Sunday 29 August 2010

Photo Gallery - PPLP Graduation



double click the image to enter the gallery

Wisuda XXV - Another “graduation” but different

I shouldn’t call it a “graduation” as students were not receiving degrees but certificates and diplomas. Officially this occasion was a “Wisuda”, the 25th for the PPLP part of Dhyana Pura. The PPLP is the “Centre for Tourism Education and Training”. It offers quality training courses of 1 – 3 years duration in areas such as “Housekeeping Services”, “Food and Beverage Service” and “Public Relations and Secretarial”. The first part (“Yudisium”) was held at the college on 24th August and the public part, the “Wisuda” took place on Friday 27th August. This is the grand occasion where family and friends see the students receive their qualifications and prizes.


The transport convoy left the college soon at 7 and made its way through heavy traffic around the northern and eastern edges of Denpasar to the Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur. At about 8:30 I took my seat in the front row wearing my formal batik shirt with small spray of local flowers. The hall filled. The special guests and dignitaries were ceremonially led into the main assembly hall by 4 students in elaborate local costume.

Costumed students lead guests and senior staff into the auditorium
The gamelan orchestra struck up with a flourish, and “Wisuda XXV” got underway. 

A section of the gamelan orchestra
A troupe of 5 dancers gave a stunning and enchanting display, with the traditional eye, head and body movements, and the characteristic hand-finger movements. I was well placed to get good photos – see the Web Album (linked as Blog on these pages).


Balinese dancer at opening of ceremony
The ceremony took about 3 hours as 262 students received their certificates or diplomas. Then there were the prizes, the special awards etc, the oath of allegiance to nation and a pledge to live up to the expectations of the Alumni, and so on.



College Director Pak Joko presents a
student with medal of achievement
It was a very colourful and attractive occasion. The boys wore school uniform but the girls shone in their local costumes – the beautiful dresses and blouses which I’d seen at weddings. The togas and caps were not worn – they are for the University (STIM) graduates.

Musicians at hotel entrance
After the ceremony guests, staff, student attendants and the choir had lunch in the hotel’s dining room which had attractive views over the gardens and out to sea. After lunch the staff returned to the ballroom for photographs with students. I lost track of the number of students who requested photos of me (novelty factor I suppose as I didn’t know any of them). When we left we found a small band of musicians seated at the entrance playing music on traditional instruments and producing an attractive and exotic sound.

Some of the students who
assisted with presentations
 and acted as ushers


The timing of my arrival at Dhyana Pura has been very fortunate – I’ve attended the STIM graduation (separate blog), the student orientation week, and now the presentation ceremony for PPLP students. These occasions allowed me to experience the local practices at the start and the end of the students’ association with the college. My next 2 months will involve me in the routine of classes and training activities. 

My congratulations to the successful students, and to all who made the Wisuda such a colourful and enjoyable occasion. 

Thankyou for having me there.






Wednesday 25 August 2010

Another wedding - make it a double

I'm working my way towards a tally to match the title of the Hugh Grant film "Four Weddings and a Funeral".  I'm half way there with weddings, and with another in 2 weeks time I'm confident of reaching that part of the tally.  Although I have not been to a funeral I did attend a formal "lying in state" type of occasion at a Balinese house, but that's another story, and not a real funeral.

Last Saturday I was privileged to attend a double wedding,  Not only were two sisters married in the same ceremony, but the parents of the brides celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.  Such a coincidence of events called for a big celebration, and this certainly was.  The grounds of the Dhyana Pura Resort Hotel (which is owned by an agency of the Protestant Church in Bali) were decorated and lit up for this festive occasion attended by many guests.   
The hotel grounds provided a splendid
setting for the wedding celebration.

I've had personal experience of getting families together for wedding photos, but my experiences were nothing compared with the task at this and also the first wedding I attended (at Blimbingsari - see an earlier post).  Two couples and three families (remember the brides were of the same family) adds up to lots of people.  Just as well the stage provided a sufficiently large set on which to arrange everyone.

