No...i'm not gonna talk about the movie.....I am going to talk about my son and his future...........
"Don't worry, art and music talent never runs in the family!" that's what my parent and other family members said to me when I came home showing my report card that I only got C minus for singing class and art & craft class in elementary school. And that's not the first time nor the last time i've heard those words spoken to me. So for many many years, I believe that. I believed that when I was kicked out from the school choir line for being to slow to learn the notations, and I used those words again to justified cheating on the high school drawing final test by submitting my friend's work.
And I definitely heard those words again when my uncle's wife, a piano teacher, told me that I need to loosen up my fingers so that I can play the piano better. So instead of learning to loosen up I gave up, because "art and music talent never runs in the family!"
But later in China, I learned that despite the no talent for art and music, I can do a decent job on my chinese calligraphy (I will never gave up my day job to become a calligrapher though! :D) and my biggest discovery.....when my Yang Qin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangqin)teacher told me that I did a great job and my hand bounce so naturally on the strings............my o my.......That encouragement words fired me to practice almost everyday, whenever i had the time or then school opened the practice room. Unfortunately, to practice was cut short because the room was renovated and i never really found out what happened to the yang qin. But I was so in love with the instrument I decided that when I have the money and place, I will buy one and practice again.
By now you probably asking what's all of that got to do with my son future..............I don't want my son to grow like me. I want him to explore all the possibilities that life is giving him. I will encourage, support and when needed push him when he wants to try a new activity. I believe that everybody is born not knowing what we can or can not do in life. How many times in we heard this: "our family don't do well in sport"; "our people are not a traveler kind"; etc............just because some one in our family can't play sport very good it doesn't mean that the other can't either, maybe they are not going to as famous or as good Beckham but why not try first. Just because a lot of people in the neighborhood don't like being to far from home, it doesn't mean that other people can't explore the wide beautiful world.
Those words, are what I called negative subconscious programming (NSP). NSP can be deadly crippling, yes, I said deadly, because NSP has many people died without knowing what he or she can really do in life. And for vowed that as long as I can I will not give NSP to my baby or anybody around me.
I will give him my cheers and claps, whether he is a ballet dancer or an engineer.
I will give him my hugs and encouragements, whether he's a painter or an accountant.
I will give him my love and supports, whether he's a writer or a pilot.
He can be whatever he decided to be, as long he will try the best that he can, be happy in what he decided to do and make a decent living on it. For him, the sky is not the limit.............
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
My baby fell off the bed!
"UUUUAAAA" my baby wailed from his napping room, I rushed down stair to see if he's ok. And He's not, he was laying on his tummy on the floor, that meant that he fell from a 40 cm high bed............I just screamed hysterically and picked him up from the floor, my husband n Wit (my maid/nanny) came rushing to see what happened. I started checking his body for any open wound while my husband is calming him down. After we are sure there is no skin cut, we made sure he's aware and not vomiting. As soon as, and then I asked Wit to get his milk and bag ready, I ran down the street to my neighbor, who happens to be a hired driver, and asked him to take us to the nearest hospital.
On the way to the hospital, each of us can't helped but blame ourselves, especially me, as I prayed for him, I couldn't helped not to do the what "IFs" scenario in my head. What if I didn't go up stair to talked to my husband, what if Wit wasn't busy sweeping the front yard...and many more what "IFs". The hospital is close by, so before I could think of anymore "IFs", we arrived at the BROS (Bali Royal Hospital) ER door. We were the only patient there, thank goodness, that meant the doctors can concentrate on my baby without distraction. From initial check the doctor said that he looked ok, but just to be sure he's sending my baby for CT Scan. When we heard that we're kinda skeptical, not on the scan, but on my son being still for at least 2 minute while the machine is scanning, saying my son is an active boy is an under statement. But with my husband holding his arms, I held his chin, and we both talked and sang songs for him, miraculously he stayed still long enough for the machine to scan his head. After that we were told to wait for 30 minute for the result. It was the longest 30 minute, and with us thanking God and Mother Mary, the scan showed that everything is normal, no blood clot, no hemorrhage, we can take him home and do a 24 hrs observation, if he vomit a lot, got a big headache and started to sleep outside of his sleeping patterns, then we need to bring him back to hospital.
