Ramadan. Day 1 and ...

[jstar]

...counting.

As we all know, it started today.

And what do we see on the TJ? A young couple of bule tourists drinking bottles of water and sharing bags of chips. I think they're lucky it just started because otherwise...It also makes we wonder how much these backpackers etc. really know about the places they visit and the sensitivities.

It is also not very smart to travel eastwards on Java now, it will be hard to get something on the more remote locations of the island, even many establishments in the cities are closed during the day.

In SMS (the Serpong mall) you can still get beer at the ribs restaurants etc. But they do ask you to drink it inside the restaurant, not the public area on the walking street.

I will avoid cinemas etc. at all costs during the evening screening. It is just an excuse to get somewhere anonymous and stuff oneself with food. If you really want to see a movie, go visit the matinée edition or so.

If you can avoid driving before sunset, do so. Esp. in two weeks time when people are very tired and race to get home to break the fast.

Of course the productivity will go down drastically. I have a worker here and see it already now, esp. since the temperatures outside are rather extreme and the dry season really started now. (At least here in western Java.)

 

[Anglian]

I went to the de Hooi pub a couple of years ago, they didn't sell beer but it was free in a mug,

 

[nosox]

Here in Ciamis all eating places are closed, oh well beer and a bacon sandwich at home

 

[jstar]

An ex colleague who is working and specialized on the field of diabetic treatments asked me if this is a major issue in Indonesia as well:

In Western Europe the amount of diabetics in the Muslim community is five (5!) times higher than with the locals. (More sweets? Eid al-Fidr is not called Sugarfeast for nothing in my native language.)

So during Ramadan, there is a spike every year in hospital admissions. Insuline without eating is risky. And most patients ignore or don't understand warnings; they participate in fasting and often skip injections till the evening (and then they take all).

Brochures explaining the possibility of medicinal blisters and explaining the position of the Koran (i.e. the possibility of not participating with this disease) did not really change anything.

 

[Anglian]

I have noticed the volume of a particular mosque has gone up a few decibels

 

[Jamu]

Thank god for Bali...

 

[jstar]

@Anglian
Esp. the first two weeks. The weekends and evenings will be children's sing alongs and karaoke . Now that's really bad.

 

[jstar]

Thank god for Bali...

The gods...

 

[Anglian]

My wife is cooking lots of those yummy bite size cakes, today she is experimenting with cheesey ones, she gives me testers, I said in not too sure on the taste if they are cheesy enough, I said you try one, No I'm fasting, I said I do like them, so does the dog, does that help

 

[scouser59]

sorry for you guys suffering , I know how its difficult to find peace and quiet in java and elsewhere in these Islands , only a month of hell to go !

 

[Davita]

Because we give our driver in Bali his annual holiday to go home to Java for Idul Fitri we planned to go back to Jakarta then. My wife says Jakarta is empty as everyone goes to the kampung but, after listening to you guys, I'm not so sure I want to leave Bali. Are Jakarta shops, restaurants and bars going to be closed around June 25-26?

 

[jstar]

@Davita : I love that period, it is very quiet and relaxed on the streets indeed.

This might sound weird (if you consider a major population movement) but most restaurants etc. bigger than your hole in the wall warung will be open. The owners obviously have dealt with this before.

The malls etc. do open somewhat later though, mostly after 11 AM.

 

[Davita]

Thanks Jstar...that's a relief as I've booked a flight on 20 June.

 

[Nasigan]

yes only one month of hell to go and about the noise it's getting worse every year, this morning there is this man who singing in our mosque from 4 to 7 than there are the children who are "testing" the firework...
When I start my afterlunchnap children start to read the Koran with the speakers on offcourse. that is from 13 to 18 after the 7 a clock prayer is this evening something praying and singing. so meaby 5 to 6 hours 'peace' per day. Hell

 

[Travellingchez]

In a lovely resort on Karimunjawa ignoring it all with a bintang.

 

[Travellingchez]

Davita the bars are normal shut on the evening of Idul Fitri and the first day. Then it is back to normal. Satu lagi bar is normally the only place open on those days. Jakarta is great during that week. So quiet.

 

[Nasigan]

In a lovely resort on Karimunjawa ignoring it all with a bintang.

nice if you can stay there one month, we planned to escape to Bali for 'only' 6 days on 6 june

 

[scouser59]

yes only one month of hell to go and about the noise it's getting worse every year, this morning there is this man who singing in our mosque from 4 to 7 than there are the children who are "testing" the firework...
When I start my afterlunchnap children start to read the Koran with the speakers on offcourse. that is from 13 to 18 after the 7 a clock prayer is this evening something praying and singing. so meaby 5 to 6 hours 'peace' per day. Hell

I can imagine the misery ! I dont understand this country, I spent 15 years plus in various muslim countries without the constant mind wrecking sleep disturbing unholy din! In other moslem countries you could always live away from mosque noise so therefore rest in peace , also here its nonstop almost .
I have asked many indonesians why its like this here and not in all the other moslem countries , no answer that made any sense to me , custom habit etc etc even though its against the advice of the vice president.

Crazy in my view .

 

[fastpitch17]

My neighborhood Mosque has been completely silent all day. I do believe something must have broken. I can hear some off in the distance been we have had a peaceful day. Hoping it's a major problem that can't be fixed soon.

 

[jstar]

Davita the bars are normal shut on the evening of Idul Fitri and the first day. Then it is back to normal. Satu lagi bar is normally the only place open on those days.

Ha. Not in Kota, TC.

I can imagine the misery ! I dont understand this country, I spent 15 years plus in various muslim countries without the constant mind wrecking sleep disturbing unholy din! In other moslem countries you could always live away from mosque noise so therefore rest in peace , also here its nonstop almost .
I have asked many indonesians why its like this here and not in all the other moslem countries , no answer that made any sense to me , custom habit etc etc even though its against the advice of the vice president.

Crazy in my view .

The thing is, there are even Hadiths that clearly state that there should be no preaching etc. broadcasted outside of the mosque, since believers are obliged to listen to the message. And that would make it impossible to do any outside work and transportation.

Yes, this is one of the few countries where they don't seem to care and where quality of call for prayer is not a must. Compare that to the United Arab Emirates or so.

I've booked a flight on 20 June.

That's good. You go against traffic.