Getting the families together for photos
(group extended way out on each side!)
The cultural elements fascinated me, as at Blimbingsari.  The sound of the gamelan orchestra is captivating, and the dancers were just stunning in their movements, gestures and costumes.  Apart from the obvious larger body movements you must also watch the more subtle hand and finger movements, which along with facial expressions and eye movements, play important parts in the dance routines.

Balinese dancer - just watch her eyes
The wedding outfits of brides and grooms are modelled on costumes of past nobles, and the grooms carry an ornamental dagger, or short sword.  Philipp, new husband of Ziphora, is German.  He was kitted out splendidly, but looked just a little uncomfortable in his traditional Balinese costume.  Philipp's parents were also appropriately attired.  Many women were sporting the beautiful and ornate hair clasps which I've seen at the more formal functions I've been to.  Most are fine examples of the jeweller's art.

Ziphora and Philipp - queen and king for a day
All the social events I've attended have involved feasting, and this was no exception.  Snacks were available for guests as they arrived, and later several food serveries catered to the large crowd of guests and offered an interesting selection of traditional dishes. 

I went back to the grounds the next morning and it was as if the event had never taken place as the grounds had been returned to their normal state.

My best wishes to Garry and Agnes, Philipp and Ziphora for long and happy lives together.  Thank you for letting me be part of your special occasion.

Photo Gallery - A Double Wedding



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Monday 23 August 2010

A visit to Pura Tanah Lot

You can't claim that you've "seen Bali" if you haven't been to Pura Tanah Lot.   Well, so the guide books say. 

Pura Tanah Lot (PTL from now one) is one of Bali's most widely promoted landmarks, and it's easy to see why.  The small temple of PTL sits on a rocky outcrop which is accessible on foot at low tide, but isolated at high tide.  You get a feeling for just how crowded this place becomes when you enter the huge carpark and see row upon row of tourist coaches.  The locals are ready to turn this popularity to their advantage and the path to PTL  (unless you ignore the signpost and take a short cut) winds through rows of stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs and foodstuffs.  They provide a major source of income for the region. 


The visitor must negotiate lanes
of stalls to get to the entrance.
When you get past the stalls and reach the gate of the temple complex you can have your photograph taken with one of two large pythons wrapped around you.  That was a sensation (and expense) I could well do without, so Jaya and I joined a good number of others to see PTL.  The main rush of coaches and hordes of visitors had not yet arrived - they usually show up just before sunset - so the place was not yet crowded. We saw PTL from the cliff tops, and then went to the beach to see it from sea level.

Pura Tanah Lot
The PTL temple contains several small shrines.  The parts which face the sea (or "Lot") are dedicated to a Balinese godess, and the part  facing the land (or "Tanah") is believed to be the seat of the gods from the mountain of Gunung Butukau, Bali's second highest peak.  The building of the temple is traditionally ascribed to Dang Hyang Niratha, a Brahmin priest, poet and architect from Java (about mid 1500's).


The outline of Pura Tanah Lot from
connecting rock platform at low tide.
Unfortunately the rock on which PTL stands is being steadily eroded by the sea and attempts to protect and stabilise it have been required.



We saw it in the mid afternoon and were impressed by its construction.  As the skies were growing darker with thick and threatening cloud, and the sea haze was increasing, we did not see it at its spectacular best.  As the sun sinks into the Bali Strait it lights up the seaward face and gives the thousands gathered on the cliff tops or beach (at low tide) a memorable view of the rock and shrines  silhouetted against the glowing sky.

Photo Gallery - Outings




The link to this gallery "broke" recently and resists repair.  Until it can be fixed, please use this link to access the gallery.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110038041647560744460/Outings02?authkey=Gv1sRgCJupwd_Em7eJqAE

Wednesday 18 August 2010

A cool day in the gardens


Although this is my 20th day in Bali I'm still not acclimatised. It's not too hot at about 30 deg C most days, with overnight dip to about 25 (there's little difference day to day, or do they just keep recycling the forecast?). It's the humidity which hits me - it runs at 80% and up, especially after the odd shower we've had.



