embracing diversity and cherishing tradition: Indonesia and Bali, a strange marriage

I'm puzzled and happy at the same time. Indonesia is a multi-culture country, and although most of its inhabitants are muslim, other religions are not only allowed but have national status.

Take a look at the calendar of national holidays in Indonesia (the whole country):

Holidays in 2014

Schedule of Indonesian National Holidays Announced for 2014

(8/25/2013)

 

National holidays set by the government for 2014 have increased by one day over 2013, totaling 15 days due to the addition of May Day. Shared public holidays, introduced by the government to create long holiday weekends, will total 4 in 2014.

 

In announcing the official holidays for 2014 theCoordinating Minister for the People’s Welfare, Agung Laksono, set the following schedule of official holiday on Wednesday, August 21, 2013.

 

Official National Holidays for 2014
 

January 1, 2014	New Years Day 2014
January 14, 2014	Birth date of the Prophet Muhammad
January 31, 2014	Chinese New Year (Imlek 2565)
March 31, 2014	"Nyepi" Bali Hindu New Year (Saka 1936)
April 18, 2014	Good Friday
May 1, 2014	International Labor Day – May Day
May 15, 10214	Buddhist Holy Day of Waisak 2558
May 27, 2014	Ascension Day of the Prophet Muhammad
July 28-29, 2014	Ascension Day of Jesus Christ
May 29, 2014	Lebaran – Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1435 Hijirah
July 28-29, 2014	Shared Public Holidays
July 30-31, 2014	Lebaran – Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1435 Hijirah
August 17, 2014	Indonesian Independence Day
October 5, 2014	Idul Adha 1435 Hijirah
October 25, 2014	Islamic New Year 1436 Jijirah
December 25, 2014	Christmas Day
December 26, 2014	Shared Public Holiday

One can see that - although the majority of national holidays have a muslim background - the other groups in Indonesia also get national recognition. This is something to admire.

However, in the case of Bali, I wonder what is going on. Bali was a Hindu island (actually, the Hindus ran away from muslim Indonesia to build a Hindu society in Bali), but rapidely in our days there is a substantial Muslim immigration in Bali. Is this a good thing? I'm puzzled.

I have a soulbrother in Bali, let's call him mr. W, he's Hindu. He's a permanent resident in Bali. He struggles regularely with his Muslim neighbours. They show absolutely no respect for his Hindu belief and traditions. He reacts against it.

I have a very dear friend in Bali, let's call him mr. D, he's muslim. He's a temporary resident in Bali. I think he's trying to keep his muslim traditions alive in the Hindu society.

I see mosques building here and there in Bali. They install loudspeakers that fill the air with their religion. Louder then my ears tolerate.

This is a weird evolution. On the one hand, I want my very dear friend, mr. D., to be in Bali, where he's happy, and where he contributes to the economy of the island. At the same time, I want my soulbrother, mr. W., to be respected in his Hindu belief and in the conservation of Bali as a Hindu island.

I know that the cast of the priests (the first cast in Bali) is concerned about the balance of religions on the island; it's a regular point of discussion. Obviously, they think that the balance is not yet disturbed. Let's hope the priests look at the topic very closely, and that they take whatever measure that is needed. One wouldn't want Bali to become mainstream Indonesian. It would rip the soul out of the inhabitants of the island. Diversity is nice, but authenticy is nicer.

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exam-fashion

We know there are special clothes for special occasions. The newest hit is the exam-fashion. Cute, isn't it? Like little robots sitting and writing :-) Does the teacher provide each student with a carton box, or do the students have to bring their own?

Guess what country this picture is from?

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Water in Bali - a story of thousand years

You know I'm already many years fascinated by Bali. Only recently, I decided to spend more time there.

One of the things that fascinate me there (apart of its people, of course, more on that topic in a following blog) is the magnificent water system in Bali. In one way or another, the upper class (the priests) have built a system that the whole of the island is provided with fresh, fertile water for agriculture. Wherever you walk in Bali, you will find water gushing down in canals, made out of stone (see above picture). It must have been a tremendous task to build this water-system, and it proves that the upper class is really taking care of the interests and well-being of the lower classes. 

It is this deep feeling of harmony and mutual taking care that so much attracts me to Bali. Even though it's modernized and youngsters no longer follow all the rules, the island is a remarkable example of how things were done in the past, and we should seriously consider if modern life is really so much better.

