Did you know that the largest bill in Indonesia is 100,000 Rupiah? It is worth about $10 USD.
Did you know that it is a cash economy here and therefore it is necessary to carry a very thick wallet to maintain a western lifestyle?
Did you know that you usually do not need sunscreen in Jakarta because the smog does a good job of protecting your skin? (I never got a tan this summer!)
Did you know Indonesians regularly work 10-12 hour days? I do not know if this is true, but it seems to be so.
Did you know that everyone in Indonesia who can afford household help is obliged to hire Indonesians to help the community?
Did you know that I do not think I will ever be able to live again without a maid and driver?
Did you know that lots of woman particularly, who were born and raised where it is very expensive to get help with household chores, feel the same way and happily live in Southeast Asia, for most of their lives, as a result?
How would you feel to live in a spotless house, where you have so much more time to do what interests you, rather than do what what interests you and have a very dirty house that always calls out to you to be cleaned?
Did you know that Indonesians feel it is a high calling to serve others and perhaps as a result maids, gardeners, childcare workers and drivers are so helpful and a pleasure to have around?
Did you know that it is very difficult for children who start a Second Language Immersion experience too early, to become proficient in their native language (read, write, speak and comprehend?)
Well, that is enough musings for one day! If you agree or disagree with anything I said, let me know!!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Photos from Pangrando-Gede National Park
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| Back in Cibodas-my porter and I rode in a van the last 1 km and got a big laugh. |
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| Finally the top; my tent is green. |
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| Alpine meadow that used to be the volcano crater |
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| Porters don't just carry our bags they lend a helping hand, too. |
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| On the jungle path:my porter-top right |
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| Freezing cold Falls |
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| Shop Keeper in Cibodas |
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| Austrian leader Carl talking to porters |
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| Packing up with new friends |
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| Friday night guest house in Cibodas |
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| Path up from Cibodas, a valley town |
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| Mt. Gede with geysers |
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| Volcanic rock turns to clay and erodes into deep paths |
Javalava Backpacking Trip
This past weekend, I went 8 hours up to an alpine meadow at the top of an inactive volcano called Pangrando. We camped overnight and then hiked down. A nearby volcano that we could see across the valley called Gede is more active as you will see steam pouring out in a photo I'll attached. Highlights of the trip were the interesting assortment of fellow hikers of all ages and reasons for being and staying in Indonesia, the waterfalls, one with hot water and the other freezing water, the fellow Indonesian campers who we met along the way, my porter, the need to wear a wool hat and gloves at the top and the fact that even though I was one of the slowest hikers, I did not complain and was able to persevere to the end (no other choice), though my legs felt like jelly by the end.
I did it with the help of a hymn entitled ""I walk with Love along the way" and O it is a holy day! No more I suffer cruel fear, I feel God's presence with me here. The joy that none can take away is mine. I walk with love today." :)
I did it with the help of a hymn entitled ""I walk with Love along the way" and O it is a holy day! No more I suffer cruel fear, I feel God's presence with me here. The joy that none can take away is mine. I walk with love today." :)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Kotok Island
Idul Fitri is the holiday that means break fast. Ramadan is over and its time to eat in a grand style. No dates allowed please as each Moslem breaks the fast each day for 30 days with the eating of a date. The fruit!!!! My social mentor decided that it was time to get out of Jakarta and see clean ocean water for snorkeling and fresh air. Alright, it is true that some places in the water and some parts of the day the pollution and trash from Jakarta did catch up to us, but for the most part it was beautiful and calm, the resort staff were friendly and some of the guests were a hoot to hang with. I do not remember a time I laughed that much.
The lizard is an island pet along with his family and they try to get closer to the diners during meals by climbing up on the deck. (They live underneath.) They are scary, but docile like cats. Want to take one home? They are all over the island. We also had a visit from an osprey that swooped down for a tasty morsel of fish that a diner placed on the railing.
The lizard is an island pet along with his family and they try to get closer to the diners during meals by climbing up on the deck. (They live underneath.) They are scary, but docile like cats. Want to take one home? They are all over the island. We also had a visit from an osprey that swooped down for a tasty morsel of fish that a diner placed on the railing.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Mini Indonesia Garden Park
Today I went with a friend to a 100 hectare park filled with architectural examples from 33 provinces in Indonesia. There also was a wonderful museum that highlighted, arts, crafts, clothes an traditions of these area. The Suharto's planned and built it so you could get a sense of the diversity of the people here. It was spectacular and we had some interesting experiences will the locals as well.
