Two Jakarta Residents Cycling To Banyuwangi To Collect Donations For Palestine

Photo: Reza M Jtm

BANYUWANGI - There are many ways that people do to show solidarity with Palestinians. Two Jakarta residents, Muhammad Maahir Abdulloh (26) and Ahmad (33) cycled nearly 1,000 kilometers to Banyuwangi, East Java.

The two of them ride their bicycles to collect donations that will be donated to the Palestinian people.

The two of them arrived in Banyuwangi, at the Gandrung Dance statue on Thursday, May 27. The two of them departed from Jakarta on Monday 17 May or exactly 11 days until they arrived at Banyuwangi.

"Our target is 10 days, there are a number of obstacles beyond our wishes, so this is until the 11th day," said Maahir when met.

He said the route being taken was the Pantura route starting from Jakarta-Karawang-Indramayu-Pemalang-Semarang.

Then proceed to Tuban-Lamongan-Surabaya-Probolinggo-Situbondo and finish in Banyuwangi.

"Anyway, in a day walk from morning to sunset, at night rest," he said.

On the way, the two cyclists rested at inns and friends' houses in the city they stopped by.

Maahir admitted that he did not really encounter any problems because he had traveled to explore Indonesia across 34 provinces for two years in 2018.

"So for two years I cycled around Indonesia. Just six months on the road again for the Jakarta-Banyuwangi route," he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad admitted that he was happy to finally be able to complete this long journey.

"If you are tired, definitely, but people are happy when you walk on the road and give them encouragement," he said.

The two cyclists will return to Jakarta tomorrow, Friday, May 28. The two of them will return to the capital by public bus.

Meanwhile, the donation funds that were collected were IDR 34.9 million. Donations are donated through Indonesia Dermawan accounts which can be seen transparently by the public.

"The funds will later be distributed to Palestine through the aid distribution agency ACT," he said.