Last Sunday (15th Aug) I went with Jaya (my colleague and friend here at the college), his wife and family, to the Bali Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali) on the lower slopes of (Mt) Gunung Pohen, just to the east of the hill town of Candikuning.

Small shrine within the gardens
I was warned to bring a jacket as it would be quite cold. Plenty of Balinese people did bring their jackets, and did need to wear them, but I felt wonderfully comfortable in my short sleeves. It was the most comfortable I've felt outside since arriving.


The spacious gardens are very attractive, and have sections containing plantings of different types of plants - much the same as ours do. At times hill mists blew through the trees giving the forest a wistful and mysterious air. In places small shrines with traditional umbrellas were located amongst the trees (see my "Outings" Gallery on this Blog, or on my Picasa Web Album.



It wasn't the botanical aspect which brought us to the gardens. The Bali Treetop Adventure Playground has its home here. The "kids" (from 6 or 7 year old childen through to adults) loved it. The Playground has 3 or 4 circuits through the treetops. These are graded so young kids can use a circuit which is just a couple of meters off the ground, and the most adventurous and "big kids" can test themselves on equipment tens of meters up in the treetops.


There are various combinations of ladder climbs, wire tightropes (with safety line and hand wires), suspended bridges with footways that swing back and forth, flying fox descents, obstacles, nets and so on. It was fun just watching.


From the Playground we went down the mountain to Lake Beratan (or Bratan) to the lakeside temple complex of Puraluhar Beratan. The guide books and maps show a variety of names, and the sign at the entrance calls it "Pura Penataran".


The small pura on islands in the lake
This Pura (temple complex) is well known, and has local significance.  The Pura contains many small shrines and Balinese Hindu worship areas within it.  It is attractively located on the lake shore and some of the component buildings are built on small "islands" just a short distance from the lake shore. 




We couldn't see it at its best because of extensive restoration work taking place, the mountain mists which were developing into a fog, and 2 buses of tourists who seemed to have been trained to stand in a way which spoiled almost every possible camera angle.  I may have to return to see it, and its famous views, under better conditions.  (Note - in 2011 I returned and it was foggy again!)

Some of the detail of the highly decorated roof beams

The area around the lake amongst the mountains is very productive (rich volcanic, well watered soils) and the road was flanked by stalls and people with baskets selling boiled corn cobs, punnets of strawberries and a variety of fresh produce and locally cooked food.

I hope to go into this region again to see some more of the attractive rural upland areas.

Monday 16 August 2010

Graduation at Dhyana Pura College

The STIM Class of 2010 at Dhyana Pura graduated last week. The occasion was much more spectacular and fun than I remember either of my 2 graduation days being. STIM (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Manajemen - roughly  “Tertiary School of Management Science”) offers a 4-year degree course in Tourism and Hotel Management. The other parts of Dhyana Pura are the PPLP which offers certificate and diploma courses of 1 to 3 years, and the senior high school with vocational emphasis.


The STIM graduation was a 2 stage process. On Tuesday 10th August the “Yudisium” ( “Inauguration”) was held. This was an in-house occasion for students, lecturers and some other staff (and guests, of course). The successful students had their achievements recognised, and were each presented with a medal and a desk trophy. Music throughout the occasion was provided by a well-drilled choir, led by a Heldy, a "1st semester" student. Director Joko addressed the graduating students.

The STIM course is very practical. One guest speaker detailed the opportunities and pitfalls of work in hotels or tourism agencies around the world. Another speaker gave advice on how recruitment agencies can help students find positions on cruise ships and the river boats of Europe. The College maintains a “jobs” website, and there is a small recruitment office on campus.

A student proudly displays his medal

On Thursday 12th August the more formal and public stage of the graduation was held. This was the “Wisuda” where parents and friends can see their students graduate. It was held in the ballroom of the Dhyana Pura Resort Hotel (another Facility of the Dhyana Pura Foundation, an agency of the GKPB, or Protestant Christian Church in Bali). Students wore gowns and caps, and their medals. The Academic Procession was led into the hall by students dressed in traditional ceremonial costumes and carrying symbols of office and wisdom. A Balinese gamelan orchestra played traditional music and 5 young women performed traditional dances in beautiful costumes.