Instead of providing you with a link, I decided to fully copy the following article: read it if you have the time. It gives you an insight in a thousand years old system that is close to perfection.

My discovery of Bali continues! Stay with me :-) and by all means, visit me when I'm in Bali!

hugs,

PB

Everyone and No One

everybodyandnobody.org

« Street Art Ordinance Passed

Direct Water Democracy in Bali

The Indonesian island of Bali, with around 1.6 million estimated farmers, has a direct democratic system of water distribution despite its irrigation system being completely hierarchical. Water governance is deeply intertwined in the rituals, the belief-system, the identity, the infrastructure, and even the notion of time. With channels and canals that are often over a thousand years old, the agricultural system and the ecology of the island have become deeply intertwined, acting as one organism. Efforts to drastically change Balinese agriculture in the seventies during the Green Revolution in Indonesia wreaked great havoc on the ancient and sophisticated system, and over the years the modernization efforts were withdrawn.

Location in Indonesia

The island of Bali, 90 miles longest end-to-end

Infrastructure
While one might be surprised at the deeply democratic nature of the island, despite it appearing rigidly hierarchical, the reasons behind the intense cooperation would be even harder to pick up on. Interestingly, it is the threat of pests that holds everyone accountable. As pests are deterred when fields are flooded, if an upstream neighbor decided to take more water, and diverted less to the downstream neighbor, then pests would attack crops upstream. Stephen Lansing, an anthropologist who spent years studying the water system and Balinese society, developed a computer simulation of the system on a large scale, and described how it worked, adjusting variables to show how the system would develop, optimize, and collapse. As he and his colleagues ran the simulation, they determined that as farmers would observe their neighbors farms, they would copy and synchronize each others cropping patterns, and a synchrony would develop across the whole island. While the model showed mathematically how the infrastructure self-organized, Lansing observed and studied the superstructure of Balinese society to explain much deeper synchrony. While the belief-system, rituals and time-keeping systems of the Balinese might seem cumbersome and superstitious to outsiders, Lansing showed how they have deep functional significance in the island-wide production system.

Subak system. Each temple serves a subak, and temples further upstream serve the subaks further downstream

Superstructure
While they are identified as Hindus, the Balinese call their belief-system* Āgama Tirta, or “Belief-system of Water”. Along every major point of diversion along the irrigation system is a water temple devoted to the Water Goddess, Dewi Danu. All the farms downstream of a temple form a Subak, the most basic self-governing unit in Balinese society. The temple is the public space where gatherings happen constantly, whether for practical matters or for festivals and celebrations. When agricultural matters are discussed, all farmers participate and must abandon all rules of interaction based on caste or be reprimanded with fines. The Balinese devote tremendous amounts of time to temple activities, where everyone expresses themselves and the arts flourish to an unparalleled degree, and around 50 holidays and more festivals happen in a year.
In a yearly holiday, farmers across the entire island gather at the temples upstream. People from over 200 villages gather at the temple furthest upstream, the supreme temple of Dewi Danu. The temple sits on the edge of a Mount Batur, an active volcano, flanked by Lake Batur, a massive freshwater crater lake. Mount Batur is key to the ecology of Bali, as rain dissolves phosphate along the edges, and enters the water, which combined with the nitrogen-fixing azollaprovides constant sustenance for agriculture throughout the island. Visitors collect holywater from the steam of the volcano, which is brought back to their respective villages, where more rituals are performed. In this way, each subak and the entire island maintain ongoing synchrony. While in the Western calendar there are two concurrent layers ofweeks and months, in the Balinese calendar there are 8 concurrent weeks that correspond with rituals, markets, and even social identities. As the solar cycle is of little relevance in the perennially warm climate, the 210 day growing cycle of rice forms the basis of a year. Their calendar is in turn synchronized with the Indian Ashaka calendar, and the modern Western calendar.

*While some people use the term science or religion, belief-system was chosen because it does not carry controversial preconceived notions of the exclusive distinction of science vs. religion rooted in the Western tradition

Balance and perfection is a deeply ingrained aesthetic in the Balinese psyche, which they seek in art, agriculture, and spirit. Well maintained rice terraces are likened to jewels, representing purity that one also likewise strives for within.