On the way home, we again thanks God and Mother Mary for protecting our son also praying in the next 24 hrs nothing bad gonna happen.
When we got home he was sound asleep, as we put him on his crib, we hugged and cried. We promised him and each other that we'll try harder to protect him.
For now he's looking normal and healthy, and every time he smiles at me, I pray for his safety and well being.
On the way to the hospital, each of us can't helped but blame ourselves, especially me, as I prayed for him, I couldn't helped not to do the what "IFs" scenario in my head. What if I didn't go up stair to talked to my husband, what if Wit wasn't busy sweeping the front yard...and many more what "IFs". The hospital is close by, so before I could think of anymore "IFs", we arrived at the BROS (Bali Royal Hospital) ER door. We were the only patient there, thank goodness, that meant the doctors can concentrate on my baby without distraction. From initial check the doctor said that he looked ok, but just to be sure he's sending my baby for CT Scan. When we heard that we're kinda skeptical, not on the scan, but on my son being still for at least 2 minute while the machine is scanning, saying my son is an active boy is an under statement. But with my husband holding his arms, I held his chin, and we both talked and sang songs for him, miraculously he stayed still long enough for the machine to scan his head. After that we were told to wait for 30 minute for the result. It was the longest 30 minute, and with us thanking God and Mother Mary, the scan showed that everything is normal, no blood clot, no hemorrhage, we can take him home and do a 24 hrs observation, if he vomit a lot, got a big headache and started to sleep outside of his sleeping patterns, then we need to bring him back to hospital.
On the way home, we again thanks God and Mother Mary for protecting our son also praying in the next 24 hrs nothing bad gonna happen.
When we got home he was sound asleep, as we put him on his crib, we hugged and cried. We promised him and each other that we'll try harder to protect him.
For now he's looking normal and healthy, and every time he smiles at me, I pray for his safety and well being.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
No cellphone? how did you live?
My hubby n I sometimes would talk about the world would look to our son, and we could imagine that is the question he might ask when we'll tell him that we grew up without cellphone and internet.
Today I read an article :
http://www.babble.com/products/mom-products/old-technology-vhs-floppy-disk-cassette-tapes
And I know that we are not alone.
I remember talking to my 12 yrs younger sister about Unyil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Unyil), and she shook her head in confusion, this is way before her time. It hit me again when one of my tutoring student was asking to proof read her biology assignment that she got from Google and the worst was when I was trying to encourage a 20 y.o. guy, that I know from my foodie circle, after one of his picture he'd taken was slammed by the a more experienced photographer,so I told him to just shoot a lot of pictures after all he's using a digital DSLR camera so when he doesn't like the picture he can just delete them, unlike before when we still use rolls of films. And he looked at me like I'm from Mars. All of those people are only 12-15 yrs younger than me, but they just might as well be 50 years younger.
Yes, I do feel old when I think about all of those memory and the idea that my son will say that I am old because when I was growing up people still use telegram when they want to send a very important message quickly, or the fact that I knew how to use the typewriter, and that when I said pen pals, that doesn't mean my Facebook friends or my email buddies, that really means you are using your pen and write news or info to you pals on a piece of paper and then send them snail mail.
Any of you have similar experience?
Today I read an article :
http://www.babble.com/products/mom-products/old-technology-vhs-floppy-disk-cassette-tapes
And I know that we are not alone.
I remember talking to my 12 yrs younger sister about Unyil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Unyil), and she shook her head in confusion, this is way before her time. It hit me again when one of my tutoring student was asking to proof read her biology assignment that she got from Google and the worst was when I was trying to encourage a 20 y.o. guy, that I know from my foodie circle, after one of his picture he'd taken was slammed by the a more experienced photographer,so I told him to just shoot a lot of pictures after all he's using a digital DSLR camera so when he doesn't like the picture he can just delete them, unlike before when we still use rolls of films. And he looked at me like I'm from Mars. All of those people are only 12-15 yrs younger than me, but they just might as well be 50 years younger.
