If I have any excuse for my delay in posting, it is the best excuse I can imagine. I’ve been busy having adventures!
Last May I was whisked away for a family trip to Indonesia to visit my brother, who lives there. I learned to say thanks (“Tarima Kasi!”), learned the various greetings (they actually have a phrase for “good noon” and “good night” is a suitable hello, not just a good bye as it is in America). I ate a lot of amazing food. I drank from coconuts. I took pictures.
The people of Indonesia are interesting and amiable. The main land is predominately muslim. Though I never had the feeling that it was iron-fisted in it’s dogma. I walked around in tank tops with my hair down my back. Perhaps half the women there wear head coverings. But they pair them with high heels, tight jeans, and sparkling swinging jewely on the scarves that make you look at them more than you look at a woman with her hair uncovered. I almost wanted to give them a high-five–”Well played, ladies. Take something that many see as oppressive and make it your own, make it beautiful.”
I spent on a couple nights in the large city of Jakarta before traveling south to Yojakarta, where two large temples have become major tourist attractions. Boroburdur is a 1,200 year old mount of ornately carved stone. It was abandoned for hundreds of years, left hidden under many layers of volcanic ash. Then one day a Brit got curious and had it uncovered. It has the appearance of a low step pyramid. Each level has a convenient walk way to view the ornately carved walls and statues. 
The next temple was of similar age, but Hindu. Prambanana features several sandcastle-like spires, each dedicated to a diety. Shiva’s rises largest in the center. Flanking him are Vishnu and Brahma, and facing each of them are their steeds. The towers house tiny rooms with tall statues of their inhabitants. Like Boroburdur, the walls are carved with stories of the gods. The whole complex used to have something like 250 spires of various sizes, which are now rubble being meticulously restored by friendly stoneworkers who seem intrigued and happy to see tourists walking by.
On that note, I might also add my surprise at the celebrity treatment at these locations. A pale-faced American girl is a bit exotic to the visitors there. I was all but ambushed at the temples by people–mostly Indonesians–wanting pictures with me.
My favorite part of the trip was Bali. An island south of the main land dominated by Hindu culture, it shared with us a charming lifestyle of family, spirituality, and art. Traditional families live in complexes that look like little temples. Large trees are wrapped in sarongs to honor the spirit inside them. Women walk around with tiny banana leaf baskets to make blessing offerings to everything from tombs to cars. Everyone has an art. If your father carved wood, you grow up learning to do the same. And they are SO good at it.
We went on a 15-mile bike tour of Bali that took us through rice paddies, homes, temples, and finally to the home of our tour guides (http://banyantreebiketours.com/) who fed us a wonderful Indonesian meal. Have I mentioned that these people can cook? Indonesian food is phenomenal. 
Needless to say, I strongly recommend Indonesia to any world traveler. It’s a beautiful, friendly, creative place. Expect to see the grime and busy streets of any highly populated place, but expect to have your breath taken away as well. And be prepared to gain several pounds.
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Hi! I'm Monet. I'm a graphic designer and artist in Atlanta. This blog is my place to share creative inspiration and resources with you. 
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