28/2/11
Really need to find this orphanage, am getting a bit bored of my leisurely routine.. sleeping in, playing cards, reading, gym, swimming, eating, a bit of cleaning here & there..
spent the weekend @ pantai kukup (kukup beach), a place that is 1.5hrs away from Jogja by motorbike, apparently, and 4 hours away by means of taxi, bus & hitching a ride on the back of a local's motorbike. It was a fun adventure to get there, especially having no real idea where to go or where the next bus stop would be, or if there would be a terminal. People were pretty helpful and we made it to our destination. There we spent a couple of hours bumming on the beach until sunset, then had a mandi (bucket wash) with cold, cold water, before heading across the courtyard to dinner. I had a pretty good veggie soup, tasted a bit like mum's winter soups minus the big fat peppercorns (not as good without them it turns out). We played a few boring rounds of a card game called 500 that I found kinda anti social as only four people could play and seven of us were there. Meanwhile we boozed a little, then headed upstairs in our "hotel" and played a few more games while polishing off johnny walker & gin as well as listening to the people next door belting out Indonesian songs via Karaoke, which is as massive here as in any other asian country. Most of the folk we were with found this incredibly disturbing to listen to but Ben decided it would be a good idea to go & join, so Ben & I did. I mainly went to serve as translator and not to sing but of course after a few drinks I couldn't help myself. The english choices were limited but we sang classics like "I will survive", "Only you", "What a wonderful world" & "The power of love". I think I made the cats scatter when I started on Celine Dion's love balad. We had crashed a party for someone's uni graduation and at midnight they invited us to the beach for a fire. That fire was really hard to get going but after perserverance & kerosene, it finally started to ignite & we formed a circle around the fire with about 15 to 20 Indonesians who began one by one saying what they were grateful for in their lives. It was moving to hear & I was happy I could understand some of what they were saying as they became more and more emotional. Then of course, unfortunately it started pouring with rain after getting maybe three people deep into the circle of thanks and we all had to bolt to the hotel!
The next day I couldn't remember all who I had met the night before but they stopped us to say 'Selamat Pagi' as we walked back down to the beach. They were lovely people and Ben's idea to join the karaoke was great and led to a very memorable and spontaneous night. Hitched a ride with our housemate on a scooter to Pantai Baron (Baron Beach) then a rickety old bus through very windy roads with beautiful scenery. It was great to get out to a more rural Indonesia. My stomach didn't particularly cope well with the winding roads, the exhaust of the bus, the heat, lack of air circulation and of course the cigarettes being smoked by men in the bus. Eventually we made it back to Jogja, after hitching a short becak ride with a very old man who could barely get us passed a snails pace. He convinced us it was too far to walk to find a taxi. I had to barter his price down to 15,000 rupiah (about $1.60ish) as I didn't have small enough notes to give him the 20,000 he wanted. We felt terrible & I kept telling Ben to get out and ride the Becak instead and give the poor old boy a break. We felt so gluttenous but here no one walks and they think you are crazy to walk even 500 metres.
It has been raining heavily periodically for the last few days, limiting what I can do & where I can go. I hope it clears up a bit tomorrow so I can find this orphanage! It is supposed to be really close to here & I have directions but they lack charisma.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
PMS in jogja = bahhh
May I please rant...... that I am completely over the men here. Hating being different & that they are unaccepting of this. Well they probably are accepting of it but why can't I just walk around and not be gawked at, whistled at or followed. I don't mind if men say hi but if I say hi back am I being suggestive or just nice? I am trying to be nice but tend to ignore and keep walking, especially as they stare and smile and follow my every move with their eyes. I wish I could wear a burqa some days & just go around carefree.
And then I try to use my somewhat now basic Indonesian since time has elapsed and I've forgotten a fair bit & when complicated situations arise and I try to explain my point, they laugh. It's so rude. They don't seem to laugh at Ben and they try to talk to him. Being a man here trumps being a woman in a million ways!!
Bahhh!
And then I try to use my somewhat now basic Indonesian since time has elapsed and I've forgotten a fair bit & when complicated situations arise and I try to explain my point, they laugh. It's so rude. They don't seem to laugh at Ben and they try to talk to him. Being a man here trumps being a woman in a million ways!!
Bahhh!
Monday, February 21, 2011
week 3 in jogja
....... Teaching tomorrow.. thought it was today but it wasn't.. have to work on my class material tonight and have been warned there are some naughty boys in the class.. I'm looking forward to trying to tell them off but 25 indo kids might get the better of me!
Been doing laps in a lovely pool.. well six laps in my personal best, except I am a terrible swimmer, hoping to work on my technique!
getting to know the area & the back alleys better & some good eateries around here. Lots of dogs, cats & chickens everywhere. No one beats tommy boy though.
There is an orphanage close by that I might go enquire at on wednesday and see if they will take me on once or twice a week.
Have scored a full day in english classes in a catholic school nearby, starting at 7am! I might regret this!
Also have a few other options for volunteering I will pursue later this week.