Yes, I do feel old when I think about all of those memory and the idea that my son will say that I am old because when I was growing up people still use telegram when they want to send a very important message quickly, or the fact that I knew how to use the typewriter, and that when I said pen pals, that doesn't mean my Facebook friends or my email buddies, that really means you are using your pen and write news or info to you pals on a piece of paper and then send them snail mail.
Any of you have similar experience?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I am the real Tiger Mom
Before you imagine a chinese mother with a whip in one hand and a stack of math books and music score on the other, standing behind a frighten little child playing a piano. Here is the truth :
My son is born in the beginning of 2011, about a month before rabbit year begun, so his chinese zodiac is tiger, hence I am the real Tiger mom.
Well, regardless the all pun intended title joke, there is something in my mind that I just gotta share with the world.
I was reading in Wall Street Journal about this book, and the controversies it has caused. So when my husband was in Singapore, I asked him to get me one copy. First impression, this book is a bit over priced, especially judging by the size and the page count. Moving on.......as I read the book, I must say I am not all surprise by Amy's approach on educating her girls. Just like her, I also come from a chinese immigrant family, my paternal grandparent came from Fujian province and maternal grandparent came from Guangdong province, China. Sharing the almost the same background, I totally understand her fear about her girls losing the good values of being chinese. My parent, especially my dad, always tries to instill us with the values of Confusius and what it means to be a chinese. He always told us that be respectful to older people, especially your parent and teachers, and most importantly don't forget that whatever you have now is because everybody else before you, e.g. your parent, grandparents and ancestors worked hard, so if you want to maintain and even increase what you have you must also work hard to get it. That will always stuck in my head.
The big difference between her family and mine, hers came from a scholarly background, mine is thru and thru merchant bloodline, so far none of my uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings are scholars. Although, my family always emphasize the importance of education, and require us to get at least a bachelor degree in any major of our choosing (getting a master degree will be better) but in the end they always push us to establish our own business.
As I said in the beginning, I'm not all surprise with her way of teaching, my family kind of does the same only without the big drama. My family also uses the shame technique in teaching us about everything, from school homework to social interaction. "Aren't you ashamed that you only got 80% in you math quiz?" my mom asked this questions many times when I was in school, It didn't matter how hard I studied to get that points or that the fact only 5 of us in the class got more than 75% right. Did that hurt my feeling? Hell yeah....Did it shattered me as a human? Nope.....Did I try harder next time? Sometimes......Yes, I must admit in my household I'm more like Amy's second child, shaming me don't always work. I have more of carefree attitude toward life, and my parent eventually got that and stop using shame method on me.
My point is that Amy's education style maybe a big shocker in US or even most of the western countries, but if you talk to most asian moms especially the chinese descendant moms, they probably not only agree with Amy, they might even applauded her for her strength and tenacity in teaching her girls the chinese way.
My son is born in the beginning of 2011, about a month before rabbit year begun, so his chinese zodiac is tiger, hence I am the real Tiger mom.
Well, regardless the all pun intended title joke, there is something in my mind that I just gotta share with the world.
I was reading in Wall Street Journal about this book, and the controversies it has caused. So when my husband was in Singapore, I asked him to get me one copy. First impression, this book is a bit over priced, especially judging by the size and the page count. Moving on.......as I read the book, I must say I am not all surprise by Amy's approach on educating her girls. Just like her, I also come from a chinese immigrant family, my paternal grandparent came from Fujian province and maternal grandparent came from Guangdong province, China. Sharing the almost the same background, I totally understand her fear about her girls losing the good values of being chinese. My parent, especially my dad, always tries to instill us with the values of Confusius and what it means to be a chinese. He always told us that be respectful to older people, especially your parent and teachers, and most importantly don't forget that whatever you have now is because everybody else before you, e.g. your parent, grandparents and ancestors worked hard, so if you want to maintain and even increase what you have you must also work hard to get it. That will always stuck in my head.
The big difference between her family and mine, hers came from a scholarly background, mine is thru and thru merchant bloodline, so far none of my uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings are scholars. Although, my family always emphasize the importance of education, and require us to get at least a bachelor degree in any major of our choosing (getting a master degree will be better) but in the end they always push us to establish our own business.