Dancers perform at Graduation Ceremony. 
Members of the Senate look on.
Students in traditional costume
assisted during presentations
The Graduation Day had much in common with a graduation ceremony in an Australian University. Familiar elements were the presentation of degree certificates, the awarding of prizes, the speeches and the recognition of the students. Essential differences included the Balinese cultural elements woven through the occasion, the singing of national anthems and school hymn, and the pledging of allegiance by the students.


As students and audience left the ballroom they were invited to join in a fine traditional buffet in the beautiful and restful grounds of the hotel.

It was an event at which I could appreciate the value placed on education and citizenship by those present, and the importance of the work of the GKPB through the Foundation in providing a quality and culturally sensitive education which will equip students to work in the tourism industry which dominates the modern economy of Bali. But perhaps the most lasting impression is indicated by a word I’ve used several times - tradition. The students receive a modern, quality education, in an environment which recognises the importance of tradition and is respectful of the Balinese cultural heritage.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Why am I "watching the rice field"?

I've just submitted a Photo Gallery titled "Watching the rice field". But why? Well, rice is the great iconic food of Asia. But beyond that, I have a past professional interest in rice. As a chemical analyst with the CSIRO Division of Soils in the early 70's I worked with an Indonesian scientist (Edih Suwadji of Jakarta, whom I hope to meet again on a trip to Java). His project in Adelaide was to investigate trace and heavy metal uptake from soil to rice plant. We collected rice-growing soils from several sites in the Murrimbidgee Irrigation Area and conducted glasshouse trials with hundreds of pots with different combinations of radioactive tagged metals.

Edih never could quite appreciate why watering the flooded plants in a steamy glasshouse on a 40 degree Adelaide day was not a popular activity. I analysed hundreds, possibly thousands of soil and plant samples (roots, stalks, whole grain, rice husks, bran etc) for a range of metals.

In the late 70's I was a "reference analyst" (which meant I had a good reputation and my results were trusted) for an United Nations / FAO program to improve the zinc nutrition status of rice in several Asian and African countries.

During my 3 trips for Dept of Foreign Affairs to work with the Philippines Bureau of Soils it was hard to avoid rice. I ate it, spoke about its analytical challenges, and saw it everywhere. In 2004 David and I visited the Philippines. We visited the International Rice Research Institute and also toured "Rice World", a museum devoted to rice and its cultural importance arround the world. Our "rice highlight" was to visit the Banaue rice terraces in northern Philippines to see one of the great civil engineering projects of historic times. Thousands of kilometres of terraces were constructed between about 1500BC and 500 AD by people steadily working away with nothing more than wooden spades and levers. The scope of the work is truly amazing.


Famed rice terraces, Banaue, northern Philippines
As rice is usually associated with paddies and terraces in tropical Asian countries, it was a curiosity to see "arborio" rice growing in fields in northern Italy, in sight of the Alps. This is the special rice variety which Italians use for risotto. No other rice yields the right texture and results. In Torino our friend Giorgio took us to a rice restaurant which served nothing but rice dishes.

Those are my "rice connections". Here at the college in Dalung the rice fields literally come up to the college fence. Since my arrival on Fri 30th July I've watched with interest the small stepped field beside the college driveway. It was being harvested, and the grain winnowed when I arrived. Two days later the unwanted chaff trash was burnt and I knew it wouldn't be long before the crop harvest cycle began again. With fertile volcanic soils and regular rain the farmers can grow 3 crops of rice each year. The fields are not fallow for long at all. A few days ago I saw the water flooding the fields. Next day I saw the tractor in operation. Yesterday I watched as the farmer planted the rice seedlings into the lower parts of his fields. Today the work is finished and the harvest cycle starts again. Watching the largely manual work regime is a reminder of how hard the small farmers and their families have to work to produce their crops. Rice is very important in the traditional diet of the Balinese, just as it is through most of Asia. The folk here wonder how I could have a good and satisfying meal if doesn't include rice.
"My" special rice field beside the College driveway

Rice - you've just got to love it (or else you'll starve here!!)


