a traditional Maluku drum. Here's the crazy part: it looks huge and heavy, but it's totally hollow inside. It's literally lighter than a 500ml water bottle or a roll of toilet paper! Even the drumsticks felt lighter than my smartphone. I was honestly a bit shocked.
Fierce War Dances and Bamboo Beats
Next up was the Cakalele, a traditional war dance showcasing bravery and combat skills.
The dancers were wielding actual long swords and spears. When they scraped those blades against the ground, it made this sharp, piercing metallic clink. I'm not gonna lie, it looked pretty dangerous—one wrong move and you'd get sliced—but the raw energy and skill were absolutely mesmerizing.
In the afternoon, I watched the Tari Saureka-Reka (also known as Tari Gaba-Gaba), which is Ambon's traditional bamboo dance. The dancers rhythmically jump between four moving bamboo poles. I've seen this on TV before, so seeing it live was a total "pinch-me" moment.
But the crowd went the absolute craziest for the Tari Lenso. I heard this specific performance is only held once every 14 years! Older women dressed in formal, wedding-style white outfits performed gracefully, and the audience was losing their minds. Afterward, a hip-hop artist took the stage and the energy just kept climbing.
Red Bean Soup, a Kind Cop, and a Hidden Beach
Here's the most heartwarming part of the day: a local police officer had actually been guiding me around since the morning. By evening, he invited me to grab some food.
We had a dish called Sup Brenebon, a rich soup made with Kacang Merah (red kidney beans). It was incredibly delicious!
After eating, he said, "Let's go for a ride," and we hopped on his motorbike. We rode about 5-6 km south of Ambon city, cutting through a dense forest, and then another 4-5 km southeast over some crazy hills. The destination? A breathtaking, hidden ocean view.
While chilling there, I met some locals who shared stories about the 15th-century Spice Route, talking about how the Spanish and Portuguese used to navigate these very waters for spices. Standing there absorbing the history was such a romantic experience.
The Immeasurable Value of Stepping Outside
We headed back for the night's main event, and the venue was absolutely packed.
After soaking in the vibes for about three hours, the police officer kindly drove me all the way home—and even packed some of that amazing red bean soup and fried chicken for me to take with! Seriously, how nice is that?
Today was a massive reminder of why I travel. Sure, staying home and studying languages is important, but stepping out of your comfort zone opens the door to unexpected encounters and unseen worlds.
The value of just getting out there is truly immeasurable.
