Dearest…
I’ve decided from here and now onwards I desire to write to you only so it will always come from my heart. I had two great weeks with the waves that kept me in peacefulness but for me the real adventure commences here. Instead of waking up heading for the waves, this time was contrary. We are heading for an exploration. Khad n Man made friends with Ibu Ul’us and she invited us a stay at her hometown in Muncar, Bayuwangi, East Java and we followed her to her hometown on Sunday morning 08/08/10.
Our trip began early morning with Pak Imron picking us up with his minivan which we paid for rp 800k. Ibu Ul’us, her friend and the three of us went for a 6 hours journey on the road along the west coast of Bali, took a ferry to java Island and towards to Muncar, Bayuwangi. After lunch, we stopped by at Ibu Ul’us eldest daughter Ul’us house in Blambangan, Muncar. Her husband, Mas Haji Ikrom was still recovering from liver affection. Along the way we encountered marching parade from schools and clubs in Muncar as they practiced for the Indonesian national day which will be on 17 August (65th year). Later that evening we went to Ibu Ul’us house in Tembokreja, Muncar which was about 4km away from her daughter’s house. We met Ibu Ul’us son, Affendi and his wife. Affendi sells bakso on his bicycle and his clients are from four nearby villages. I had slight warmth on Monday. After lunch we followed Mas Ikrom to his working area. He was a fisher and owns a big boat where his workers would go out to the sea and do the fishing for him. Bayuwangi is the 2nd largest fishing industry in Indonesia after kepulauan Sulawesi. He brought us to the beach where the entire of the trading was done. Later that evening, we went to witness the national day parade. They advanced the parade before the actual Independence Day because Ramadhan falls on Wednesday. I envied the spirit these Indo have on observing them parading. They were more open on what they want to do and usually would have their own variety trademarks within their troops. I felt their independence and freedom compare to what we have in our country. Later that night news spread to the Chief of Tembok, Muncar that there were three outsiders in town. He came to the house and asks us to identify our passports as he reasoned that he was jealous not to be informed of our stay. The next morning two other people came to verify us. They advised us to report to police on our stay and we did that. I did not understand why the fuss was exaggerated because immigration had done their part on our stay Indo. Or maybe they just want something in return from us. Once settled at Muncar Police station, Pak Ikrom brought to do some fishing at Bali strait. Rudy whom we met a day before joined us as we rented his father’s boat for rp. 200k. Rudi was Mas Ikrom’s cousin. Did you know that there are 169 types of fish in Bali strait? The initial plan was to go to Pasir Putih which was nearby Pelengkung (2nd largest wave for surfers) but the waves and current were too strong for us to go further. We only manage to get three fishes, which I caught a little one. Before heading home we hung out at an island where most fishers would stop by. To my disappointment, to see them being ignorant of the cleanliness of the sea, as rubbish, oil and fish dumps were scattered in the sea, especially at the shore. Rudy brought us Nongkreng (hangout) the nightlife in Muncar with his friends Riul and Kristian. It opened my eyes knowing the locals here, how they crave for education as they appreciate money so much. I cannot deny how cheap things were here. Imagine a cup of good cappuccino cost me rp. 2k = 50-60sen. To work around here usually would earn about rp. 200-400k = RM50-120 per month. As for Rudy he works at Pulau Batam as a kitchen helper and he earns rp. 1.7M. It took him three years to save up for his first motorcycle. He said that he doesn’t mind being a cement mixer in Malaysia which he can earn rp. 3M. You must know that the population of Indonesia is 250 million and 220 million are in poverty.
We started our Ramadhan with a BBQ fish for sahur. The first night of fasting was melodically booming. There’s like madras in each village and each village was proximate. From where I stayed we four different azans simultaneously can be heard and echoes of others but as for Ramadhan they would read the Quran until 12 midnight and would start again around 2 at night. They would call for SAHUR SAHUR SAHUR like every 30 minutes starting from 2am. There even kids playing drums just to wake the society up for sahur. So the night was sound tracked with Quran reading, calling for sahur, kompang kids but it’s hard to hear which is which because every madras wanted to be the. They surely know to make full use of their loud speaker. Sirens were also used for imsak and Maghreb. I find the terawih can be a little too fast or maybe I just need more time to adapt. For sahur and breaking fast regularly we would by food from Market and ibu Ul’us would cook for us. On Thursday evening, Rudy brought us to a local league for Muncar with entry of rp 3k. The yellow team was one nil up against the orange team when we came. The 2nd half scenario was certainly bizarre. It started out with yellow team committed a foul in his penalty area but the referee gave a free kick instead. In dissatisfaction, a fan from the orange team barging in the field towards the ref. Then a yellow team’s fan came towards that guy and a fight broke out between them. The game was paused and the police was included. Then the referee was brought to the side with the players involved to re discuss what occurred. A new decision was made and the ref gave a penalty but the yellow team doesn’t want to play because of the new ruling. In the end a player from the orange team took a penalty without a keeper. The final score was 1 – 1 and that was the end. As Friday approaches we had to search for a ticket to Jogja as for our next destination. It cost rp. 85k 12hours ride to Jogja by bus and rp.180k 20 hours ride to by train because it stops at Surabaya first.
By the end of the week, I realized that most local around here feared or see Malaysians as terrible human beings. 1st on the list was because how Indo maids were treated in Malaysia. I met this lady with stilt and her story was that she worked in Malaysia for two years and returned to her hometown because she was tortured by her employee. 2nd; The Manoraha and Tengku Fakhree of Kelantan royalty case. The episode here was total divergent. They really hate him and thoughts of how cruel Malaysians are. 3rd the 2002 and 2005 Bali Bombings which involved two main people of Malaysian nationality, Azhari and Mat Top. I can only listen and tell my point of view and defend those unrelated to these events. Thank you to Upin and Ipin as their widely love for the animation as everyone smiles would be shared whenever they knew that we were Malaysians. As for me everyone is an individual, you cannot judge them by their nationality. We have problems too with Indonesians in our country and I now understand why the hunger for money. I am grateful for my great upbringing from my parents. I am also glad that my journey started from the rural area as I will be heading for Jogja this coming week.
Menggo
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