theblunderdownunder:
I’ve been here for about a week now and I’m enjoying it quite a bit. I haven’t done anything notable yet. The central tourist area, Kuta, isn’t what I’m primarily interested in. It seems to have been perverted by western tourism. If I want reckless debauchery I can go to Las Vegas. I prefer to wander the hazardously busy streets (because there are no sidewalks), check out the stone carving stores, buy satay and martabak from street vendors, and chat with the local people.
Sometimes I will borrow my cousin’s bike and just go off in a random direction. Getting lost, or as I like to call it, exploring, is my favourite way to learn about a new place. I get to see the parts of Bali that are unspoiled by western development. I watch the rice farmers work painstakingly to plant and harvest the crops. The amount work necessary to cultivate and harvest rice is so mindblowingly great that I’m shocked that rice isn’t 100x more expensive than it is. These farmers work harder than most of us can even imagine.
I like watching the kids play with their giant kites. These kids are so unfazed by their lack of iPads or video games. I marvel at the architecture of the numerous Hindu shrines and familial compounds. I take note of the various offerings presented at entrance of every home and shop Hindu custom. Some offer small portions of food that the wandering dogs will eat. Others may offer a cigarette because which god doesn’t enjoy the occasional smoke break?
When I want to return home and have no clue how to do so, I’ll ask a shopkeeper for help with my broken Indonesian. I’ve learned two things from this: 1) Do not take for granted that everyone here knows how to read or write. When I ask for the name of the street I’m on I rarely understand what they’re saying, so I ask them to write it down; some of them couldn’t. 2) Very few people know how to read a map or where they were on a map. Despite their willingness to help steer me in the right direction, these two factors made getting home a small adventure.
I’m very glad I’m here. Being here has helped me dispel many assumptions I had about Indonesia. It has been very pleasing to learn how welcoming people here can be, so much so that I have already been invited to a wedding. It’s in a couple hours. I better get ready.
Great post and a good read.
First time I’ve broken my ‘no reblogs’ rule, nice work.