As I said in the beginning, I'm not all surprise with her way of teaching, my family kind of does the same only without the big drama. My family also uses the shame technique in teaching us about everything, from school homework to social interaction. "Aren't you ashamed that you only got 80% in you math quiz?" my mom asked this questions many times when I was in school, It didn't matter how hard I studied to get that points or that the fact only 5 of us in the class got more than 75% right. Did that hurt my feeling? Hell yeah....Did it shattered me as a human? Nope.....Did I try harder next time? Sometimes......Yes, I must admit in my household I'm more like Amy's second child, shaming me don't always work. I have more of carefree attitude toward life, and my parent eventually got that and stop using shame method on me.
My point is that Amy's education style maybe a big shocker in US or even most of the western countries, but if you talk to most asian moms especially the chinese descendant moms, they probably not only agree with Amy, they might even applauded her for her strength and tenacity in teaching her girls the chinese way.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Learning is fun.....
Yap..........Learning is fun........And you know it!
Before you try to deny that statement, stop and think for a second. When you learned something new, be it how to shoot a great picture with your digital camera or just finding out that brangelina just announced they are separating (just an example, please don't shoot me! :D), I bet you are more than just happy, you probably be thrilled. The idea of you knowing something more than everybody else or just knowing that you'll be in the loop, like everybody else always makes us feel good.
Now....I'm not writing this to encourage you to learn anything new, because you probably already are. I'm want to talk about how to make your children have the same notion. I'm sure even if you don't have kid yet, you've seen or heard about the horror stories from parents and teachers on how they tried to get children to study and learn something.
Actually children by nature love learning, the need to learn is already embedded in our DNA. Think about it, babies learned how suck milk from their mother's nipple or bottle as soon as they are born, then they learn how see, how lay on their tummy, how to crawl. The question is if we have this DNA inside of all us by nature, why do we drag our feet every time the teacher or our parent said that we need to learn how read or count. That's because our earliest memory of learning is, us being forced to sit down and listen and repeat, the worst part is when we failed we got punished oneway or another, and when we succeed we don't always get compliment that we deserved.
And when it comes down to start planning for my baby's education, we (me n my hubby) decided no matter what he will learn, we will try as best as we could to make it fun for him. We really don't him to have the idea that learning is boring and restricting. First of all, we agreed that he will start learning as early as possible also fun as possible too. So, as soon as he can see, we started to have him learning math and reading. Don't worry we are not those kind of parent that pushes their children to become another Einstein or Mozart. Our goal is to help him struggle less when he's growing up. And every time we try to teach him anything, we made sure that he and us are in a good mood. Trying to teach anybody, especially children when you are in a bad mood or in a hurry is a sure recipe for disaster. Because you will be impatient hence you'll have less ability to listen or sense what your students needs.
The other key point for us is encouragement. Every little accomplishment is complimented and given reward. For example, we teach math by showing cards with different number of random placed red dots on them, and every time we finished showing 5 cards, we cheered, clapped and told him what a great kid he is. Even small accomplishment, such as flipping and laying on his tummy will get him the hugs and kisses rewards from us. We try to instill in his memory that learning is fun and every thing that he does count. That way hopefully as he grows up he will never lose his appetite for learning.
Before you try to deny that statement, stop and think for a second. When you learned something new, be it how to shoot a great picture with your digital camera or just finding out that brangelina just announced they are separating (just an example, please don't shoot me! :D), I bet you are more than just happy, you probably be thrilled. The idea of you knowing something more than everybody else or just knowing that you'll be in the loop, like everybody else always makes us feel good.
Now....I'm not writing this to encourage you to learn anything new, because you probably already are. I'm want to talk about how to make your children have the same notion. I'm sure even if you don't have kid yet, you've seen or heard about the horror stories from parents and teachers on how they tried to get children to study and learn something.
Actually children by nature love learning, the need to learn is already embedded in our DNA. Think about it, babies learned how suck milk from their mother's nipple or bottle as soon as they are born, then they learn how see, how lay on their tummy, how to crawl. The question is if we have this DNA inside of all us by nature, why do we drag our feet every time the teacher or our parent said that we need to learn how read or count. That's because our earliest memory of learning is, us being forced to sit down and listen and repeat, the worst part is when we failed we got punished oneway or another, and when we succeed we don't always get compliment that we deserved.