Traditional Balinese Calendar, painted onto fabric

Modern Balinese calendar, synchronized with modern Western calendar

Coming Around
Though the Indonesian Green Revolution ripped and tore the complex fabric of Bali’s agricultural system, the island retained enough cohesion and rhythm to survive the onslaught. For good intentions, the Green Revolution was pushed throughout Indonesia to feed its expanding, crowded population. The use of chemical inputs was pushed on Bali as a patriotic duty, and farmers were advanced inputs. As the farmers used the inputs, the land became dependent on them, which in turn made them dependent on using the chemicals. This caused great harm to the ecological balance throughout the island, and offshore coral reefs were poisoned and suffocated. As the agricultural planners observed the sophistication of the ancient system and that fertility could be naturally maintained by the geology of the island, they withdrew aggressive promotion, and many now hold the traditional system in high esteem. While some farmers continue to be dependent on expensive expensive inputs, the use seems to be gradually reducing.

Bali is a lesson learned in that there is much more than meets the eye, and one must not judge until a society is understood wisely. The example that Bali demonstrates, that a hierarchical system does not imply a hierarchical society, carries profound meaning that we can all learn from. It also demonstrates that societal balance can exist for hundreds or thousands of years, and only deepen and grow richer with age.

J. Stephen Lansing: A Thousand Years in Bali
The Long Now Foundation

A must-see video. Though long, extremely interesting and full of good detail. Divided into small 1-5 minute chapters.

More multimedia and writing from Stephen Lansing on his website:
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jlansing/J._Stephen_Lansing/Welcome.html

This entry was posted on December 5, 2009 at 5:45 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackbackfrom your own site.

1. grittee Says:
   December 16, 2009 at 6:39 am | Reply
   I emailed Stephen Lansing about this blog post, and he replied saying that there is a proposal in the works to make the irrigation system a world heritage site. On his website it says:
   Rice Terraces and Water Temples of Bali:
   A Proposal to create a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape
   (This proposal would establish a World Heritage site in Bali to support and protect Balinese farmers, subaks, water temple networks, lakes, rivers and forests)
   The “Nomination Dossier” explains the system at length, and among other things, gives information about some subaks, and gives lists of the temples and information and their coordinates – a great project for a public google map.
   http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jlansing/J._Stephen_Lansing/Current_Projects.html

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The Russians are coming!

Imbeciles Abroad

Estonia Couple Who Had Sex in a Balinese Temple Continue to Cause Anxiety and Hardship on Balinese Community they Despoiled

(7/19/2013)

 

The impact of the unthinking act of two Estonian tourists to Bali, Urmas Silman (43) and his wife Katrin Silman (32), caught In flagrante delicto performing public sexual acts in Pura Mengening, a Balinese temple located in the traditional village of Sarased at Tampaksiring, Gianyar, last March, continues to be felt.

In an attempt to restore the sanctity and purity of the temple viiolated by the two Estonians, an elaborate Tawur Agung Ceremony was conducted by village members on Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

As reported by The Bali Post, the Tawur Agung ritual was the culmination of a chain of sacred and costly rites, including pacaruan tingkat nista andrsi gana ceremonies. As explained by a community chief, Wayan Candra, the Tawur Agung was performed to restore the purity of Pura Mengening.

Requiring the participation of numerous priests performing prayers over a month-long period, the final rites will only be completed on August 15, 2013.

The time-consuming and costly Tawur Agung process has been borne by local villagers who have received an indication that some amount of reimbursement may eventually be provided by the Regency of Gianyar.

In all, 283 households have sacrificed time, materials and money to permit the Tawur Agung to be conducted.

According to The Bali Post, the lasting effect of the outrageous behavior of the two Estonian tourists has been formally advised to the Foreign Ministry of that country through the Consulate in Bali.

The Estonians were not charged with a crime in connection with their defilement of a Balinese temple, but were required to make a nominal contribution towards the cost of the required ceremonies then advised to leave the island.

( http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=9614 )

India: the upcoming tiger!

Tonight, I found this short video. Nothing much, one might think. At the same time it tells a story with far-stretching conclusions.

The video is about a guy taking a shower in India. Look at his shower place, very humble. He's clearly not rich. Nevertheless, he has all the modern technology to make this video of him showering.

He's not ashamed, he shows his body. Nice body, by the way! I like it when a guy is not shy, when someone just shows the reality. Just plain who he is.

This little video is an example why India will be the next tiger in the world economy. They don't care how humble it looks. They just go for it. Admirable.

