The first few days in Java

Prambanan Temples

On our rickshaw

Some of the material we bought!

This is going to be a very short and sweet post this week until I manage to get a longer time on internet. All is  fine in Java and Lisa and I met up on Thursday night in Jakarta with me arriving in a very smart car with a driver- too long a story to relate but I was befriended by a young Indonesian girl in the bus who happened to have rich parents!.Lisa and I decided to escape the very busy city of Jakarta the next day and head towards Yogjakarta but unfortunately due to a Budhist holiday all the trains were booked.  Not to worry, we headed off to Bandung a city about 3 hours from Jakarta and spent the night there. The next day we left at 7 am and got the train to Yogjakarta which was about 8 hours. The scenery was beautiful and we travelled through lots of padi fields, amazing terracing, lovely little villages and mountains until we finally reached our destination. It was still the holiday weekend and Yogjakarta was SO busy full of people who had come to celebrate the Budhist celebration. We wandered around for ages looking for somewhere to stay but everywhere was fully booked. Eventually to cut a long story short we ended up sharing a hotel room with 3 very charming Polish travellers who we seem to be travelling with now!
  Anyway, my time is running out and so the story will continue of our visits to the amazing Borobudur and Prambanan temples today and of the shopping frenzy that Lisa and I seem to have found ourselves in!! Tomorrow we are heading off to the volcanoes Bromo and Ijen and then hopefully Bali. Will hopefully catch up soon.

Yogjakarta

Batik

Yes another holiday approaching!

Isn't nature amazing

nepenthes

A baby one

 I would not call myself politically motivated in any way. I have lived quite happily in France for over 20 years without feeling the least bit upset of not being a part of the voting system. I've only voted once in Britain which was during the Thatcher years and when she won again I decided to leave rather than stay and fight Conservatism. We in Britain and France have a certain cynicism about politics. We all know that our politicians are not pure or perfect. We are allowed to criticise and make fun of them and not fear for our lives. My children were in many "manifestations" during their Lycée years demonstrating about government policies that either did or didn't concern them. I wasn't worried about them and was pleased to see them expressing their views. Interviews on the television and radio are usually challenging and lively occasions and if the interviewer isn't probing and asking difficult questions we wonder why. I certainly have taken it for granted until recently. I am under no delusions about how free the press is in Western Europe and I do not think our politicians are any better than any others, however freedom of press is a gift to treasure.

A rafflesia

   Last week I have been trying to finish an assignment for a course that I am attempting to do. I am the queen of procrastinators and with all my visitors I have had the perfect excuse not to do anything. However since Naomi left I have had no excuse and have forced myself to do something. I think I have nearly finished but who knows if it is up to standard. I have to have it all finished before Thursday because I am going away to Java to meet Lisa in Jakarta. I know I can hear you all saying "what another holiday and another daughter". Yes, it is the mid-year school holiday which coincides with Kaamatan, the rice harvest festival celebration. Sadly I will miss it this year but I wanted to visit Indonesia before I leave and thanks to Air Asia's very cheap flights, I can fly direct from KK. Lisa seems to have had a great time in Australia and New Zealand since I saw her in Singapore, travelling all over the place and it will be great to catch up on all her adventures while exploring some of Java.
 

The Thirteenth General Election approaches

The winning Dusun dancers

Yes there is certainly election fever in the air. Last night I could hear a rally going on until quite late and everywhere there are placards and flags for each of the candidates and parties. On Tuesday the 4 primary schools in Ranau had their competition for their extra-curricular activites such as traditional dancing, singing, storytelling etc.. This is normally quite a low key affair but this year we were honoured with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's presence, which gives an indication of how much the government must be panicking.  Datuk Masidi Manjun is a local Ranau boy who certainly has made good and as with all politicians he makes appearances in Ranau when he thinks the publicity is good enough. For example the last time I saw him was handing out "money" in the street with the TV cameras rolling and as soon as they stopped he got into his car and drove away. Anyway, he arrived only half an hour late, and I was invited to be in the line of welcoming people while the gongs and Dusun dancers did their show. I have no amazing story to tell except that he shook my hand and said hello and then sat at the front on the big sofas and spent the whole time on his smart phone and mini ipad sending messages! He delivered a short speech and promised lots of money for the schools and left again with his army of "helpers".

Datuk Masidi is the one in the huge photo!

As you enter Ranau

Last week the Prime Minister of Malaysia descended from the sky literally in a group of four helicopters, delivered a speech and then ascended off to another town. The government are certainly concerned that they may not win this time. On the radio, controlled by the government of course, there are speeches about doom and gloom if anyone dares to vote against them. Playing on people's fear may work but we shall see.The same party have been in power for over 50 years and I think people, certainly in Sabah, have decided it is time for a change. The Sabahans feel they have not gained very much from being a part of Malaysia and peninsula Malaysia have gained a lot of wealth from Sabah. For the first time I have heard teachers openly speaking against the government. So I am standing on the sideline watching with interest to see what happens on Sunday. We have been told we will have a holiday on Monday but this weekend I am not moving!