Bert Vierstra
Busy Busy.This morning at 8:30 with Gus to the computer shop to get his new PC. In his old kijang he tells me that he hasn't been to a temple yet. I tell him I haven't been to the other side of the mountain in months. The interior of their house looks like it is a western house with imported furniture. I saw a "learn to paint book" lying around, not Balinese painting no, western style, His wife Sandy has brought a synthesizer from their last trip. I am somewhat surprised that they are not more "Balinesed", like if they should.... They are already a long time here, but travel up and down. Gus goes back tomorrow to the States to do a fundraiser for something, will be back in a a few weeks or so. The computer shop in Singaraja did a good job, all sorts of pre-installed software.Villa Agung, from Gus and Sandy:[url]http://www.bali-pictures.com/categories.php?cat_id=73[/url]In the afternoon I talked with Beate about our project, she is constructive. I think it will be a success. I tell her that Gus told me that if we go with a bus to the governor of Bali to protest about the PLTGU we all get arrested. It's the way you bring it, she explains. I say that I want to do interviews with expats on the expat forum site, and I ask her if she wants... "But I haven't changed!" she says. "Only my taste for dressing has degraded" and she points at her t-shirt. I don't notice any bad taste, so I must have start to change too already. "One can never really become Balinese, I have been talking to people that have been here for 15 years, but still are western" She thinks it's a good idea to do the interviews, have to buy me a tape recorder.Later on the afternoon my Swiss friend Satya comes by, and I call the girls from the village that have "won" a sponsorship from abroad. I helped him and made a list of youngsters from Pemaron who could use some more education. Satya has a yayasan (foundation) to help the Balinese youth to develop themselves. Nila and Sanix are the lucky ones, more will definitely follow. There will be English , computer and massage courses, things that can be handy in the tourist business. Guess who is going to give the computer courses... If he finds the time....[url]http://www.bali-portal.com/sponsor.htm[/url]Here a picture of a "moonlight" nightly ceremony in the family temple next to my house.http://bali-information.com/forumpics/nightcerem.jpg[/img]-
