Monday, August 14, 2006

Annoyances, surprises and laughes

Well, I can definitively confirm the part about the immense attention. I have been in Indonesia now for 2 weeks and every time I walk the streets I am shocked again all by these people talking to me and calling after me. Still I am not quit sure whether I should answer and talk back or just ignore them. The last is tempting because I feel like, as said before, somethimes there are also making fun of me or they are curious only because I am an European woman. The 'hee mister' actually makes me laugh. That is probably the only thing they can say in English. Furthermore, the crowded and chaotic streets scare me a little; side walks are not yet invented over here, so it seems and I miss that because I love to walk but that is a little dangerous over here. Then, the musqito's, how horrible. I feel like I am the only one they bite since nobody else, at least the locals, seems to be bothered by them. I wanted to buy a musqito net, but they are actually hard to find. Amazing in a country so full of these annoying animals! Another thing I tried to find was earplugs. That was quit impossible. Nobody seemed to understand what I was talking about. Indonesion people are very noisy, also in the very early morning, and then we have the praying at 5 in the morning, which also wakes me up. I need a lot of sleep so that is why that seemed a good solution to me, but unfortunately...no such thing.
Now lets make a positive remark, because I actually like to stay here. The people are so friendly and interested in you. The stimulate you to speak some Indonesian, which I would like to learn so that is good. I will still be here for 2,5 month so I am curious what other experiences will follow.