Getting around on foot or taxi, now Ben has a bike, it makes a big difference.. I want one too. But buying one for a small period of time I dunno.. I might see if i can borrow one for Bu here @ the homestay.
We went to a club on Saturday night, it was pretty crazy... kind of pathetic.. super innocent really except for the europeans and poor pick up lines from drunk bastards.. nothing unusual. Alcohol is ridiculously expensive but you pay the prices.. a bottle of coke to go with the scotch was 150000 rupiah. That is mark up of about 120000 for a bottle that size.. thats really the only way you can drink in the clubs, buy a bottle of liquor. Or you can buy a beer for twice to three times as much as you would normally pay and you never get change from the notes u give. I guess it has been a pretty good few weeks with less booze.. but it is good to go out and see the differences.
Hopefully this weekend we can go out from Jogja or head to a beach.
bought a great one piece swimming suit. Swimming in the pool @ the plaza is good because no one really looks.
The men can be ridiculously sexist and I am sick of wolf whistles.. Have been shopping and always wear pants, a long skirt but have started wearing shirts with smaller sleeves. I get sick of completely covered!
Been doing laps in a lovely pool.. well six laps in my personal best, except I am a terrible swimmer, hoping to work on my technique!
getting to know the area & the back alleys better & some good eateries around here. Lots of dogs, cats & chickens everywhere. No one beats tommy boy though.
There is an orphanage close by that I might go enquire at on wednesday and see if they will take me on once or twice a week.
Have scored a full day in english classes in a catholic school nearby, starting at 7am! I might regret this!
Also have a few other options for volunteering I will pursue later this week.
Getting around on foot or taxi, now Ben has a bike, it makes a big difference.. I want one too. But buying one for a small period of time I dunno.. I might see if i can borrow one for Bu here @ the homestay.
We went to a club on Saturday night, it was pretty crazy... kind of pathetic.. super innocent really except for the europeans and poor pick up lines from drunk bastards.. nothing unusual. Alcohol is ridiculously expensive but you pay the prices.. a bottle of coke to go with the scotch was 150000 rupiah. That is mark up of about 120000 for a bottle that size.. thats really the only way you can drink in the clubs, buy a bottle of liquor. Or you can buy a beer for twice to three times as much as you would normally pay and you never get change from the notes u give. I guess it has been a pretty good few weeks with less booze.. but it is good to go out and see the differences.
Hopefully this weekend we can go out from Jogja or head to a beach.
bought a great one piece swimming suit. Swimming in the pool @ the plaza is good because no one really looks.
The men can be ridiculously sexist and I am sick of wolf whistles.. Have been shopping and always wear pants, a long skirt but have started wearing shirts with smaller sleeves. I get sick of completely covered!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day, we are living in Slemen, close to Jembatan Merah (Red bridge). When we catch a taxi we just ask to be taken to the red bridge and everyone knows the place (so far). We are living in a little group of units, in a smallish 3 bedroom place. There is an awesome little sausage dog called Tom, he is so cute. We have a small porch area that is perfect for chilling out on in the afternoon humidity. We have had a good first week, although Ben has been feeling fluey/lethargic/sick since Thursday and now has a bali-belly type thing going on with a bad fever. So we have been pretty relaxed, not going out too much. The pollution is not as bad as other big cities I have been to but it does take it out of you mixed with the midday heat and afternoon humidity.
Prambanan was lovely to visit. Being a Bule (foreigner) is like being famous- everyone looks at you and lots of children, families & young people ask for photos with you. Walking the street alone is as full on as I expected, and this is when I am pretty well completely covered up. Men still call out. They don't tend to do so as much when Ben is with me.
I have been pretty apprehensive about going out alone and approaching places to try and volunteer. Need to get over that to make the most of this place but am giving myself at least two weeks of easing into this joint. I also need to continue learning/expanding my indo vocab.
Went into a private catholic hospital here last night called Rumah Sakit Panti Rapih near UGM. They have different wings for different classes- VIP, 1st, 2nd & 3rd class & are very strict about their daily routine, including communion every night. The sisters wore uniform coloured depending on what class they worked for, white being VIP & first class of course. The facilities and rooms looks good, very sterile and cold however and the labour ward was particularly old-school. High flimsy bed, stirrups. The perawat (nurse) was very happy to tell me that they delivered the babies onto mum's chests and so the woman had to be lying down to give birth, especially so that they could easily stitch her up afterwards. Apparently it is the woman's choice for midwife or doctor to birth the baby, they can as many visitors as they like in VIP/First class labour ward but on their husband may be there for the delivery. The sister said that they rarely do forceps assisted births because it is too dangerous however the ventouse is used maybe once or twice a month, with a quarter of all births being Caesarean. I think she said they had 120 births a month. When I told her that the WCH had up to 400 or so she was flabbergasted. Breastfeeding is said to be very common and encouraged by the staff.
Right now I am watching a ladyboy on the tv.
