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Bali

Several weeks ago now, I experienced my first Ramadhan in a Muslim country. I did not affect me much, but I was cautious to not eat in front of people I knew would be fasting, such as in taxis. I also was warned to keep a close eye on my belongings as at the end of the month people go home to their villages and are expected to bring home gifts. Not everyone has much to take. I noticed that I heard the call to prayer in the evening more often as it was louder. At sundown it was crowded the streets filled with people traveling to get food. I heard that some people even went to the restaurants and asked for their food to be brought out after sundown (it’s announced everywhere). I even heard the call to prayer in the malls on the loud speaker during Ramadhan. It was a good time to be remembering my Muslim neighbors and to keep them in prayer that they would find the truth and freedom of Christ Jesus.

As more carts of food came out and people stopped their crazy fasting and headed out to their villages to celebrate the Lebaran holiday with their family I headed out to Bali with two other teachers for a week. We introduced ourselves as Candy, Mandy and Sandy. :) They were great traveling partners, there was lots and lots of laughter. 

We could tell Bali was very different from Jakarta the moment we got off the plane. It smells of incense and fresh air. It is primarily Hindu and there are temples everywhere and little offerings for the gods in front of every door step, shop, and little temple or idols. They dress up their statues of gods with plaid skirts. The Balinese people were so friendly, humble and happy to share about their lives and culture. 

Our first stop was Sanur. We went parasailing, boating, visited an orchid garden, and did lots of shopping. We learned quickly how to bargain, although I don’t think my bargaining skills were ever perfected. I’m not very good at it and I got tired of it quickly. We did have some good laughs over the women who would say: “For you good price, morning price, for my good luck….” But if it was in the afternoon they would say: “For you evening price, closing price for my good luck” Or “for your good luck”. The best was when a vendor pulled us into his shop while Disha was looking at a comforter outside he whispered: “ For you I sell for 1 million – OK 300 – OK 100, for my good luck”…we didn’t even have to bargain he just brought down the price quietly it was hilarious. I talked to a driver we had who explained to me that for them selling was all about good karma. If I bought something at a high price I helped them out myself getting good karma and for them good luck, if I bought it at a low price it was good luck for me, good karma for them.  We enjoyed shopping in Sanur. I really enjoyed seeing all the art, especially the batik, it grew on me and by the end of the trip I had lots of items that were batik. Batik is a material that uses a dying technique involving removing wax. The stamps and patterns they use are very ornate and detailed. It’s what most traditional Indonesian clothing is made out of.

After two days in Sanur, we had found a favorite coffee shop and had grown fond of our hostel, but we were eager to visit Ubud. Ubud is more in the center of Bali. We went to a Kecak and Fire Dance. They were not joking about the fire part, a man actually danced in the fire and put out a huge bon fire with his feet. As he was kicking around in the flames a piece of it flew out into the audience. It looked like the lady whose lap was suddenly in flames was pretty calm, but it made the evening a little more exciting. The rest of the dance was amazing, a hundred men making music with their voices and noises, women in beautiful outfits dancing and telling a story that I couldn’t understand, but I’m pretty sure it involved a king, a beautiful princess and a possibly a triangle? I lost my brochure… In Ubud we also visited several museums and art galleries. The Balinese art tells stories from Hindu traditions and legends. The highlight of our time in Ubud was a cycling tour that took us to see a volcano and lake for breakfast, to a coffee plantation, through villages, into a compound and through beautiful rice paddies. We also saw a chicken farm, rice farmers, temples, wood carvers and tried all sorts of yummy foods. Well, mostly yummy, I’m still working on appreciating Durian – the fruit that tastes better than it smells. There is a reason it is covered in a spiky shell. I enjoyed learning about Balinese culture and our tour guide had an amazing story, was well educated and was very passionate about sharing about his culture and learning from other cultures.  In his lifetime he saw his village get electricity. It was a gorgeous bike ride, oh and did I mention it was 25 kilometers…downhill? :)

From Ubud we journeyed to the island of Lombok. We took the ferry which was a crowded four hour ride. For me, this was the most relaxing part of our journey. There was not much to do besides hang out on the beach or at our amazing bungalow in a hammock reading or sleeping or simply being. I got some great time along at the beach, just me, ocean and God. The sunsets were beautiful, a big red sun setting over Bali in the distance. We ate at restaurants right on the beach. We also got to watch the sun rise over the island as we were leaving on the ferry early in the morning. It was great. Where we stayed had a funny cute lady running the place, everything was family style. Our journey back to Jakarta felt like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, although this included taxis, ferries and airplanes. It was a good feeling to get back to Jakarta and realize that my apartment felt like home. I could have stayed in Bali or Lombok much longer, and I was so thankful for the break, but I was anxious to get back decorate my apartment with the things I had bargained for in Bali and settle into life in Jakarta.

