Post #147 7 October 2017

Gentlefolk,

It's high time I updated my blog to describe our recent travels.  Our itinerary was:

12 - 26 July 2017, in Sydney to look after Eddie & Jay
26 July - 14 September, in Indonesia
14 - 19 September, in Perth, Western Australia
19 - 21 September, in Sydney, then drive back to Canberra

We started Indonesia with a week in Bali, then 4 weeks travelling around Java (Surabaya, Malang, Jogja, Salatiga, Semarang, Jepara, Jakarta, Bandung and Sentul), followed by another week in Bali. We then had 5 nights in Perth before flying back to Sydney (and drive to Canberra).

I will do a series of short posts focussed on each place we visited.

This post covers our first time in Bali, 26 July - 4 August 2017.  We then had a month in Java, before returning to Bali for a second time.

Indonesia

Indonesia comprises thousands of islands stretching about 5,000 km along the equator. The most populated island is Java, where the capital, Jakarta, is located.  The most famous island is Bali, a popular tourist destination.

Indonesia is the 4th most populous country on earth, with a population of about 260 million; of whom 143 million live on the island of Java and another 4 million on Bali.

Java, with an area of 128,300 sq km, is one of the most crowded places on earth - you see it best when flying, one village after another with just a few kilometres between them).

In comparison the State of Florida in the USA has an area of 170,300 sq km with a population of 21 million, and the State of Victoria in Australia has an area of 237,600 sq km with a population of just over 6 million.

Indonesia has the largest Moslem population on earth, with 87% of the population followers of Islam; about 10% are Christians, and 1.7% Hindus (mainly Balinese).

Indonesia was a colony of The Netherlands for about 350 years; the country finally got independence in 1949.

Bali

The first 3 nights we stayed at the Green Garden Hotel in Tuban, between the airport and Kuta.  The following 5 nights we stayed at the Jayakarta Hotel on the beach at Legian, near Seminyak.

I came to Bali the first time in 1972.  It was so beautiful then.  There were only a couple of big hotels, life was simple, laid-back.  I stayed with a family in a kampong (village) near Kuta Beach for $1 a night.  Then in the 1980s the world discovered Bali and development hasn't stopped since. It is still a great holiday destination now, but very different.

We were able to connect with some of Vera's relatives. Her mother was from Singaraja on the north coast of Bali (it was the capital city of Bali in the Dutch era) - most of them now live in the southern area, around Denpasar.






Here are some photos of our visit to Bali.

At Sydney Airport 26 July 2017 waiting for the Qantas flight to Bali.  Vera's brother Andre was in Bali and he and his wife Iis picked us up on arrival.

The first 3 nights we stayed at the Green Garden Hotel in Tuban, as recommended by our friend Howard Eakins. Good value.

The swimming pool at the Green Garden Hotel.

We had forgotten how bad the traffic is in Bali (and Java). Literally millions of motor bikes.  But somehow it works, and you finally reach your destination.

Lots of restaurants everywhere; this one was called the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Some figures outside a small hotel near us - lots of competition and a need to get attention.

The beach at Tuban near our hotel. No wave on the beach here - it is protected by the reef you can see in the distance. Local boats take surfers out to the reef.

These are the traditional boats which locals use for fishing and to take surfers out to the reef.

One day Andre took us Echo Beach at Canggu, about 20 km up the coast from Legian. 

Vera and Andre watching the surfers at Echo Beach.  Vera grew up as a Christian, but some of her siblings have become Moslems.  Andre wears a white cap which indicates that he is a "Haji" - has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

We had 5 nights at the Jayakarta Hotel across the road from Legian Beach.  An older hotel but with huge grounds and nice swimming pools. 

Another view of the hotel swimming pools. Legian Beach was just past the trees in the distance.

Vera and Iis (Andre's wife) having lunch by the pool at the Jayakarta Hotel.  Iis is a Moslem, and always wears a hijab (head-covering) in public.

Legian Beach, in front of the Jayakarta Hotel. Every morning we had a walk along this lovely beach before breakfast. The surf was usually very big, so I didn't venture in too far (30 years ago I was caught by a huge wave, dumped and broke my collar bone not far from here).  Still, great fun and nice water temperature.

This beach-bar was popular with Aussies (there were lots of Aussies staying at our hotel and in neighbouring hotels). A small Bintang Beer was about A$2.50 and a large bottle about A$4, cheap by Australian standards and they made the most of it.

Every evening we sat on the beach and drank beer or coconut, had a swim and watched the sun set into the ocean.  Vera sometimes had a massage.  Tough life!

A view of some of the rooms at the Jayakarta Hotel. The cost of a standard room was A$110 a night (including breakfast).

The outside of our room at the Jayakarta Hotel, with one of the cleaning staff.

The extensive gardens at the Jayakarta Hotel.

A fountain in the gardens of the Jayakarta Hotel.  Lush, tropical flowers and vegetation.

Vera said this T-shirt was "made for me"!

Some of Vera's relatives (on her mother's side) held a celebration to mark a baby reaching 3 months of age.

Two of Vera's cousins (Ucik & Koming), and a husband.

Some of the delicious food at the baby-party.

Sate, a special dish around Indonesia. Meat (chicken or beef or goat) on skewers, barbequed and usually eaten with peanut sauce.  Balinese are Hindus and also enjoy eating pork.

Vera & I with the baby and her father (Vera's nephew).

Afterwards, the adults played a kind of card game - a traditional past-time at these celebrations.

We had 8 days in Bali - a most enjoyable time - and then flew (one hour) to Surabaya for the start of our month in Java.  My next post will be about our time in Surabaya.

...

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
Canberra, Australia
Saturday 7 October 2017