Check the Photo Gallery "Watching the Rice Field". I'll update it as the plants grow.

Photo Gallery - Watching the rice field

Photo Gallery - STIM Graduation (Bachelor degree program)

STIM Graduation, 2010




Please double click the following link to enter the photo gallery:


Photo Gallery - Kuta & Denpasar



Another link which has died sometime in the past few months.  Click the link address to open the gallery.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110038041647560744460/KutaSeminyak#

Photo Gallery - Wedding at Blimbingsari















yet another link lost in the past few months.  The gallery is still there, it has just lost the link.
Click the address below to open the gallery.
https://picasaweb.google.com/110038041647560744460/WeddingAtBlimbingsari?authkey=Gv1sRgCPei8qusvK-tMg#


Photo Gallery - Dhyana Pura College

Photo Gallery - Around Dalung

Photo Gallery - Adelaide to College

Changes to photo galleries

I've done what I should really have done before publishing my Photo Galleries in Picasa - read the manuals. I've now worked out some of the things which were worrying me. I've removed the old numbered galleries (which had a sort of chronolgical order) and am replacing them with Thematic collections. I'll add new themes, and add to existing themes as I go. This change will also affect FaceBook photos if you also use that system. I hope that this change makes it easier to find images of interest.

Paul in Bali

Sunday 8 August 2010

We've been to a wedding!

We've been to a wedding".  As a Fawlty Towers fan I've longed to say it for some time.  That phrase, along with "Don't mention the war", and "He put Basil in the ratatouille" is enough to reduce Faulty Towers fans to tears (of course they all know the full dialogues for the episodes from which those quotes are taken).  Well, yesterday (Sat 7th August) I finally got the chance to say it.

I was most kindly invited to the wedding of  Yansen and Asisia, close friends of Christine, the Secretary here at Dhyana Pura College, and known to many staff of the College.  Jaya Pramono (Secretary of the Dhyana Pura Foundation), his wife Purwi, daughter Gianna, and Mother In Law (MIL) most kindly took me with them.  It was a long but sceneic drive from Dalung to Blimbingsari in Western Bali where the wedding was held.  Along the way we passed several squads of girls marching in the opposite direction, probably in a practice or competition associated with the coming Independence Day celebrations.

We arrived at the Christian town of Blimbingsari and I was struck by the contrast in appearance with the surrounding towns. The houses were in much better state of repair, the grounds were neat and tidy, and the street was devoid of the masses of litter which accumulates elsewhere. The offerings left in front of houses (and refreshed frequently) to appease the gods cause a great deal of litter in the town, and much of that stuff is just swept to the edge of the “footpath” or into the gutter (if it exists). The Christian town was almost spotless.  In the early 20th century the Dutch discouraged evangelism for three main reasons: to maintain the unique Balinese culture; to prevent further religious tensions as additional religious communities were established; and to limit the threat to Dutch control (after all, the Balinese Christians might have had the nerve to think the Dutch were their brothers, not their masters). In 1939 the Protestant and Catholic groups of believers were “encouraged” to relocate to wild West Bali and establish their own villages.. It was expected that the harsh conditions would defeat the new settlers, but after a struggle the villages survived and are now models in the area.

My new formal batik shirt.  It fits well but
 the double lining does make it rather hot.

