Cyberdevil 2021-02-23 11:20:06

There is a gearbox - there are emotions, yes! XD I might need to quote that sometime!

It's true. it becomes like an extension of yourself somehow.

ChordC 2021-02-24 07:40:43

@Cyberdevil Yeah, automatic transmission is also getting more popular here also, in more developed cities at least.

Yes, you definitely have more control with manual transmission, though you have to be able to focus on multiple things at the same time. Especially in here, where roads are mostly terrible, motorcycles doing whatever they want, and 'angkot' taxis stopping in the middle of the road (search up angkot and you'll see what I mean), not to mention the lack of education most people have here. You have to be more aware of your surroundings, cause a lot of drivers are quite reckless here.

There is definitely a lot more emotions when driving manual XD, engine shutting down in a traffic light, getting stuck on an uphill road, mistaken the gas for pedal are a few things that really drive your emotions XD.

ChordC 2021-02-24 07:42:22

@Cyberdevil Correction: Meant to say, "mistaken the gas pedal for brakes"

Cyberdevil 2021-02-24 09:52:48

Unfortunately, IMO, a large part of how you regard a 'developed world' seems to be in an increasing comfortability in how you lead your life, reflected in details like this, which I don't always think is such a good thing. :) You take away a bit of the reward when you take away a bit of the hardship, in so many areas... but I probably really shouldn't complain. I'd probably see things differently if I didn't live where I did live, and see downsides in things people elsewhere would envy having at all. Like cars.

Haha yeaaah I've been through all of that too. XD Still occasionally have a little wave of fear that I might just come to a stop in the middle of a crossing or similar, but when you've driven a bit more I'm curious if you'll feel the same way about all of this as I do now. :) When you really don't need to think so much about it. I feel maybe a lot of people who drive autoamtic never try manual long enough that it becoms so second nature to them they really see the benefits the same way.

But you do probably have a lot tougher traffic over there! Can't really imagine learning to drive over there, just heading into the big city here's enough. :) And no motorcycles at all really. Five lane highway bypasses with road bumps and exits/entrances all over are personally the parts I like the least, regular roads otherwise are pretty peaceful here.

Cyberdevil 2021-02-24 09:54:54

@ChordC Oh wait, forgot to tag you. Responded to your message just before this one...

ChordC 2021-02-24 13:27:54

@Cyberdevil Yeah, you’re right, I’m sorry, I revealed too much. at least we learn how to deal with hardships better when we live in a “poor” place. It helps us deal with problems, makes us mentally stronger to say the least. Oh yeah, and I have to use a VPN to access Newgrounds here, cause it’s blocked in my country, good thing free VPNs exists.

Yess, manual transmission does have its benefits on giving the driver more control over the car, people who have become so used to manual drive would definitely prefer driving manual because of this reason. However, it takes time for a person to master manual drive, this is why most beginner drivers would prefer automatic transmission, because of its simplicity and how easy it is master IMO.

Hahah yeah, traffic here is more violent than your country for sure XD, you’ll understand when you’re driving here :).

Cyberdevil 2021-02-24 14:19:31

@ChordC Ah yeah I remember the VPN thing. You know that is actually one thing I wouldn't wish for anyone; do not envy you in regard to that. :) The type of hardship I'm not sure really molds you into a more capable person but more so just an annoying restriction. Hope that NG blockade some day clears out, whatever reason they have for it... no need for apologies btw! it's always enlightening to swap perspectives like this.

That probably is true too!

Some day maybe I'll actually make that trip and give it a try. :) Before then maybe a little practice over in Italy, or Romania, a few places here in Europe too where I hear it's at least a bit wilder than ours...

Cyberdevil 2021-02-25 06:56:00

I suppose you should use a VPN if you need one. :) Personally I make do without, though did try it a while just to browse with peace of mind, no matter where I go there'd be no tracking... in the end though it adds a bit to the overhead. It's quicker/easier on hardware without. If you have those kinds of limitations. :P

It's great to get around restrictions though, or if you happen to visit a lot of shady websites with uncertain legality...

As for traveling abroad, are you thinking now or int he future too, when the pandemic's cooled down? The thing that keeps me from going to more exotic places (or has kept me, when I really could travel freely) is basically the time, and the time difference. Can't take a short weekend trip somewhere if just the flight is 14 hours, and I don't really have enough vacation time for long-distance travel too. And then: if the timezones differ by half a day you really need a fair amount of time to get into that new circadian rhythm. XD But it'd really be nice to go somewhere more exotic, Thailand seems nice, Indonesia too, Japan would really be interesting, Hong Kong, South Korea, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados, Australia, New Zealand... so many places left to see! ;D

For the new-future though yes, I'll probably just be traveling within the country; maybe neighboring countries. Booked a first flight to visit a buddy in April, then June, then later in September, hopefully they don't start canceling flights like they did last year now...

