Week to week

Photo 1: On the back of Romi's bike on the way back from YSI
Photo 2: Sweet food to break the fast

The last couple of weeks I've had a number of experiences in and around Yogya that have let me see things that you just don't get to see as a tourist. Among them:

I finally got on a back of a motorbike (!) I have since been a passenger several times, each time trying to put as much 'protective' clothing on as possible. Having said that I have riden: in thongs, in short sleves, in a helmet that was much too big, though not all at the same time. Sometimes you've just got to get on.

I've been visting the Yayasan Sayap Ibu, an orphanage for newborns to six year olds. The kids are all beautiful and are starting to warm to the bules (whities) in their midst. Yesterday I also went to visit the wing of the YSI for disabled kids. I found this quite heartbreaking - some of the kids are really ill, and I couldn't help but wonder what the future had in store for them. It was heartening to see how many visitors they had though, and one little girl blew us kisses as we rode off.

I've also been going to nongkrong (hang out) with some of my new friends - this can involve all sorts of things - motorbike rides, coffee, card games, movies, going to the mall. Either way its heaps of fun and everyone gets a laugh out of me trying to learn slang!

Finally, I have experienced the excellent academic culture of Indonesia, where the lecturer of one subject has managed to turn up once in 6 weeks. Frustrating, but I guess its best to just go with the flow.

The end of Ramadan holidays start next week and I am heading off Lombok and the Gili Islands via Bali. Needless to say I am looking forward to it. Not that i've been working that hard...