After the adventure of getting to the ferry things started going a little smoother. The ferry was a four hour ride and the destination was the island of Madura (you can see it on the map of the Java). Madura is a part of Java but in some ways it is very different. Java is busy and polluted and Madura is very agricultural and rural. Madurese people also feel seperate from the Javanese. Our guide book says that the Javanese think of the Madurese as hot-headed and quick to pull knives in a touchy situation. While we were there we were surprised to know that some NGOs were working specifically on conflict resolution between Madura and Java and another island to the north Kalimantan. Anyways we found the people warm and friendly, sometimes too much so.

The first day we arrived we had an easy day and were set out watching the pre-Independence Day parade when it began. The descent of the English teachers. Half of the people we met were English teachers, it seemed like. And they were all interested in us teaching them, and their students English. When it happened the first day we didn't thinking to much of it, but by the third day we were getting a little leery of who we ran into. So, on the first day we did do some stuff with a local English teacher and his students and it was quite fun.

After that easy first day we had two long days of cycling that were really nice. Madura is as "undulating as a young woman's belly" according to our cycling guide man, Mr. Pumpy, and while that is for the most part true Sarah pointed out that at some points the woman does seem a little pregnant. The riding was through picturesque salt fields, tabacco plantations, and beautiful coast line. While it was hot we enjoyed it immensely and were glad we had chosen pass through this beautiful island.