The last post....without a bugle playing!

I have finally managed to put photos in the blog although it is impossible to place them in the most appropriate spots so I am sorry that the flow doesn't make sense, but can't do a thing about it. If Mr blogspot reads this he needs to improve it!

Despite my best attempts I can't seem to move the posts into order so that doesn't help either!

Thanks to the guest blogspotters and those who bothered to read our ramblings.

And here's some last shots of 'Jenny's holiday' at Qunci Villas Lombok.

Farewell

Dianne

 A-snorkelling we will go! and so many beautiful fish and coloured coral.

 Fresh tuna for dinner anyone?

 Not sure traditional Lombok or sasak outfits are for us !

 Traditional Lombok pottery

From village life in Tembi to the beauty of Borobudur

Wednesday 5th October......
Here's Jan's version of the happenings for the day

With digestive juices satisfied by a D'Omah breakfast (best toast in Indonesia, according to Veronica), we departed for our Batik course.  Patterns selected, wax heated up and a short demonstration in 'how to apply hot wax to a small bit of material without spilling it on yourself', we were let loose to create our very own unique Batiks. Kim was soon splashing on the wax with little regard for the lines, creating flowers and swirls and other decorative and imaginative things.  Others, myself included, were carefully trying to keep to the lines, but were creating great splothes and dots instead (note to self, hot wax in that pipey applicator thingee is very hard to control). With just a wee tweak and embellishment help from the real Batik experts, our creative efforts were consigned to the dyeing, fixing and drying processes.  You can see our masterpieces emerging below. Amazingly, they all looked amazing and just like the real thing! A minor diversion into the Batik shop (a shark feeding frenzy would less frightening than a bunch of women searching for that one perfect piece of Batik), we departed with our purchased and hand-made treasures.

Next stop Candi Prambanan - a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia (and yes, a stop on the way for more yummy food goes without saying). A few facts - built in the 9th century, abandoned in the the mid-19th century, dedicated to the Trimurti - the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). There are also reliefs depicting the Ramayana. Stunning, overwhelming, hot, big careful, steep steps without handrails (which discouraged some from visiting the inner chambers to see the original statues of the Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the animals which serve them.  In a few chambers we appeared to be of just as much interest (if not more) as the Gods and we obliged a few Indonesian families by posing with them in front of the statues.

Cultured out, hot and ready for a swim, we re-boarded the bus to head to our next hotel - the Plataran Borobudur, a lovely hotel with a great view of Borobudur (and we all had our own private pools just a step from our rooms - not even a hop and a skip required!).

Jan

PS. From Dianne

I just had to include some photos of the Plataran as it was a truly exquisite hotel set into the side of a hill overlooking Borobudur set high on the neighbouring hill. The location did mean there were lots of steps to be contended with, but the view was worth it

As we enjoyed breakfast in one of the outdoor pavilions one morning we watched Borobudur being covered in white plastic sheeting so an army of fluoro-clad volunteers could spend the day cleaning the statues (apparently using tiny rubber brushes which are less damaging to the stone)

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Kerryn and i had one of the Royal suites and you can see our own private pool and the size of the rooms. very beautifully decorated and made us fell very special. 

PPS. from Jan

I was reminded about our first night at the Plataran, and couldn't let it go unremarked on.  Dinner was a magnificent buffet, in a Dutch-Raj style dining room. The music was a bit loud (couldn't hear yourself think is a phrase that springs to mind), so Chris asked the Maitre 'D if he couldn't turn the volume down a tad, only to immediately realize that it was live band - well, a live Gamelan player and singer! The singer was a soprano who took her job of hitting the high notes seriously.

Farewell...for most of us

Friday 7th October 

After the farewell dinner of the previous night it was time to have a last dip in the pool. Kim and Kerryn wallowed around in the pool, and Sue read her book in the sun: all of which was to have dire consequences later when they realised they were a glorious shade of bright pink.