And when it comes down to start planning for my baby's education, we (me n my hubby) decided no matter what he will learn, we will try as best as we could to make it fun for him. We really don't him to have the idea that learning is boring and restricting. First of all, we agreed that he will start learning as early as possible also fun as possible too. So, as soon as he can see, we started to have him learning math and reading. Don't worry we are not those kind of parent that pushes their children to become another Einstein or Mozart. Our goal is to help him struggle less when he's growing up. And every time we try to teach him anything, we made sure that he and us are in a good mood. Trying to teach anybody, especially children when you are in a bad mood or in a hurry is a sure recipe for disaster. Because you will be impatient hence you'll have less ability to listen or sense what your students needs.
The other key point for us is encouragement. Every little accomplishment is complimented and given reward. For example, we teach math by showing cards with different number of random placed red dots on them, and every time we finished showing 5 cards, we cheered, clapped and told him what a great kid he is. Even small accomplishment, such as flipping and laying on his tummy will get him the hugs and kisses rewards from us. We try to instill in his memory that learning is fun and every thing that he does count. That way hopefully as he grows up he will never lose his appetite for learning.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Mirrors that Never Lie
Children....................they are life's honest mirror. From them you can tell a lot about what kind of parent they have, because children never lie. And i'm not just talking about what children said literally but mostly about how their reaction, behavior and attitude on a lot of things in life.
I got this conclusion long ago while I was working in early education field. I saw more than my fair share of these cases. All the books and experts quote that said, you can't expect a child to do what you said and not what you do, are right on the money. For them, your words are the last effecting edge. And if you say something that contradict your action, your children will be very confuse and started to rebel against you. For example, i know a lady who like to brag about every thing she own or bought, from her newest car to her new toe ring, but when she caught her daughter bragging to her classmate about the new toy she got, she was scolded. So, her daughter started acting out and throwing tantrum when the mother is around. In the little girl eyes her mother is punishing her for doing exactly the same thing like her mother, and it's very confusing for a child to get her head around that.
Parents are children first model for everything..........whatever the parent do that's the norm for children. If the parent yell at each other all the time, then when the children started to socialize outside their home, they will get confuse why people don't like it when they yell to other people. For them home and parent are their most important school and teacher, and unlike formal school where we learn from listening and watching teachers explained to us about different things. Children learn from picking the parent attitude and habits. Case and point, I used to know a lady who love reading books, not surprisingly both of her sons, also started to pick up books and read before they even know how to read books, another lady, I knew like spending time in front the TV watching Soap Operas and gossip shows, again, not surprisingly her daughter thinks books is boring and watching TV is the best activity. Children started to mimic and imitated parent behavior and mirror them back to us.
So next time before forcing and poking your little one to eat vegetables or dragging them to join the school soccer team. First check your attitude toward it. Do you cringe or even say it out loud to other people how you hate the smell of broccoli or do you complain that you got sunburn last time you watched your son soccer game. Even when you think they are not listening or watching,subtle behavior, like pouting and sighing your breath when someone mention a certain food or activity, will be pick up by the children. Trust me when i say, saying stuffs like: "Honey, broccoli is good for your health" or "sweetheart, joining the soccer team is great for your body, you'll get to exercise and breath fresh open air", are useless, unless you back it up with real positive attitude.
I know parent are human too, and as human we are definitely not perfect. We are also shaped by our parent who in their imperfectness, embedded us with ideas and attitude on certain things. Just be ready with explanation when we do slip or made mistakes, cause chances are that they will ask why is it that they are force to eat broccoli when you said to your friend that you hate the smell of it.
I got this conclusion long ago while I was working in early education field. I saw more than my fair share of these cases. All the books and experts quote that said, you can't expect a child to do what you said and not what you do, are right on the money. For them, your words are the last effecting edge. And if you say something that contradict your action, your children will be very confuse and started to rebel against you. For example, i know a lady who like to brag about every thing she own or bought, from her newest car to her new toe ring, but when she caught her daughter bragging to her classmate about the new toy she got, she was scolded. So, her daughter started acting out and throwing tantrum when the mother is around. In the little girl eyes her mother is punishing her for doing exactly the same thing like her mother, and it's very confusing for a child to get her head around that.