I have to say I am already craving fresh vegetables & fruit that I don't have to think twice about how they have been prepared or how long they have been sitting out for. I would love a big fat rye bread salad sandwich with some alfalfa and jarlsberg cheese! And some bean tacos :)
Acicis folks are nice too, especially the pendampings.
14/2/2011
Prambanan was lovely to visit. Being a Bule (foreigner) is like being famous- everyone looks at you and lots of children, families & young people ask for photos with you. Walking the street alone is as full on as I expected, and this is when I am pretty well completely covered up. Men still call out. They don't tend to do so as much when Ben is with me.
I have been pretty apprehensive about going out alone and approaching places to try and volunteer. Need to get over that to make the most of this place but am giving myself at least two weeks of easing into this joint. I also need to continue learning/expanding my indo vocab.
Went into a private catholic hospital here last night called Rumah Sakit Panti Rapih near UGM. They have different wings for different classes- VIP, 1st, 2nd & 3rd class & are very strict about their daily routine, including communion every night. The sisters wore uniform coloured depending on what class they worked for, white being VIP & first class of course. The facilities and rooms looks good, very sterile and cold however and the labour ward was particularly old-school. High flimsy bed, stirrups. The perawat (nurse) was very happy to tell me that they delivered the babies onto mum's chests and so the woman had to be lying down to give birth, especially so that they could easily stitch her up afterwards. Apparently it is the woman's choice for midwife or doctor to birth the baby, they can as many visitors as they like in VIP/First class labour ward but on their husband may be there for the delivery. The sister said that they rarely do forceps assisted births because it is too dangerous however the ventouse is used maybe once or twice a month, with a quarter of all births being Caesarean. I think she said they had 120 births a month. When I told her that the WCH had up to 400 or so she was flabbergasted. Breastfeeding is said to be very common and encouraged by the staff.
Right now I am watching a ladyboy on the tv.
I have to say I am already craving fresh vegetables & fruit that I don't have to think twice about how they have been prepared or how long they have been sitting out for. I would love a big fat rye bread salad sandwich with some alfalfa and jarlsberg cheese! And some bean tacos :)
Acicis folks are nice too, especially the pendampings.
14/2/2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
UGM
Ben starts his uni orientation today.
Went & ate at the uni food court today, am trying to get over the fear of eating at warungs. Tofu, potato & cabbage, lukewarm.. satay and lemongrass sauce, 6000 rupiah.. cheap as.
Tried a few spots where beer was served last night. woke up with a headache, keep waking up at 6am.
Meeting all the students today, interesting blend, all aussies i think.
Will email some NGO's today, probably in women's welfare more than anything.
Passport is at the immigration office to be collected on Friday.
All is good really, enjoying chilling out & speaking a little bit of Indonesian where I can!
Went & ate at the uni food court today, am trying to get over the fear of eating at warungs. Tofu, potato & cabbage, lukewarm.. satay and lemongrass sauce, 6000 rupiah.. cheap as.
Tried a few spots where beer was served last night. woke up with a headache, keep waking up at 6am.
Meeting all the students today, interesting blend, all aussies i think.
Will email some NGO's today, probably in women's welfare more than anything.
Passport is at the immigration office to be collected on Friday.
All is good really, enjoying chilling out & speaking a little bit of Indonesian where I can!
Monday, February 7, 2011
morning blog
7/2/11 So here we are in Yogyakarta, it is quite surreal! Neither of us felt like we were actually going somewhere or were overseas until we hit Yogya, or until Yogya hit us. Motorbikes & becaks, graffiti & beggars is what we took in the most to begin with. Along with the hustle. It is handy to be able to say no and barter in Indonesian. Sometimes they looked suprised or mockingly, other smile. Either way the conversation will continue until they trump me with either their language going too fast for my head or the words being ouside of what I remember. I got in with a 30 day visa & a big headache, I have been stressing about the visa. Today we're going to the Office of Immigration to try to get it extended to a 60 day visa. Apparently it is easy according to the Immigration officer at the airport. They didn't even ask for proof to leave the country, so that 50 dollar flight to Singapore in March probably was a waste. It puts me more at ease to know I am staying for a couple of months to begin with. What I am going to do with those months is another story. This city seems difficult to get around on foot. The biggest obstacle is a crazy huge roundabout at the start of the road that the huge, amazing University Gadjah Mada is on. It is intense, we gave up after about 5 or so minutes just watching the traffic. Got onto a becak & he just peddled right into the middle of it. They stop ofcourse. Ben has changed his mind about getting a bike or motorbike over here! We haven't seen Mt merapi from here yet as there have been too many clouds but apparently it is easy to see from UGM (University Gadjah Mada). We have been adventurous diners, yesterday at KL airport we ordered an Asam Laksa, apparently with a 'little bit' of salmon in it. It was just salmon slop with some grotty noodles but we both got through at least half. This morning we were joined for breakfast by a little kitty who we were both hoping wouldn't be as playful & get scratchy with his rabies. Tomorrow is Chinese New Year (or today?) and we are excited to be here for that. The internet here is sooooooo slow...
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