Hundreds of Christians were in attendance and parking was at a premium. Fortunately Jaya’s family had connections (MIL was born there) and we parked at the house of a relative. I changed into my formal batik shirt and we walked the short distance to the church and reception area.  I was completely unprepared for the scene – the church was on a small rise behind a field of tables, and row upon row of chairs. There were 5 or 6 large canopies marking the food serving areas. Colourful foam sign boards announced that this was the wedding of Yansen and Asisia. We had just settled onto our seats when I was taken off to the church by a family member (I could tell from his shirt pattern). The bridal couple and parents were splendidly attired and family members were easily spotted. The male family members wore shirts of slightly varying styles but all from a particular material, and the females wore blouses made of a golden fabric. It was spectacular. The bride and groom, dressed in traditional regalia wore “crown-like” headdress, and the groom carried a mock golden sword. On the steps down from the church two men held traditional umbrellas and 6 girls waited to spread flower petals. I had a couple of photos taken with the family by the photographer, so I hope I see the images. Inside the church I briefly met a woman from Canberra now on her second UnitingWorld placement in Bali.
Jansen and Asisia leave the church with attendants


As the bridal party came down the steps they were showered with petals.  To the sound of applause, music and singing they made their way to a stage in front of a building on the opposite side of a field spread with tables, and took their places on couches – parents of the groom, then the groom with his bride to his left, then her parents. In the church I met her father and he was pleased to hear I was from Hope Valley, as he had been there and knew Rev Dean Brooks.

I moved between tables during the evening as one group or another invited me. At one stage I sat with the current Bishop of GKPB, at another time I sat with Synod members.

The majority of the wedding service with the vows and presentation of the certificate took place on the stage before the assembled families and friends. I guessed “hundreds” but was reliably informed that there would have been more than a thousand people there. There were prayers and songs; an offering was collected to the sound of gamelan music played by about 20 women dressed in red costumes; a small choral group sang; and about a dozen men played tunes on a collection of amazing and unusual bamboo “xylophones” (for want of a better description). Men stood behind to play the smaller, higher tuned instruments and perched on the larger instruments to play them. The bride and groom sang popular love songs to each other. Later in the evening a group of men and children played music on “kitchen utensils” – children tapped glasses with spoons; they scraped rasps; a man played the “drum kit” on a collection of basins, plates and bottles; a large plastic container of about 20L supplied the base notes. It was amazing. This group won from several other such groups in a novel competition between parishes.

The percussion player is really "on top of his instrument".

As we lined up to receive delicious local dishes, several rounds of fireworks were fired, and some flares were lit. It was an amazing and colourful evening, and I was honoured and privileged to have been invited to take part. The drive home was a bit of an anti-climax, as the road was even more congested than on the trip out. Several large trucks carrying pre-cast concrete beams were crawling along and each had a tail of banked up vehicles. Vehicles weaved in and out, trying to pass, and cutting in to line as they encountered oncoming traffic. It was rather dangerous, but the Balinese drivers showed far more patience and tolerance of others than drivers at home. All the while motor bikes weaved their way through the traffic, passing on either side, and often taking terrible risks. Eventually we made it back to the college at about 10:30. It had been a long day, but a fascinating one.

My best wishes to the bride and groom for a long and blessed life together. 



Jaya, Gianna and Purwi Pramono, with Purwi's mother.
They kindly took me to the wedding.

Special thanks to: Jaya and Purwi Pramono for taking me; Christine Suyasa for kindly arranging my invitation; and to the family and guests who invited me to their tables and made me feel so welcome.

You can see many more photos by opening the Picasa Album "Wedding at Blimbingsari" in the Blog entries in the "Archives"  section at right of screen.

Paul in Bali


Friday 6 August 2010

The end of the first week

Well, formal classes have not started but I've had plenty of short conversations with people wanting to gain a bit of conversational practice.  Many of these are staff who would not get an opportunity to participate in formal activities.  That's all good and enjoyable.


Yesterday (Thursday 5th Aug) after work Jaya, the Secretary of the Dhyana Pura Foundation, took me to a small spa centre he and his wife have established in the Kerobokan.  Many westerners have come there to establish villas for either investment or to settle.  Tourist villas are also springing up as it is not far from the beach strip, but land is much less expensive.  It is very different from Dalung - cafes and coffee shops; art and craft shops (even one selling overpainted digeridoos; souvenir and clothing shops; signage in English, and so on.  Kerobokan is probably better known in Australia for the grim looking prison, its white walls topped by barbed wire.  Schapelle Corby and the Bali 9 are held there. 