I could go on and on about Bali, but my pictures will tell a lot more, check them out at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027648&id=98300792&l=5af3494841

 Since being back in Jakarta I have been busy with grading. The year 11 students had finals the day after the holiday. My teaching schedule has changed so that I am only teaching Fundamentals of English. I’m really excited about this change because it gives me the opportunity to have my own class, so to speak. This week I went on a year 11 leadership retreat in the Bandung area. It was gorgeous and green and cool and rainy. It was fun to hang out with students and other teachers. For some of the students it was their first or second time camping, so it was fun to see them rough it. The teachers did not stay in tents, but we did have an open air bathroom, which was interesting when it was raining. After getting back I enjoyed spending a morning at a spa with some new friends. I got a cream bath, massage and facial all for 9 dollars. Love Indonesia! I also attended my first Indonesian wedding. I only attended the reception, which is normal here. There was lots of food and some funny traditions. My favorite part was when a boy caught the bouquet and then the bride and groom gave him advice. They also had some other traditions that were new to me: after cutting the cake the couple gave a piece to the in-laws and the grandparents. When the couple came into the reception there were sparklers that went off and also after toasting to the couple we had more little fireworks and streamers go off. No dancing, but it was fun.

I was violently ill (just part of life in Indonesia, still getting used to the bacteria) when I got back and was feeling miserable. I was also a little sick with a cold before Bali and a little during the trip. But I'm better now and praying for a healthier month. I'm realizing that I'm feeling settled here. I'm praying that I can sink my feet in and invest as much as I can into life here. I'm grateful for God's faithfulness that I've already been able to be involved in youth ministry at a church here and that God has provided friends here and lots of great adventures and fun times here. I sometimes still wonder why God brought me here. I'm not sure what answer I'm looking for when I feel that way, in some ways I guess a big move makes the future and present all seem unstable somehow. So I'm learning to put my doubt on the cross and learning patience and trust in waiting for God's voice.

I posted a few more pictures in my Jakarta album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026291&id=98300792&l=5dd687a11e

Ancol: The Beach in Jakarta

Ancol is the beach in Jakarta. It's not very clean, not exactly a good place to go swimming. But it's the beach just the same, so I enjoyed seeing it.

Monas: National Monument

One of the views from the top...apparently when it is a clear day you can see the ocean, but it wasn't that clear when we were there.
Me and the Monas (I thought we were going to walk to the top, but I was happy to find there was an elevator)

Water in the Bathroom

Just as I was thinking I did not have a good cultural story from this past week I used a public toilet. In public restrooms in Indonesia there is usually water and if you are lucky toilet paper. Most of the restrooms I have been to have western style toilets and plenty of toilet paper, but I’ve learned to have tissue in my purse or to grab hand tissue on my way in. Only once have I had to use a Muslim style toilet where squatting skills come in handy. That was a rest stop. So, as I was saying your options for cleaning up after using the toilet are either water or sometimes toilet paper. Well, nicer toilets have a knob on them to shoot water out at you rather than having a bucket of water in the stall, others have handy moving water spouts. On Saturday I went to a church gathering, TGP, for the first time. Right before the service I used the restroom and I could not find the flusher, so I turned the funny-looking knob on the toilet. Ah!! Water came squirting out. The entire front of my pants was soaked. Hahaha. It was a great way to meet a lot of new people. Needless to say, I did not stand up when they asked me to introduce myself. I learned my lesson and had a good laugh. Now I know how to use the water at toilets here. I think I’ll stick with toilet paper.

Ginseng

This picture of is of a root of the plant Ginseng, which is used as an herb in tea, medicine and has all sorts of uses. I saw this root and several others displayed at the mall. They are framed and ready to be put up in your home! Aren't they lovely? You would be surprised to find out the one I took a picture is on sale for $6,000 US Dollars!!

After looking on-line, it looks like ginseng is thought to bring good luck, carrying some in your pocket can add a decade to your life and the most highly prized roots are the ones that look like a human body. I wonder if this one is meant to look like a human body...

Happy Independence Day Indonesia!

Today is Indonesia’s 64th Independence Day. We had most of the day off, with the exception of a flag ceremony students and teachers were required to attend. It reminded me of my elementary school days in Mexico. We stood in lines, all facing the flag, we were instructed to salute, stand at ease, stand at attention, stand at ease, salute again. I didn’t really understand, so I just followed what other teachers were doing around me. We sang national songs, I listened, and we counted the drops of sweat dripping off our foreheads as we stood under the hot sun. Independence day is celebrated in each little neighborhood by playing games with all the kids. This is a picture in my neighborhood of kids having a decorated bike contest. It looked like they were going to race, but I didn’t stay around for all of the festivities.