As they discovered it's not a lot of fun being sunburnt in the heat and humidity; although with the help of cold towels, expensive moisturiser, lots of sympathy and plenty of shade they are still smiling.

Enroute to the airport we had a last shopping stop at a large silversmiths where we managed to buy some absolutely necessary items and Jan made sure we will gain a few points in the Best Tourists Awards by purchasing many fridge magnets.

We deposited Sue, Chris, Veronica and Karin at Jogjakarta Airport to catch their flight to Jakarta and home. Then the remaining seven of us whiled away some time at the local airport Hotel before catching a late flight to Denpasar, Tired and frazzled we arrived at the Royal Seminyak Bali resort on the beach at Seminyak after midnight. Despite previous confirmation of a request for a room with three single beds in it, a double bed with one single bed had been provided.When Jenny pointed out that they wouldn't expect two men to share a bed (particularly in a Hindu culture) they realised their mistake and remedied the situation.

Saturday 8th October

I arose early and wandered along the beachfront: white sand, lifeguards with flags, too many Australians.......and plenty of dogs! I did locate the water-sports department but no one seemed interested at breakfast, not surprisingly.
The breakfast selection was amazing but it felt as if we might be sitting in a hotel in Australia as 99% of the guests seemed to be Australian. 

Obviously one of the many huge Hotels who offer holiday packages.  Lots going for it: beautiful gardens, well-kept pools, pleasant rooms and close to the beach. Just too many fellow countrymen for me!

We had a very lovely lunch at Gado Gado overlooking the beach before setting off for the Airport, Had two sorts of pate and terrine for entree....not exactly local cuisine, but very nice. 
 Then it was off to the airport to drop off Thelma so she could return home to Perth..... and then there were six of us left!

Officially this was the start of the Post post conference tour ....or as Jenny calls it - her holiday, as now we have to look after ourselves instead of her looking after us!

Jenny does certainly deserve some relaxation time after all of the work it takes to run the conference and post conference tour. It all runs so smoothly and she manages to remain calm in the face of us all asking a million questions (often because we haven't read the program properly!). 

The joy of staying in superb beautiful resorts and hotels, and being able to visit some of the most amazing sights in Asia - especially Prambatan and Borobudur, along with learning and experiencing some of the culture and enjoying fabulous food , will stay with us a for a long time, I'm sure.   

For the remaining six of us we caught a flight to Lombok - one of those flights where you seem to go up just in time to descend again: very short. 

We are currently ensconced at Qunci Villas for a few days of doing as little as possible. Situated on the beach at Senggigi this is a truly picturesque spot. Local fishermen and surfers to watch whilst lazing around on a sun lounge. A great range of asian food, a happy hour for cocktails and three infinity pools to enjoy. Just ghastly!

We will all return to our former lives at the end of the week but until then I will attempt to put some more photos in all of the blogs! Sorry about the delay! 

Until the next Women and Power Conference I wish you well 

Dianne

Borobudur sunrise...magical mystical and wonderful

Thursday 6 October
Here's Anne's account of another fascinating day:

Well Borobudur lived up to expectations - it was magnificent and all the more for being there at 4.30am to see the sunrise.  Yes really!  Well actually the sunrise was a bit muted - in other words we didn't see much of it it because of the mist, but being in this very old (built in the 9th Century) and spiritual place as the light slowly emerged from the darkness was soothing and beautiful - serene in fact.

This place is special to the Buddhists and in a different way to anyone who is lucky enough to visit. It is the largest single Buddhist structure in the world, reminiscent to Angkor Wat but quite different, not a place of worship but a place of learning.

But the steps - my goodness there were steps. Very steep, narrow, different angles and depth ........ you get my drift.  We dragged ourselves up them in the dark with torches - it was a sterling effort.  And then we sat quietly (for us) and waited - it was lovely.  Atik our wonderful guide warned us it would be pretty cool that early and was dressed in a puffer jacket.  Let me tell you it was warm, steamy (especially after the climb) - but of course Atik has a different view of hot and cold to us.  Atik guided us around the 72 stupas and explained various stories of the Buddha represented in extensive carvings - a bit like Opera ie woman meets man, falls in love, various bizarre things happen, drama, and then they die. But of course full of allegory and metaphor.

We started to get confused and glaze over a bit so we trekked down the steps again and made our way back to the hotel for breakfast and a rest day.

But before we got to the bus we were accosted by a group of students smartly dressed in their school uniforms who were there, not to admire Borobudur, but to practice their English on unsuspecting tourists! For some of the W&P group, who had remained at the first level to avoid the stairs, they had spoken to 3 groups of students!

They had clearly been practicing their questions and their performance: one group sang a song in English with finger puppets and lots of smiles. At the end we had to rate them so we gave them A+ of course as they were really very good.

We do have some work to do as they wanted us to sing and we were....... I'm not sure how to describe it really!!!??? We did try 'Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree' after deciding Waltzing Matilda was too long and some of us weren't sure of the words to the national anthem. We all thought we could do a rousing rendition of 'God save our gracious queen' (given our ages and our school assemblies that's not surprising I guess!) but it didn't seem appropriate!

For most of us a return to the Plataran meant spa treatments in the most beautiful room looking out to Borobudur - Kim can now bend her legs backwards, Kerryn snored during her facial and frightened herself, Jan and I experienced, shall we say a robust technique, Thelma and Kim's treatments were lost in translation with Jenny ending up with Kim's hair treatment. Then Di and Kerryn's detoxifying facial was completed by the application of iced jade stone rollers!!!!

This was all interspersed by lolling in our respective pools that were part of the villa's - pretty speccy.

The farewell dinner was preceded by alfresco cocktails overlooking Borobudur after which we staggered down to the room for dinner.  One could only describe this room as..... well unusual - Venetian inspired with chandelier, baroque chairs and background music and yummy Indonesian food - lots of food.  Really nice dinner and wonderful company.  We say adieu to Sue, Chris, Karin and Veronica tomorrow.  It goes so quickly but wonderful experiences shared.

Anne Smyth

The joys of Java

Tuesday 4th October: 

Here's Sue's version of events as we get to know Java.

Yogyakarta Phoenix hotel to d'Omah hotel Yogyakarta,Sewon, Bantul.

Tuesday morning started early for some (Dianne and Sue) who went to the Phoenix gym, rubbing shoulders with the local muscle bound personal trainer.
Bags had to be outside the hotel room doors by 8 am. Many found their way down to the dining area near the fountain courtyard after 7.30 am.

The breakfast buffet was spread across about 5 areas. From European meats,cheese and eggs to order in the air conditioned dining room, to local medicinal  Jamu drink and Kopi served by locals sitting on mats in traditional dress. Around 8. , the mini muted gamelan orchestra played ethereal music from across the courtyard, near the craft shop.

Bills were paid at reception, by the huge floral arrangement and the museum room.

Our guides, Melinda and Atik arrived. Someone had a quiet word to them .... An extra visit was added into our itinerary.... A visit to the Cokelat Dalem shop and museum! Kim had tried one of the chocolate bars in her birdcage mini bar, and wanted more!
We arrived at the shop to find beautifully laid out displays, a central table with a circular display of bars spread symmetrically . A museum, and an area where you could watch chocolate being made behind glass, like at Koko Black in Collins street. And they had samples in small coffee bean shapes! Plain dark up to 85%, chilli, ginger, Kopi, green tea, blends,lemongrass! Lots to try, and lots to buy. The display was decimated, but Chris got a photo before hand .

Back on the bus, chocolate was put into the cool store.
We next decanted to go on a rickshaw ride around a rural village called Cadran to experience some local traditional life.