First let me say that this is one of the largest open spaces around. It has a lot of gardens, too,
but it was just about empty of people, except for the massive water park. As we rode a foot powered surrey around the rectangular lake that sported islands that looked like Indonesia, people snickered at us. There were no other westerners there at all, and I guess we looked pretty silly. The only people who were there were Muslims in their Friday night best having "picnics" in their favorite provincial architecture, without the food. Friday at dawn, Ramadan is over and the closer it gets to that day more get together's happen. As we stopped to take a picture of some of the kids leaving the life size model mosque with their parents, they swarmed the surrey. As they posed for pictures with us, more kids came over with parents. I invited them to sit in the surrey and we took more pictures. It was amazing to look into their faces. Some were outgoing, others were shy and some looked anxious at meeting us. Some parents pushed their kids over to be in the pictures. When we said bye, they all turned and left waving energetically. After we went to the buildings that were built by people who live in South Sulawesi, where our exchange student Indah is from. It is one of the most interesting people in Indonesia. I've included pictures from the tour we took in a typical rich man's house.
They are unusual because of their funeral and burial practices. In a nut shell. They have the biggest celebration when someone dies. The richer you are the more pigs and water buffalo you sacrifice and eat with hordes of people. Since you need time to save up for this expensive party, when the person dies, they mummify their relative in their bedroom and let them continue to stay there until up to a year. Then they are put in to a cloth coffin and processed around to a Karst mountain, which looks like a shard of glass thrown from heaven into the ground. Each family has a cave bored into the top part. The richer you are the higher your cave entrance. Then someone climbs a ladder with the coffin up to the cave and puts it in. There is a small entrance which gets large inside. No names are placed on the coffins or grave entrance, but there are effigies that are carved in a sitting position and placed next to the rest of your family in effigy sitting on chairs. They look like they are sitting in box seats at the baseball game. Lastly, there houses are made to resemble sailing ships. The story behind his is that they were sailing people who came from China 1000nds of years ago. When they got to Java, there were already too many Javanese living on the coast for them to move in too, so they build houses inland resembling ships, because that is what they knew how to build. They ended up in the highlands and became fisherman. Here are some photos.
First let me say that this is one of the largest open spaces around. It has a lot of gardens, too,
but it was just about empty of people, except for the massive water park. As we rode a foot powered surrey around the rectangular lake that sported islands that looked like Indonesia, people snickered at us. There were no other westerners there at all, and I guess we looked pretty silly. The only people who were there were Muslims in their Friday night best having "picnics" in their favorite provincial architecture, without the food. Friday at dawn, Ramadan is over and the closer it gets to that day more get together's happen. As we stopped to take a picture of some of the kids leaving the life size model mosque with their parents, they swarmed the surrey. As they posed for pictures with us, more kids came over with parents. I invited them to sit in the surrey and we took more pictures. It was amazing to look into their faces. Some were outgoing, others were shy and some looked anxious at meeting us. Some parents pushed their kids over to be in the pictures. When we said bye, they all turned and left waving energetically. After we went to the buildings that were built by people who live in South Sulawesi, where our exchange student Indah is from. It is one of the most interesting people in Indonesia. I've included pictures from the tour we took in a typical rich man's house.
They are unusual because of their funeral and burial practices. In a nut shell. They have the biggest celebration when someone dies. The richer you are the more pigs and water buffalo you sacrifice and eat with hordes of people. Since you need time to save up for this expensive party, when the person dies, they mummify their relative in their bedroom and let them continue to stay there until up to a year. Then they are put in to a cloth coffin and processed around to a Karst mountain, which looks like a shard of glass thrown from heaven into the ground. Each family has a cave bored into the top part. The richer you are the higher your cave entrance. Then someone climbs a ladder with the coffin up to the cave and puts it in. There is a small entrance which gets large inside. No names are placed on the coffins or grave entrance, but there are effigies that are carved in a sitting position and placed next to the rest of your family in effigy sitting on chairs. They look like they are sitting in box seats at the baseball game. Lastly, there houses are made to resemble sailing ships. The story behind his is that they were sailing people who came from China 1000nds of years ago. When they got to Java, there were already too many Javanese living on the coast for them to move in too, so they build houses inland resembling ships, because that is what they knew how to build. They ended up in the highlands and became fisherman. Here are some photos.
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