ChordC 2021-02-25 10:48:42

@Cyberdevil Yess, I guess you can put it that way, depends on how a person sees it. Well, it's not just NG that's blocked, Reddit, porn sites, vimeo, just to name a few, are also blocked. Mostly because these sites contain porn (silly reason, I know). Hope the upcoming government people would unblock these sites someday, it's just dumb to block these sites, cause you can just use a VPN to access them anyway. Anyway, glad to know there is not any misunderstandings, swapping perspectives lets us learn from each other's experience indeed.

If you want to visit Indonesia, I recommend going to Bali, it is the most foreigner friendly place in here. It's got bars, clubs, beaches and cultural places to visit. By far the best place to visit in Indonesia IMO. If you hear people saying "Bule" here, they are most likely talking about you, cause we call foreigners, "Bule" here. Keep your earn open for that when you are here ;)

@Mejson I mean, they say that it makes our online activities more secured, you can read the info here: https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/vpn/what-is-a-vpn . For me, VPN is a utility, you can use it to access things that are blocked in your country. This is definitely useful for me. According to VPN explanations, it basically makes your online activity more secured and private.

ChordC 2021-02-25 10:50:27

@Cyberdevil Correction: "earn" was supposed to be "ears"

Cyberdevil 2021-02-25 11:37:03

@ChordC At least VPN's are legal I hope? If they start trying to stop people from getting around their restrictions that's when it'll really become problematic, like North Korea, Russia, China... indeed, always enlightening!

It'll probably be a long time before I travel that far now but good to know. :) Will probably have some follow-up questions if you're still around here then. Do you live near Bali yourself?

ChordC 2021-02-25 21:04:50

@Cyberdevil Yes, VPN is still legal, and I hope we won’t become like China, North Korea and Russia. I can only hope for the best.

And no, I don’t live in Bali, I live in Java Island.

@Mejson “Bule” means foreigners in here ;)

Cyberdevil 2021-02-26 06:38:50

Mmm, if you don't think you need it you probably don't. :) Though with piracy there's always a risk if you don't use anything. Either a VPN or a proxy or a separate service to download files, not tied to your own IP. Maybe the law isn't that harsh on piracy over in Poland though?

What am I? :D Indeed, soon as it's all over...

Thank you.

Cyberdevil 2021-02-26 06:42:01

@ChordC Ah with Jakarta and all, first time I heard of that city might've been with Tintin back in the day. :) Indonesia really is pretty large, a lot of islands too...

Cyberdevil 2021-02-26 09:18:57

Sounds good then. :)

Aha! XD Well thank you you, you too!

All good!

ChordC 2021-02-26 11:02:39

@Cyberdevil One of Tintin’s stories takes place in Jakarta? Never heard of that before, but interesting. Yes, we are the largest island country in the world, and has the 4th largest population by far ;)

Cyberdevil 2021-02-26 11:28:20

@ChordC At least one yes. :) It's been a while since I read them now, may have been more mentions, but at least: https://www.pinterest.se/pin/460422761897592801/

I did not know you were the largest too! Interesting... I guess Australia doesn't qualify huh? :P

ChordC 2021-02-26 11:53:51

@Cyberdevil Huh, never seen this Tintin story before, that’s pretty cool :).

Well, in terms of a country that consists of islands, we are the largest in the world. Compared with Australia, Indonesia covers more area, but most of it are seas, while Australia is just one continent ;).

Cyberdevil 2021-02-26 12:47:09

Kajko i Kokosz hmm, not sure that one was ever translated here, i Googled covers and for a second I thought maybe it was Asterix. XD Looking closer though... really nothing alike at all. Maybe just a similar color scheme/style with the covers...

That'd be fun to read too sometime. I collect comics personally, finna keep an eye out if ever that's available over here.

Cyberdevil 2021-02-26 12:51:00

@ChordC Indeed. :) They really go to a lot of exotic places in those books, not your typical tourist destinations either, maybe enhances the sense of adventure even more; you feel like you're really exploring the world... though for you I guess maybe a lot of these wouldn't seem that exotic at all. :P Exotic for us over here in Europe.

Ahh that's true, didn't consider that, a lot of underwater landmass too... is the land under the water considered a part of the country I wonder? Say tectonic plates shift and the islands become a conjoined plot of land, would that all be Indonesia then?