Location: Yogyakarta, Java
MJ just stopped in on her way to the bathroom. She's feeling the massage -- stiff body and strange sensation in one foot. Perhaps nerve damage from some jumping around on her :)
Breakfast at 7:00 with Dr. Adam. Today, a man from the Netherlands, named Eric joined us for breakfast. He's renting a room upstairs. Interesting young man who majored in photography in college and wants to do a documentary on Indonesia. Good breakfast conversation.
I wonder how many people are living/staying in this "house" -- we keep discovering someone new each day.
The waiting room for the doctor -- #2 son of Dr. Adam -- had patients waiting when when I went out of my room to brush my teeth this morning. A bit of a surprise as I stunned out of my room.
Today our first activity was to visit a Jr. High School. It was a private, Moslem school and they had prepared a special program for us -- singing, dance and gamelon in the performing arts and a lesson in batik. All the kids in the school take these traditional classes -- and they are very talented. I was so impressed with their enthusiasm and showmanship.
 |
| Batik class - one the mandatory traditional cultural classes. |
We had a different variety of box lunch at the school and then went to a leather district. Every shop had shoes, shoes and more shoes -- nothing to my liking, but it was fun to see.
Next stop was in the ceramics district, which I thought was amazing. We went to a working ceramics factory that makes architectural elements. All the houses here have ceramic tile roofs and this factory makes the fancy brackets and roof decorations for homes and commercial applications. It was fascinating. They bring the clay in the back of a pick up truck type vehicle and wood fire everything. All the shops in that village sold various kinds if pottery and ceramics.
 |
| Incredible craftsmanship. |
Final stop was the Bird Market. This is THE place to buy a bird or any bird paraphernalia -- thousands of birds of every color, size, shape and sound. The most beautiful bird cages I have ever seen -- I took more photos of cages than birds.
 |
| Every size and shape of bird cage is available. |
 |
| The boys and their birds. |
We returned to "the office" -- Dr. Adam's -- by 3:30 and then four if us went Malioboro Market with Arifin. Our guide seemed quite emphatic that we not go there on our own -- to many pick pockets and mishaps for white folks.
We went into a store with fixed prices. Arifin seemed to think that that would be easier, especially for the other women who were with us. It was a mad house in the whole area. Tomorrow is a holiday, so government offices and many businesses were closed today, so the people were out. Today I am even more convinced that this is the fourth most populated country in the world -- it was a wild scene.
We were home in time for dinner with Dr. Adam. Our dinners are less than spectacular, to say the least. MJ and I are getting concerned about some of the food -- it keeps reappearing day after day and we're not too sure about refrigeration.
No tummy problems yet -- yippie.
After dinner, MJ and I went back to shiatsu for another massage. This time for just a "normal" massage -- no cracking our backs or walking all over us.
The massage was great and the shower a welcome relief from the sweaty day. Big splurge tonight -- 90 minute massage for about $8 US. The hot water shower alone is worth that much.
I think it's time for bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment