Just Mixin' it Up

Today is another "no topic" day. As I occasionally do, I'm sharing a few recent photos and commenting on each one. I hope you will find them interesting.

Be careful!

I noticed this sign in the mall parking garage today as we were cutting through to Jl Cihampelas (commonly referred to as Jean Street by tourists). There's never a time this street is without traffic but beginning on Friday and on through the weekend, it's best if you can avoid it completely. However, I was on the hunt for a special item that is typically found on this street, so we decided to brave it using Ferry as our guide. Keep in mind there are no traffic lights or designated places to cross the street. The sign above seems much more appropriate on the street than in the parking garage.

busy Jl Cihampelas - there is an art to crossing the street here

My advice on crossing a street in Bandung? Stick very close to someone who has had more experience with street crossing than you have. Extend your arm out like you are stopping traffic as you inch your way, step by step, toward the opposite side. Make eye contact with as many drivers as you can. And last but not least, make sure you are all prayed up! These are the exact same steps to follow when you are driving and trying to turn across traffic. It's all a matter of skillful negotiation.
 

 Dwi & Lena Widyantoro and family with Ronnie

Sunday we were invited to Pak Dwi's home for lunch. He lives about an hour from ITB (commutes in each day). Truthfully, we had been dreading it, not because they are not very nice people but we were just hoping they didn't serve something that our western sensibilities might strongly object to. Fortunately, it was a very typical Indonesian meal that consisted of fried tofu, tempe, kerupuk (they serve this with every meal - think fish flavored rice cake), chicken wings, steamed rice, a vegetable salad and some kind of beef dish. Everything was very good! Lena, who holds a Ph.D. in Geophysics, and their oldest daughter (red shirt) prepared it.

The table was nicely set but plates and utensils were all placed upside down. Now that we've lived here awhile, I understand this because I do it too. It has to do with the cicaks (lizards) that we share our living space with. Btw: my friend Marcia tells me that they are very territorial and that a 6-7 inch black one lives in her daughter's closet! :(

whoo, me?

Now this little guy was just about the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Ferry and I had stopped on the side of the road to look at bird cages. I noticed this fuzzy little round thing (smaller than a tennis ball) perched on a branch above one of the cages. I learned that it was a baby owl that had fallen from its nest. He had been rescued by the bird/cage seller. Supposedly he will fledge when he's ready but always return to this spot that he will consider home. We woke him up so that he could eat a cricket and I could snap a few photos.

Pak Jani & Ronnie

This is Ronnie and Pak Jani at his guard stand down the road from our apartment. Pak Jani is a street sweeper and he does a good job keeping his section of the road tidy. Never mind the trash, but he faithfully sweeps the leaves anytime they fall. No matter how many times we go up and down the street in a day, we always greet each other with a wave and a smile. Ronnie befriended him when he had Ferry take him a jar of peanut butter and a box of Ritz crackers for his guard stand. We believe this is where he lives.

school girls in uniform

Today as we were cutting through the mall to get over to Jean Street, these girls were looking us over so I spoke to them. Then I turned back and asked if I could take their photo. No one turned me down so I snapped a quick one. I thanked them and kept walking but I could hear their laughter as I left.

snails for sale?

I've mentioned several times before how entrepreneurial the Indonesian people seem to be and how they come up with so many ways to make a rupiah. The photo above is an excellent example. Someone had collected snails and painted bright colors on their shells.  I have no idea how many were sold, or at what price, but they appeared to be a big hit with the kids at a Kartina festival.

 monkey photoshoot

If you've followed this blog, you already know that monkeys are commonly seen entertaining at intersections. Some ride scooters or bikes in cowboy hats; others jump through hoops and perform various other un-monkey like activities - for a fee, of course. Some people rent a monkey for one day's use. I have often tried to photograph them while moving through a busy intersection, but with only limited success. This week as I was going into an outlet, this little guy had gathered quite a crowd. What was he doing? Nothing much. His homemade monkey-size bike was lying casually on the side while he snacked and watched funny people with cameras. (Side note: I had to walk past a pile of smelly, fly covered dead fish to get this shot - I really hope you like it!)

monkey & friends

I had my first kelapa madu (young coconut) when I was with my friend Marcia this week.The truth is, I really wasn't even sure what she had ordered until it was served. Kelapa madu is nothing more than a fresh coconut full of its own juice, served with a glass of ice (optional) and gula merah (brown sugar, melted from its hard form). You sip the juice through a straw, then dig the flesh out with the spoon. And to think - the first time we got one of these we threw it away, thinking it was ruined! The meat of a young coconut is thinner and somewhat slimy vs the old coconuts we're used to seeing where the flesh is thick and hard. Indonesians refer to the old ones as "vegetable" coconuts and only use them in cooking.

kelapa madu ( young coconut)

Here's Ronnie getting a well deserved ice cream treat. The ice cream "peddler" rides through the neighborhood each evening. He plays his loud music and is ready to dole out the treats for the kids that have money (and Ronnie).

the ice cream cycle

And speaking of ice cream.... I actually ordered purple sweet potato ice cream when I lunched with several women from the Bible study group this week. The green stuff on top is fermented cassava (didn't like) and the clear stuff is some kind of "jello" that Indonesians are big on. The purple "ice cream" was not sweet and very pulpy textured. I love sweet potatoes and I love ice cream - just not combined. Notice it was served in a frozen bamboo cup.