Jaya collected his wife from her work at the Oberoi hotel - a resort with  very swish grounds - and we then enjoyed a delicious local meal at a cafe called "Calamary" before going to his house to meet his 3 children and chat over coffee on his front porch.  It was real Balinese coffee and was a welcome delight after the few cups of instant coffee I've had in my room.  I haven't seen a coffee house on the stretch of main road I frequent in Dalung.


Today I went to the printshop to have photographs taken, and copies made of my visa certificate.  The College must lodge copies as part of the paperwork needed to register me as a "guest worker" and to extend my visa when the 60 days granted me in Australia run out.  The shop was very close to the tailors where I lodged trousers to have the cuffs taken up, so that saved me quite a walk on what has been a hot and humid day.


A couple of hundred meters down the road from the college is a building housing the Bali campus of the Dutch Stenden University. On Wednesday I stopped for a close look at the sculptured wall decorations. Three musicians playing different traditional instruments sit atop the fence posts, and beneath the portico, beside the entrance, is a sculptured panel depicting traditional Balinese activities.  Here is the musician playing the drum - the other two play the cymbals and the gong.  You can see them and another section of the wall decoration in my online galleries available on this Blog site. These are some of the small attractions around the campus, even if Dalung doesn't appear to have much to attract the tourist.

"Ploughing the field" - a small section of an extensive
 decorative wall sculpture at Stenden University
The Balinese drummer is one of several musicians
who decorate the fence posts at Stenden Uni.  The
more classical figure statue looking over his
shoulder looks strangely out of of place.
One of my favourite Fawlty Towers epidodes is "The Wedding Guests". Tomorrow I'll be able to say "we've been to a wedding" with a smile on my face, as I will have done just that. Christine, the delightful and ever-helpful Secretary of the College obtained an invitation for the wedding of her best friend. It will be held in West Bali, about 3 hours away, so it will be a day with lots of driving. I'll report on that event in my next bulletin.

Paul in Bali

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Settling in (but not into a routine)

During the last 3 days I've met many staff members, and remembered some of the names.  I've met several with the name Made or Wayan.  I've also met a Godfrey, and a Steven, but they either came from another island of Indonesia, adopted a Western nickname, or were given a non-traditional name. The traditional Balinese children's names are, in order of birth:  Wayan, Made, Nyoman and Ketut. If there are more than 4 children, they start again with Wayan.  Actually its a bit more complicated than that, as Hindu caste factors and external events can introduce some systematic alternatives.   In directories and on business cards the men preface their names with "I" and the women use "Ni" (I have cards with examples of the male usage, but only heard of female use).  I've met "I Wayan Mastra" (a first born) and "I Made Priana" (a second born), but not a Nyoman or Katut (although there is a "Katut" on the short telephone contact list.)


On Monday I met the Director and was introduced at two gatherings of staff and students.  We've already had discussions on my schedule, but as most of the students in my target groups don’t resume their classes until later this month I am starting with groups of teachers and possibly some support staff. Even in my casual meetings with staff members I’ve noticed huge differences in English speaking abilities. Some are confident, some have good vocabularies and some have good pronunciation. It is pleasing to note that some have all three characteristics.


The College, or Institute, has several branches.  One (STIM) conducts bachelor degree programs in Hotel and Tourism Management.  Another branch (PPLP) conducts certificate programs (like our TAFE courses) in Hotel Housekeeping, Hotel Front of House, Food and Beverage Preparation, and Food and Beverage Service. I’ve seen some of the “Housekeeping” students making up the visitor rooms on my floor under watchful assessment. The final section (at present) is a senior high school with vocational training. A new building is under construction for these students.


My hosts have been unfailingly friendly, courteous, hospitable and helpful. One member of “housekeeping” perhaps responded a bit too enthusiastically to my request for a powerboard with a reasonable lead (to get to a power point behind furniture). When he couldn’t spot just what I was after I said not to worry, but he hurried off and came back with an industrial strength roll of cable with 4 outlets and a drum with perhaps 30 metres of cable (see picture). How could I say “no thanks” after that effort?

