Lombok Indonesia

March 6^th

Lombok, Indonesia

This is the first time that we have a back-to-back port. Getting up early 2 days in a row…unthinkable. Seriously, though, we had a 4 hour excursion booked, that turned out to be more than 7 hrs. due to tender problems and being anchored so far from the dock. About a 45 minute tender ride one way and one of the tenders decided to get cranky and have engine problems. Just one more time that we are grateful to have a ship excursion…..we always know we will get back on time. Even if it is late. One thing that I have noticed on this World Cruise…there is much more leeway on getting back and waiting for late comers. This is a fairly new port of call. Usually they go to Bali, which is only an island away, but Lombok is the new upcoming port of call. They are embracing tourism and improving the Island. It is very primitive, interesting, and very poor. This was my first encounter with the lack of ‘Western’ facilities…very interesting. Not wearing underwear would make it much easier. The almost 3 million inhabitants are very lovely, but bargaining to buy is the rule here. Once you step off the bus, or anywhere you go, they are after you….and once you get past the intimidation, it is almost a game. They expect it. Very different from Western ways, but magical in the exchange. You have to have interaction whether you like it or not. There is no ‘personal space’ here. This was a new experience for us on this level but Bruce was getting into the groove. He is the shopper in the family, and he did well…..he was even corrected by the locals on the procedure…first you make an offer and then they do and somewhere you meet in the middle. Quite a long dance. Indonesian pearls were the great buy here. The island is mostly agriculture with rice being the main crop. We saw many fields and drying areas. It was very beautiful, green, and tropical. We visited a Hindu temple where we had to wear a yellow sash for respect and give an offering. There are families that can stay out in the open on platforms for a week at a time, praying and meditating for the prosperity of the family. Holland America employs many people from this area, so there were family reunions and visitors coming on the ship. Jobs are very scarce and hard to come by. The average daily wage is about 5 US dollars a day, so many families on the Island are benefiting from the employment of the cruise line. The full time jobs, such as police officers or government work are still obtained by bribery. Anyone can set up a roadside stand, selling anything from bottles of gasoline (for the tons of motor scooters on the road) to food and drink. And they are on every block. People just trying to get by and make a living. Some of the living conditions that we saw were very horrific. In the last few years, the education system has improved. All of the children go to private schools, paid by the government, and education is taken seriously. English is taught to all as a second language. If they test well they can go on to university, and if they don’t they go into a trade. Investing in education means a better environment for everyone. They hope in a few years that you just can’t hang a sign out the door and say that you are a qualified Dr. or Dentist. These are very resourceful, happy people. Every time we passed a school, all of the kids on the playground waved to us. In fact, everywhere we went we were given a great big smile and a wave. In a few years this might be the next Bali; it is a very beautiful place.

Shipboard Meanderings.

We are 4 days at sea and on our way to Hong Kong. We will sail through the Java Sea and then into the South China Sea where we will dock in Kowloon. This on the mainland side of Hong Kong, with the Island side just a short ferry ride away.

We crossed back over the Equator into the Northern Hemisphere, so we are no longer polliwogs. We can now say that we are officially ‘Shellbacks’. The ship threw a King Neptune party and we had the official sacrifices to the king. (The newly initiated crew members were either given pardon by the captain or covered in colored whipped cream and thrown into the ocean “pool”) Yes, the pool had to be drained and cleaned afterward. A little silly, but quite fun, and all of the sacrifices were volunteers. I was sad to leave the southern hemisphere and the weather. We are back into springtime with the corresponding weather. Cool and rainy. Oh well, we will soon be in India, where, I have heard it is in the 100s. Yikes!

Sometimes I feel so far away from the US and the news of the day. We just get little snips now and then, but maybe that’s a good thing. From what I have heard so far, it’s really quite silly. Maybe my perspective is changing about things that are really important. I have not seen gas prices below 9 US dollars a gallon…anywhere, with some countries as much as 11. This is the norm for them. I know that a lot of politics are involved, but as an American, I realize how fortunate I am to live where I do, enjoy the benefits, and have choices. At 56, I am still growing up, but my ‘bubble has popped’ and I really have nothing to complain about. I am grateful.

rice fieldshopping at the ‘Lombok Typical Art shop’.