There is a certain technique to getting on and off a rickshaw safely and elegantly: you wait until the driver tips it forward so you can step up into it. Unfortunately Jan attempted to mount hers without the assistance of the driver and tipped the entire rickshaw up into the air!A funny sight


In the midst or our perambulations, which you can see in the photos below, we stopped for lunch which was simple and delicious and all served in very clever banana leaf plates. Accompanied by fresh coconut juice of course. The doughnut balls filled with palm sugar and coconut were a big hit!

First stop was a home industry to keep women employed at home rather than going OS for work.
2 women had been working together for years, 7 days a week making nut chips from a nut we were not familiar with at all.
One woman roasted the nuts in sand on a clay wood fire burner, then peeled them.
The other pounded ,one at a time, about 5 nuts to create a flat white disc, about 5 cm across, which she then lifted off to dry on a frame. They then get sold, and you fry them to create high protein chips. Both do the same role, Never swapping!

Back on the rickshaws to the 75 year old lady who has been making Tempe soya cakes for 60 years (see photos above). The soya beans are imported from USA as local ones are inferior in protein content. She has osteoporosis and a back injury after being hurt during the 2006 earthquake when her house was destroyed. She shared details about her family and life, then asked for a photo with us! She is on the poverty line and gets some basic care from the government- but still seemed to have a goiter, some eye issue and her back problem.

Back on rickshaws, stopping at the rice paddy. We saw lots of primary school kids on a rural experience playing in the mud, riding the water buffaloes , then being hosed down afterwards to much squealing. We later met them again.

We saw the men show us how they plant the rice, using a marked bamboo pole to evenly space the rice seedlings. The women , who usually do this, were away preparing for a wedding, which they can have in October according to the Balinese calendar for auspicious days, we learnt from Thelma in Ubud in the yin shop. Some men also chased the skinny eels that hang out in rice paddies.

Back on rickshaws to play the gamelan. Atik and a local guide tried hard to get us in time, resorting to chalk numbers on the keys, blackboard with number sequences written, then a big stick to tap and yell out the numbers we were meant to be playing!

We had our photos taken by a group from Papua , who we then overlapped with at our next rickshaw stop- the museum and log thumping music stop. Singing , words were provided for those who forgot them via a phone internet search, and thumping a hollowed out log, .  ? For beating or grinding a grain traditionally? Lunch was served with a whole chook presenting its rear end, rice, coconut milk, various local dishes , steamed peanuts etc. the kids we saw earlier were there, now in clean dry clothes, some playing soccer, then heading off on a Mickey Mouse train which played music. Di had her photo taken with some of the kids, and the boys wanted to know how old she was.

Our last rickshaw ride returned us to the bus. Then onto our new hotel: the D'Omah in Tembi village.

your correspondent
Sue Hookey

PS: from Dianne.

Early the next morning I went for a 'Jalan Jalan' (Indonesian for walking around/having a look).There's always a lot to see in the early morning in hot  humid countries. Kids going to school and very keen to have their photo taken, lots of elderly ladies sweeping the leaves and tidying up, farmers checking the rice fields and doing some weeding.....and all of them happy to say Pagi (good morning) to me.
I managed to find the highlights of Tembi village as spotted by Veronica and Karin: the 'Happy Dental' office and the cemetery Hopefully with no connection between the two!

The other interesting aspect of touring Java is that the hotels always provide earplugs in your room, Ah I can hear you saying  - that will be because women of a certain age are known for their snoring and our reputation preceded us!!
But no! Java is a predominantly Muslim country and the number of mosques is remarkable. In a relatively small village like Tembi there are three....which means three lots of chanting calling people to prayer, and hence the need for earplugs. Atik, our guide, jokingly calls it Imam Idol as the competition is fierce.
Mosques come in all shapes and sizes but usually have a shiny dome and are painted a very bright green or yellow.

As I strolled around I eventually realised that I was hopelessly lost and seemed to be on the wrong side of the Tembi rice fields and in a completely different village. After some eloquent charades including lots of shrugging of shoulders and saying"Tembi?" I was pointed in the right direction and eventually found my way back to the D'Omah Hotel an hour and a half later!! Such is the life of an adventurer!

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