Parents are children first model for everything..........whatever the parent do that's the norm for children. If the parent yell at each other all the time, then when the children started to socialize outside their home, they will get confuse why people don't like it when they yell to other people. For them home and parent are their most important school and teacher, and unlike formal school where we learn from listening and watching teachers explained to us about different things. Children learn from picking the parent attitude and habits. Case and point, I used to know a lady who love reading books, not surprisingly both of her sons, also started to pick up books and read before they even know how to read books, another lady, I knew like spending time in front the TV watching Soap Operas and gossip shows, again, not surprisingly her daughter thinks books is boring and watching TV is the best activity. Children started to mimic and imitated parent behavior and mirror them back to us.
So next time before forcing and poking your little one to eat vegetables or dragging them to join the school soccer team. First check your attitude toward it. Do you cringe or even say it out loud to other people how you hate the smell of broccoli or do you complain that you got sunburn last time you watched your son soccer game. Even when you think they are not listening or watching,subtle behavior, like pouting and sighing your breath when someone mention a certain food or activity, will be pick up by the children. Trust me when i say, saying stuffs like: "Honey, broccoli is good for your health" or "sweetheart, joining the soccer team is great for your body, you'll get to exercise and breath fresh open air", are useless, unless you back it up with real positive attitude.
I know parent are human too, and as human we are definitely not perfect. We are also shaped by our parent who in their imperfectness, embedded us with ideas and attitude on certain things. Just be ready with explanation when we do slip or made mistakes, cause chances are that they will ask why is it that they are force to eat broccoli when you said to your friend that you hate the smell of it.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Things you will see or find or hear when you live in Bali
When you live in Bali, among the locals then you will see or find or hear:
1. The stray dogs, they are everywhere, and if you live in the small banjar (balinese community) like me, the dogs are actually good security "portal" because they'll bark at strangers who don't live in the banjar. And even though most of them they won't bite, it's a strong suggestion NOT to pet them, they might the gesture, menacing and might attack you.
2. Offerings, you'll see them everywhere, from street side to the beach side, from the posh hotels to common houses. And if you see a big pile of them in front of a house, that just means that house is having a ceremonial event.
3. Hindu temples, nuff said!
4. The cocks, balinese men love cock fightings, so almost all balinese household will have at least 2 cocks in their yard. Trust me, you won't miss them, coz they crow at all hour of the day.
5. Balinese in their traditional attires, when you them, it just means that they are getting ready to pray or doing a communal duty, such as taking care of the parking in the nearby market.
6. Beautiful art work, balinese are craftmen, so no surprise that they can create stunning wood carvings, paintings, musics and dance.
7. Foreigners living among the locals, Bali is such a huge magnet to live that you will find all sort of foreigner living here, whether is in a luxury villas or in a small rented room. From the rich retiree to the broke and poor beach bum, are attracted with the easy going pace and balinese attitude toward life. Not mentioning, the "i don't care what you do as long as you don't bother me n leave me pray" of the balinese, kinda makes living in Bali so much easier, beacuse you don't have to worry about people telling how you should live your life.
8. Cuisine from around the world, You can find russian food right next to a Padang restaurant, a Greek cafe across the street from the traditional English fish and chips, or Korean BBQ right behind Balinese babi guling (balinese suckling pig). Of course chinese, japanese and italian food is in every street corner.
9. The smell of incense, well....the balinese pray at least twice a day, where ever they are, at home or work place. So you will not miss the smell, even inside the crowded airport waiting room.
10. Bintang, in Indonesian word this means stars, in Bali, this means a cold and delicious beer.
Now, if you are just on holiday, in addition of those things above, you probably will also see or hear:
1. Balinese traditional music, they play it every where, especially if you stay in big hotels, from the lobby to the restaurant.