My industrial strength extension cord.


Yesterday as I left one building I heard traditional music being played from an upper floor, and more than a hundred students in either school uniform or traditional costume (boys with hats) formed a double line from the gate, through the gardens, right up to the main door of the building. They were preparing for the visit of some senior officials from the Education Department (and entourage). As the visitors arrived the students greeted them with song and the traditional hand gesture of greeting and welcome as the visitors passed along the corridor of students. (see my photos in the albums of this blog).



Although my internet connection is rather slow during the day, it does get better at night when the students have left. It may be even slower later this month when all students are back. Evening speeds are sufficient to hold a reasonable Skype video call to family members. I have only authorised connections with family and a few friends as there are too many nuisance callers using Skye, but I’m open to requests to expand my circle of contacts. Bali’s time zone is the same as for Perth (GMT +8), so I’m 1.5 hours behind Sth Aust, 2 hrs behind Eastern time – until daylight saving.

I saw a "headline report" on Bali TV this morning and had email confirmation from Aust Dept of Foreign Affairs that the Indonesian Govt has officially confirmed that Rabies is present in Bali (health services have known that for ages!). I’ve seen some really sad looking dogs on the streets, but none were salivating, eyeing me off and acting strangely. Even though I had the course of rabies shots (an expensive precaution, but not complete protection) I still give dogs a cautiously wide berth when I pass them. I’m more concerned about monkeys at sites I’m likely to visit. They can be capricious and nasty.

That’s the more interesting news. I’ve got a stack of reading in advance of next weeks class, and am working through my “Teach Yourself Indonesian” notes. Next week when I have mastered a few more words I will be the student in some conversational practice. More of that later.

Now it’s time for bed. “Sampai jumpa” (until we meet again)

Paul in Bali

Sunday 1 August 2010

The work starts tomorrow

It's been a very quiet weekend.  The staff wing has been deserted, apart from me and the guard, except for a few minutes when I met an Englishman who dropped in to collect something.  I've explored the campus and made myself a small map to familiarise myself with the layout.  I've had a chance to read some of my notes, organise my images and get started on the blog entries.  The mini-mart is just 5 minutes away, so I've purchased a few supplies to last until I can get to the supermarket.  Meals this weekend have been simple except for this evening's meal at a nearby warung (local food store) sketched on rough map by Trevor and Maureen Miller, friends from Hope Valley, and quite by chance my predecessors in this role.  The meal was certainly worthy of their recommendation and I had a good fill of local vegies.  I will definitely be a return customer.

Rural life is just on the other side of the college fence and I've observed farmers harvesting vegetables and rice, and women winnowing the rice.  There are cows just 50 metres down the rear lane from the college gate, and there are fruit trees and crops I don't recognise.   Roosters are abundant, especially at 6 in the morning.

Rice fields with college rooftops beyond
This morning as I sat in the rooftop garden space at the end of my corridor I could hear deep drum notes coming from one direction, and that exotic metallic chime of gamelan metallophones coming from another direction.  A couple of hundred meters away men were flying kites in twirling paths.  Kites, some quite large (a few meters across), are visible in the skies over Dalung.  They are tethered and stay aloft for days or weeks until the wind drops, or they disintegrate.  Their remains can be seen on the tall power lines and in the tree tops.  One of my guide books says that the Bali Kite Festival is held annually between June and August, and it draws participants from all over SE Asia and Japan.    I'll try to find out more and may be able to see some of the kites in action.

Tomorrow morning I report for duty, and will be introduced at the staff meeting.  Then I'll get some ideas of my specific duties, of the standard of my students, and contact hours.  And that's when my "experience" starts in earnest.

Paul in Bali
P.S. Skype is wonderful for keeping in contact with family at home, but it can't make me a cup of espresso coffee.  I've been reduced to drinking instant coffee made with water from the hot/cold water dispenser.  Now that is hard to endure.  I was also disappointed to find that the ABC TV replay service "IView" can not be downloaded outside of Australia ("copyright restrictions").