Location: Yogyakarta, Java
I am happy report that we had a great day today -- and overall, not nearly as depressing as I had feared.
We drove for about an hour, heading up into the mountains toward Mt. Merapi. We traveled through beautiful, lush tropical areas and onward into an area that had been totally destroyed. Somehow, seeing areas where everything was gone/striped bare today had a different impact than seeing homes and businesses crushed, crumbled and half buried yesterday. Or maybe the shock of it occurred when I first saw the destruction and I was better prepared for it on the second day. Anyway, in the area of total destruction, there was an area where buses had to stop and park, where we were able to get out, look around and photograph.
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| Mt. Merapi -- Area of total destruction |
A small collection of vendors have set up shop there and a few of us spent some time trying to talk with someone who was rebuilding their house. I have photos of a pile of crumbled debris that used to be a house, next to the house that the family is building. The man was raking through the muddy ash to separate out the pieces of his house -- like raking to get small rocks out of your garden.
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| Destroyed home in the foreground; new construction behind. |
After our stop in the total destruction zone we turned around and headed back down the mountain. Along the way we made an impromptu stop at one of the temporary housing shelters for photos and to talk with the people. It was so touching that in the dismal shelters where the people have nothing, one woman brought out a plate of fruit and another a plate with some rice stuff. We had nothing to give b/c it wasn't a planned activity, but we were treated like royal ambassadors. There was a good Red Cross presence, but so much to do.
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| Row of shelters for victims of the November, 2010 Mt. Merapi eruption. |
We ultimately ended up at a home about 13 km from Mt. Merapi, which had not been damaged when Mt. Merapi blew in 2010. Our small bus could barely fit on the road. The driver's assistant had to get out and use a poll to hold the electric lines up, so we could get through.
The destination was beautiful and we were met by a big welcoming committee. We had been given batik scarves to wear on our heads and when we arrived there was a big welcoming committee -- another special event for the locals -- Westerners coming to visit. As it turned out, the pattern on our scarves match all the clothes that the villagers were wearing.
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| Of course food was offered as soon as we arrived. This was just a welcome snack -- lunch followed. |
The money that I collected for the "Make Merapi Green Again" fund was for this village. After the formalities of shaking everyone's hand -- like at a wedding reception, we presented the first of our gifts -- three sewing machines. This was a symbolic gesture as we actually had enough money to buy 10. They are starting a sewing industry to begin earning some money.
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| The sewing machines were received with many smiles. |
We also bought hundreds of fish, which were delivered to us in a wheelbarrow full of plastic bags of fish. We released the fish into their fish ponds. It was a lot of fun and at some point there will be many meals from these fish.
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| Hope they surive -- and grow to be a big, delicious meal. |
We then walked through a rice field, mingled with the locals and took a turn at beating the rice off the shaft -- not exactly my line if work in 90+ degree weather, but it was fun to be so well received by the owners and workers alike.
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| This is REAL work -- not like writing a grant proposal!! |
Our final gift was 30 mangostein trees, which we planted. I had never had mangosteen before, but loved it. Dr. Adam arranged a cute aspect of the tree planting. There was a hole dug to plant the tree in and a sign by each hole that had our name on it -- so we each planted our tree. We're supposed to come back in five years for mangosteens.
A beautiful lunch was served after all our activities and we returned to Yogya. That was the end to that day's program. It was all very touching -- I am still not used to being so appreciated.
MJ and I caught a ride with Dr Adams driver to Malioboro Market to nose around and check out all the cheap touristy stuff. It's a madhouse, but definitely an experience that shouldn't be missed. We took a becak home, which was fun -- it's kind of like a rickshaw. No big purchases, but it was fun to look around.
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| The rides through Yogya in a becak were so much fun. |
Dismal dinner at home. This is beginning to feel like a diet trip.
MJ and I went to the Internet cafe across the street from Dr. Adam's and I was able to clean up my e-mail and respond to my kids.
All is well. Having a great time. Still in culture shock -- everything is different from anything I know.
Time for bed.
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| Food prep area in the shelter |
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