Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Lusa saya pulang kampung; semoga cuaca cerah. - The day after tomorrow I go back to my hometown; hopefully the weather is clear.

dua hari lagi = “in two days” (relative to now; roughly the same in everyday talk)
You may hear besok lusa in speech with the same meaning as lusa, but in careful writing just use lusa. The opposite is kemarin lusa = “the day before yesterday.”

Is the word order Lusa saya pulang kampung natural? Do I need a comma after lusa?

Yes, it’s natural to front time words: Lusa saya pulang kampung. You can also say Saya pulang kampung lusa—both are fine. In formal writing, a comma after a fronted adverbial is recommended: Lusa, saya pulang kampung. In everyday writing, the comma is often omitted after a short word like lusa.

Do I need akan to mark the future here?

No. Indonesian doesn’t require a future marker. Lusa saya pulang kampung already implies future. Adding akan (Lusa saya akan pulang kampung) is fine and can sound a bit more explicit or formal, or emphasize a plan.

Why is there no ke before kampung in pulang kampung?

Pulang kampung is a set phrase meaning “go back to one’s hometown.” With other destinations you’d normally use ke (e.g., pulang ke Jakarta, pulang ke rumah). You can say pulang ke kampung halaman to explicitly say “go back to (my) hometown.” Pulang ke kampung is understood but less idiomatic; adding halaman or a possessive makes it clearer.

What’s the difference between pulang, kembali, and balik?

pulang: go home/return (to where you live/come from). Very common and neutral. Set phrase: pulang kampung.
kembali: return/go back (to a place or previous state), more formal/neutral; not specifically “home.” E.g., kembali ke kantor.
balik: colloquial “go back/come back.” E.g., balik ke rumah. In Indonesian, the set phrase is pulang kampung (Malay also uses balik kampung).

What does kampung mean exactly? Is it the same as desa?

Kampung can mean “village,” “home village,” or “neighborhood,” and often implies one’s place of origin. Desa is the formal term for a rural village (an administrative unit). Note: kampungan is slang/pejorative for “uncouth,” unrelated to the place.

Is pulang kampung the same as mudik?

They overlap, but:

pulang kampung: go back to one’s hometown (any time).
mudik: especially the mass homecoming for Eid (Idulfitri). Outside that context, people still understand mudik as “go home (to hometown) for a holiday/occasion.”

How do I say “my hometown” explicitly?

kampung halaman saya or kampung halamanku = my hometown.
You can also use a possessive suffix: kampung halaman
- -ku/-mu/-nya. If you mean “my house,” use rumah: pulang ke rumah.

Is the semicolon here okay? What punctuation is most natural?

A semicolon is acceptable to link two related independent clauses. Many writers would simply use a period: Lusa saya pulang kampung. Semoga cuaca cerah. A comma is less standard between independents, but you may see it informally.

What does semoga convey compared with mudah-mudahan or berharap/harap?

semoga: “hopefully/I hope.” Neutral, concise, common in both formal and informal contexts.
mudah-mudahan: very close in meaning; often a bit more conversational.
(saya) berharap: “I hope” as a full verb; slightly more formal or explicit.
harap: “to request/expect” (often imperative, e.g., harap tenang). As “I hope,” saya harap can sound like a stronger expectation.

Does semoga need a subject or bahwa?

No. Semoga + clause is a complete sentence: Semoga cuaca cerah. If you use the verb “hope,” you can say Saya berharap (bahwa) cuaca cerah, with bahwa optional.

Can I say semoga cuacanya cerah? What does -nya add?

Yes: Semoga cuacanya cerah is natural. -nya makes it definite or specific—roughly “the weather (there/then) is clear,” assuming shared context. Without -nya it’s a more general wish.

What exactly does cerah describe? Is it the same as panas or terang?

cerah: clear/bright (weather), often “sunny” or “clear sky.”
panas: hot (temperature).
terang: bright (light/illumination), not specifically weather.
berawan: cloudy; mendung: overcast/gray, often before rain.

Where do time-of-day words go if I want to add them?

Both positions are fine:

Lusa pagi saya pulang kampung.
Saya pulang kampung lusa pagi. Common order is day first, then time: lusa pagi, besok sore, etc.

How would this sound in casual conversation?

Colloquial variants:

Lusa aku pulang kampung; semoga/mudah-mudahan cuacanya cerah.
In Jakarta-style slang: Lusa gue pulang kampung; semoga/mudah-mudahan cuacanya cerah. Grammar stays the same; only pronouns and some word choices change.

How do I negate the sentence?

Use tidak with the verb:

Lusa saya tidak pulang kampung. = I’m not going home the day after tomorrow. To say plans changed: Lusa saya tidak jadi pulang kampung.

How do I turn it into a yes–no question?

Informal: Lusa kamu pulang kampung?
More formal: Apakah lusa kamu pulang kampung? Intonation alone often marks questions in speech.

Is capitalization after the semicolon correct here?

Yes. After a semicolon you keep lowercase: …; semoga cuaca cerah. If you use a period, capitalize: … . Semoga cuaca cerah.

Can I use both lusa and akan, or is that redundant?

You can use both: Lusa saya akan pulang kampung. It’s not wrong; akan adds explicit futurity or a sense of a plan. Without akan is already clear because lusa gives the time.