More Campus Happenings

The campus is still rather quiet.  Most students are still on vacation or undertaking work experience placements.  In general, only the new students and a few who come on campus for administrative matters are around.  It'll be very different at the end of the month when all classes get under way.  I'm kept busy most days with 2 classes (of 100 mins each) of  "Matriculation English" for the new students in the morning.  In the afternoons I prepare lessons and carry out my other role as "conversation coach" by speaking with staff and students in their own surrounds and out of the classroom.

Although it is a quiet time in general, you never quite know what will happen day by day.  As I can't read the notices which appear in the foyer I often get a surprise.  However there were a couple of recent events I did know of in advance.

Last Friday (July 26th) the Blood Donor Service of the Red Cross came to campus to collect blood.  I was unable to donate as I'm still in the "withholding period" after my whole blood donation in Adelaide just days before I left for Bali. 

Notice boards around the campus carried this sign for a week or more

The logo on an Indonesian Red Cross shirt

Throughout the morning there was a steady stream of students waiting to donate, and even a few of staff.

Pak Darma, one of University's 2 Vice Rektors shows
 that it doesn't hurt a bit.  But Pak, where's the needle?

Evan, a 3rd semester student, donates blood in the "mobile clinic"

All donors received a "thankyou" bag containing a few treats.

I mentioned to the Red Cross staff that I was a donor at home and had given more than 100 donations of whole blood or plasma.  Although at home many donors have given many more donations than I have, it seems that "high" numbers are not common here.  They were impressed at my tally and told me that on reaching 100 donations in Indonesia the donor gets a letter and special certificate from the President. 

Technicians and makeup crew wait as a segment is filmed

Yesterday morning (Thursday 1st of August) the small grassed area in front of the University's main administration and teaching building took was crowded.  TV camera crews, chefs, assistants and a small group of onlookers (including me) were crowded around an impromptu "outdoor kitchen".  Bali TV was there to record well know local chefs preparing "signature dishes" based on the 30 "iconic" Indonesian cuisines.  The Mayor of Denpasar (capital of Bali) and party came to participate in a buffet to recognise Undhira's support and promotion of the "Iconic 30" movement.

There's just enough time to touch up the makeup before the cameras roll

Another chef explains the subtleties of this dish

The cameras have stopped, so there's
 time for a joke and a casual pose.

A chef's assistant brings ingredients from the
campus training restaurant to the TV set.

I lost track of the number of chef's who explained and cooked various "iconic" dishes.  I did see the creation of the Ayam Betutu Liku (below).  It smelled delicious but was probably a little too hot for my chilli-sensitive taste buds.  Unfortunately the head and claws were left on the chicken and this somewhat reduced my visual appreciation of the resulting dish.

Ayam Betutu Liku (Balinese spiced chicken)

The "kitchen set" seen from the balcony.

The tray of ingredients (minus the salmon which was still
in the fridge) for the iconic "pepes ikan laut" dish.  Here we
have spiced salmon wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf.

A wonderful book for lovers of Balinese food

The "Pepes Salmon" dish was prepared by a young female chef from "Bumbu Bali" restaurant.  I have this excellent cooking book by the founder of that restaurant, Chef Heinz von Holzen, and have worked through several of the recipes it contains.  I can highly recommend it as both interesting and suitable for novice cooks of Balinese food.

One of 3 framed certificates presented to Undhira recognising
the university's commitment to traditional teaching and
promoting traditional and iconic Indonesian cuisines.

The recorded material will be edited and shown on Bali TV in the Sunday morning local affairs program.  I've already had a "cameo appearance" in one of these and in a news clip, and may squeeze into this show.  Autographs anyone?



Who argues when a man with a big knife says "come
 this way"?   Mr Eko, head chef in Undhira's hospitality
training centre escorts Bu Laurel up the front steps.

Eventually all the chefs had cooked, all the interviews had been recorded and the delicious food had been eaten.  The camerman decided he needed one final scene to complete the program so he convinced a few participants and bystanders to gather on the steps.  Mr Eko (our head chef with the big knife) coached us in our words "Jeg Jaen!!" (we were shouting "delicious" in the Balinese language - extra loud and forceful second word).  On cue we would shout our words, give a big smile, and then give a 2 thumb salute.  Got it?  Right, easy!  How can so many things go wrong?  After 8 or so attempts the camerman was satisfied and we could leave.  It had been an interesting experience.

Shouting our slogan "jeg jaen" ('delicious' in the Balinese language)
 for the Bali TV crew.  How many things can go wrong with so few words
to say? Well ... quite a lot as we soon found out.  This is about "Take 5".

Paul in Bali