Daily Life

Water is playing a significant part in my life at present. This is just the very start of the rainy season. Already most days now we get 30 to 60 minutes of torrential rain. At present mostly at night. Because of the amount of rubbish on the streets the drains fill up rapidly and then everywhere floods. Outside my home the road turns into a river - which would be jumpable if only the gates were not locked.

Each morning and evening I have to grit my teeth and prepare to wash.

I have to fill a bucket with cold water and then throw this over me using a gayung (long handled small scoop). I struggle with the cold water for washing my hair but for a shower it is OK. It is the same to flush the toilet.

I have more buckets in which to do my washing. A lot of elbow grease is needed without hot water and a washing machine. I tend to wash twice a week to keep the loads managable. Also with the increased humidity clothes are taking longer to dry. Underwear has to be hung on the inside of the airer - so it is not visible.

Ibu Rini or one of her daughters join me as I eat breakfast and go over the things we covered in class the day before. When I first met Ibu Rini she asked what I liked for breakfast and I said fruit and then variety. There has hardly be a morning wher the breakfast has been repeated. Sometimes rice and local food, European breads and cakes, local cakes but always accompanied by fruit. It has been the mango season so this has featured highly on the menu, with several different varietes - excellent flavours.


Mopeds are the main form of transport for most families in Indonesia. I do not have my license so have to make do with a bicycle. It gives me a lot of freedom and having already cycled in Vietnam and Cambodia I quickly got used to the organised chaos which is Denpasar roads. The roads are so much better maintained than the footpaths as no body seems to walk anywhere. Lots of unevenness and big holes opening into the storm drains - definitely risky at night.