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Beautiful Beaches, Dirty rats posted Wednesday, September 29, 2004
It's like a blast from the past. Course we all knew that everything here is all done manually but to see it in person is breathtaking. The ceilings in huts made of thatch bamboo, paintings and eccentric carved wood, carefully molded concrete statues by the masses. They still rip their field with plow and cow. They're much more talented with their hands then any blue collar desk jockey. Over here in Indonesia I don't cook, all their sweat, blood and stray cats go into my hot prepared meals. Coin laundry isn't available. For $1.50 my stains are removed without question about the multiple knife cuts and blood saturation. It's ironed and returned the next day
They concentrate on the art here and intricate design. Back home we like shiny things. Nothing is shiny here, it's all wood , brick, or concrete.
My knock off watch didn't last long. After 2 showers, water found it's way in. So I did a barter /cash trade for a bamboo didgerydoo. he took my leaky watch and about $5 for a beautiful work of art. The Island of Lombok was nice. I first stayed in Sengigi. A lot less street vendors, but still too many. An even smaller more remote island was calling me. One of three of the Gili islands is Gili Air. Small but enough civilization to have a loud night out. Quite enough that no motorbikes or cars are heard anywhere. Only the jingles form horse drawn carts. Hammocks and cabanas by the masses overlooking clear blue water, splashing on coral covered white sandy beaches. Sadly it's not all beautiful sunsets with endless smiles. There's a vibe in the air that effected me more then others. Greed and selfishness. Over the last two weeks after i bought my plane ticket home, I found out I had only about
400 Aus dollars left for the remainder of my year long holiday. Simple, I pulled out my Visa. Found out my Visas been frozen, unusable. I had to figure out how to enjoy myself while avoiding having to sleep and eat with the roosters and farrel cats that live off the land. The greed in the air came from the constant harassing from the local business owners. At least 100 times a day easily I'm constantly annoyed with offers for transportation, bookmarks, serongs even a bow and arrows on the beach and on the street. I can say 'No thank you' in every language but they continue to persist by walking next to me. Dark glasses and headphones don't work. The stress I ran away from has found me. Less then one week before I fly to Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia. I've since left the semi peaceful island of Gili Air and miss those relaxing days now that I'm back in Sengigi. I have a friend here. The only local resident I can trust. She's a nurse and she loves to live life through learning. Unlike the street rats that thrive on pissing me off and ripping off tourists. She bought me dinner, even though living in a poor country.
In conclusion I've sorted my visa so I'll make it home healthy. I think maybe I'll try some meditation that i read about in my 'mental wealth' book.
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