2. "Hey boss!", also "Massage, wan dalla (one dollar), wan dalla!".............yes, you will hear this especially if you go to the popular beach such as Kuta and Legian. The "Hey, boss!" usually came from men try to offer you bike for rent or taxi or souvenirs, the "Massage, wan dalla (one dollar), wan dalla!" usually came from middle age women, offering a soothing massage by the beach or in of their little spa salon. Now, be careful in interpreting "one dollar", because it doesn't mean that their service or goods their selling cost only 1 USD or AUD, but that is merely a tag line to lure you, if you are interested in whatever they are selling, be sure to ask how much in rupiah. Few years ago, when me n hubby came to Bali as tourist, after getting sick and tired listening to the one dollar offers every time we stepped out of our hotel. So to turn the table around, my husband finally stopped at one of the little store selling sunglasses, since the seller always insisted that everything is one dollar. My husband chose one shade and said:"one dollar right? that means 10.000 rupiah (pointing the board from the money changer booth next door)". At first, the seller tried to explain that the shade cost 50.000 rupiah, but my husband gently and jokingly persist that one dollar is one dollar.....finally, the seller made a compromised, 15.000 rupiah.
So, if you think you have more to add the list.....please don't hesitate to tell me!
1. The stray dogs, they are everywhere, and if you live in the small banjar (balinese community) like me, the dogs are actually good security "portal" because they'll bark at strangers who don't live in the banjar. And even though most of them they won't bite, it's a strong suggestion NOT to pet them, they might the gesture, menacing and might attack you.
2. Offerings, you'll see them everywhere, from street side to the beach side, from the posh hotels to common houses. And if you see a big pile of them in front of a house, that just means that house is having a ceremonial event.
3. Hindu temples, nuff said!
4. The cocks, balinese men love cock fightings, so almost all balinese household will have at least 2 cocks in their yard. Trust me, you won't miss them, coz they crow at all hour of the day.
5. Balinese in their traditional attires, when you them, it just means that they are getting ready to pray or doing a communal duty, such as taking care of the parking in the nearby market.
6. Beautiful art work, balinese are craftmen, so no surprise that they can create stunning wood carvings, paintings, musics and dance.
7. Foreigners living among the locals, Bali is such a huge magnet to live that you will find all sort of foreigner living here, whether is in a luxury villas or in a small rented room. From the rich retiree to the broke and poor beach bum, are attracted with the easy going pace and balinese attitude toward life. Not mentioning, the "i don't care what you do as long as you don't bother me n leave me pray" of the balinese, kinda makes living in Bali so much easier, beacuse you don't have to worry about people telling how you should live your life.
8. Cuisine from around the world, You can find russian food right next to a Padang restaurant, a Greek cafe across the street from the traditional English fish and chips, or Korean BBQ right behind Balinese babi guling (balinese suckling pig). Of course chinese, japanese and italian food is in every street corner.
9. The smell of incense, well....the balinese pray at least twice a day, where ever they are, at home or work place. So you will not miss the smell, even inside the crowded airport waiting room.
10. Bintang, in Indonesian word this means stars, in Bali, this means a cold and delicious beer.
Now, if you are just on holiday, in addition of those things above, you probably will also see or hear:
1. Balinese traditional music, they play it every where, especially if you stay in big hotels, from the lobby to the restaurant.
2. "Hey boss!", also "Massage, wan dalla (one dollar), wan dalla!".............yes, you will hear this especially if you go to the popular beach such as Kuta and Legian. The "Hey, boss!" usually came from men try to offer you bike for rent or taxi or souvenirs, the "Massage, wan dalla (one dollar), wan dalla!" usually came from middle age women, offering a soothing massage by the beach or in of their little spa salon. Now, be careful in interpreting "one dollar", because it doesn't mean that their service or goods their selling cost only 1 USD or AUD, but that is merely a tag line to lure you, if you are interested in whatever they are selling, be sure to ask how much in rupiah. Few years ago, when me n hubby came to Bali as tourist, after getting sick and tired listening to the one dollar offers every time we stepped out of our hotel. So to turn the table around, my husband finally stopped at one of the little store selling sunglasses, since the seller always insisted that everything is one dollar. My husband chose one shade and said:"one dollar right? that means 10.000 rupiah (pointing the board from the money changer booth next door)". At first, the seller tried to explain that the shade cost 50.000 rupiah, but my husband gently and jokingly persist that one dollar is one dollar.....finally, the seller made a compromised, 15.000 rupiah.
So, if you think you have more to add the list.....please don't hesitate to tell me!
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