Looking forward to seeing more of India!
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the need of change

One of the things I fear the most, is to become someone who's stepping in the same treadmill - even a comfortable one - day in day out, without change. It's the danger of routine, it becomes so normal that one doesn't think of other things then the usual ones.

That's why, for me, it's necessary to break the routine from time to time, and to do something totally different, out of the box. It also means that I have to leave my normal surroundings, and go to a totally different place, a totally other environment then what I'm used to.

Last weekend, it was a short break to Berlin. Lovely city, so much is going on there (see the pix on https://plus.google.com/photos/118368231017162743201/albums/5893536286312066577?gpsrc=gplp0&partnerid=gplp0 ). Even a short weekend away makes me a new person. I can highly recommend it!

How about you? Do you fancy the comfort of the daily treadmill, or do you want to break free from time to time?
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up up and away ... the naked consumer. Out Micro$oft, in Linux!

The German city of Munich (together with many other cities, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiMux) decided in 2003 to switch all its computers from (paid) Microsoft platform to (free) Linux platform.

The switch took them 10 years, and is now complete.

The city saves yearly 10 million euros in costs of licences. That is an enormous amount of money for most of us.

The funny thing is, that Microsoft hired HP to conduct a study how much the cost of the switch from Microsoft to Linux platform would be (hoping that this cost would be too high to make the switch).

HP calculated that cost at an extra 44 million euros (http://www.solv.nl/weblog/munchen-bespaart-10-miljoen-per-jaar-met-linux/19429). The city replied that this also would have been the cost  if they would switch to a new Microsoft platform.

I think that the existing free open-platforms are really starting to bother Microsoft. Especially since now the new Windows 8 is getting harsh critics, not to mention the dreadful TV-publicity that Microsoft is worldwide airing.

Interesting times ahead, folks!
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colorful kids in Bali

On May 1, 2013, the unique “Ngerebeg” ceremony, held once every six months, was again celebrated in the traditional village of Tegallalang, north of Ubud. The actual date of its celebration is determined by the convergence of several cycles of months, weeks and days in the Balinese calendar, or, put into local terms, on “rahina budha kliwon pegat uwakan.”

The “Ngerebeg” is generally reserved for teenagers who decorate their bodies and faces using water-based paints. The resulting looks are, to say the least, extreme with teenagers, primarily young men, resembling punk stars, ghosts and menacing demons – all temporary members of platoon in the service of the ancient Balinese king I Gusti Ngurah Gede Pecangakan who reigned in the 15th century - seen as a heroic protector of Bali.

The colorful parade begins with lunch at the local temple followed by a processional parade with the grotesquely painted participants carry flagstaffs of penjors for a distance of 2-3 kilometers, the distance between two local temples.

The parade participants, in keeping with local tradition, make offerings at designated points along the route intended to protect the village and its inhabitants.

Local village officials in Tegallalang insist that villagers hold the event year after year, frightened that a failure to honor the tradition would bring misfortune upon the community. On a more basis level, "Ngerebeg"observances are seen as purifying the local people and their surroundings prior to piodalan ceremonies marking the anniversary of the village’s main temple. 

A thai chat ...

evening in Bangkok. The laptop is on; Romeo is running in the background, for friends to chat with; suddenly a guy pops up and starts the following chat.

Received and sent messages

1. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:16 hello how are you

2. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:17 hello dear! all well here. How are you?

3. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:18 where u ??now

4. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:20 in hotel in Sathon. According to Romeo, we are 800 m. away from each other hehehe

5. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:22 ok soo what u think iam ?do you like to have sex with me??

6. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:26 I don't know who or what you are, sweetie, we just started to chat :-) Maybe you can tell me some more about you? Where do you stay? What do you do in life?

7. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:29 i stay at sathon soi 1 near 10minut in my life it very nice to be come soon .

8. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:30 it's good to know that your life soon will be very nice, dear! What do you expect to happen?

9. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:32 what for i have to tell to anyone to know about my ??what i can get if i tell you or what it batther for you to know about me ?? what about you ???? do you give me when i fuck you ??some????????????????

10. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:34 oh, does that mean you're a moneyboy?

11. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:35 what it moneyboy ??i do fuck with some what i like and what i dont like money boy how mach u can give for the can i know??

12. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:36 very sorry, krub, I don't understand: you want me to pay you money to fuck me?

13. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:39 if i want i tell u how much i want .but i ark u if some boy fuckwith u or sex with you what do you can give to the boy ?some money??

14. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:41 no dear, I don't give money. I only have fun with friends and with my boyfriend. Friends help each other, they don't expect something in return, other then friendship.

15. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:43 and you and u friend happy with you when there are have sex with you ???

16. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:48 yes dear, we are happy to have fun. It makes life nice. It's pleasure.

17. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:51 and now u get some one to have sex with u yes ?? how old it him ?? are you u belive yung boy it like sex with .....??u belive that ??and i want to see who it happy when u have sex with boy and boy happy with sex can i have see that

18. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 20:54 no dear, I'm not hungry for sex :-) but when it happens, I like it. I only have fun with younger friends who like to have fun with older guys like me. There are many.

19. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 20:59 55555555555555555 who is it??????????????it 100%boy it have about 1-3 boy like that 100% but when and where it that boy to become to u?? not just one old man yes i know fun but it very nice and good when u can give there are some money for taxi or some think out there are nice boythat u can have like old man but i see yung man or old man it very nice when we meet and help some togetthe

20. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 21:04 I like your thinking.

21. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 21:06 yes i want to tell u more but my englih not good and to tell u and xpaen to u to know and all i think and tell u it not mien i bad guy but i have see and hapen to me before and i know some

22. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 21:09 I know, sweetie. I think the sex business in Bangkok is very bad. It's not about friendship and feelings.

23. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 21:14 yes friend ship but money it number 1 and here bisines yes but it not much for $$$$$$ or baht but esy to get that if in you home u think u can get yung man at u home for fun or not ???and if pay it how much for the man and that why there come to here buy tacket and get fuck it more esy and happpy or baby u can get love i hope u can fun some one and fun with u with out %%%%%%%%%%% if i same u i just pay boy and fuck and for get and i do also

24. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 21:16 yes dear, in my home I have friends too. We enjoy each other.

25. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 21:18 and u bevive that him anjoy for 100and u not give them any think ??????it here have yung farang and old nice guy and there know there come here and buy me tacket go to him home

26. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 21:26 yes dear, I know. If you like young farang, then go for it :-)

27. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 21:28 yes i do and come and soon there are come i not say i like yung or old i like pelper nice man and there know me more i very good and nice guy

28. nice-fun 01. May. 2013 - 21:28 and i am not looking guy for money i looking alll

29. paulbavo 01. May. 2013 - 21:31 yes, I can sense that you're basically a nice guy. A bit difficult hehe, but nice :-)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and this is where the chat ended :-)

how to break up with a thai guy

I just read a nice article about dating a thai guy, and ... eventually ... breaking up.

A lovely sentence to use, is:

“I love you, but as much as I try, it’s not in the way that you deserve.”

I wonder if this sentence is also used in other Asian countries :-)
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the eternal search of a place to unfold my heart

so it's final. My search of many years where to settle down is finalized. It won't be Thailand, it won't be South America, it won't be Spain or Portugal (did you notice all those are warm destinations hehe?). After many years of wandering around, I decided to go for Bali.

Why Bali, some of my friends asked. Good question. Difficult to answer. Bali is certainly not the most sophisticated of places. Still struggling with internet, with good roads, with modern life. I guess I'll damn myself for choosing this place hahaha! But it's where my heart is. For one reason or another, I feel at peace there. I feel like I'm complete.

Time will tell if my instictive feelings are right. We'll give Bali the final test: we'll stay one month in a remote area, far away from partyzone (for which Bali is famous when you hear the Kuta and Legian and Seminyak tourists), and if my feeling will still the same after that stay, the decision will be final.

Yesterday, we had a long chat with a friend, who's a dentist here in Gent, Belgium. He's my age. He decided to sell his house, stop working, and start living a new life. I'm not ready for that. I still want to anchor myself in my office and my life in Belgium. But at the same time, I look forward to the new horizon that will harbour the final years of my life.

Thank you for staying with me during this travel and this search of wellbeing. As always, I highly appreciate your comments and insights, here on the blog or in private email.

hugs,
PB

The Malaysian government has issued a warning to Malaysian men

The Malaysian government has issued a warning to Malaysian men, implying that their marriages in neighboring Thailand may not be recognized as valid upon their return to their home country.

As reported in the New Straits Times, Malaysian Muslim men have recently taken to journeying into southern Thailand in order to secure second, third or fourth wives. So popular is this practice that one mosque in Songkla province has even gathered a reputation as a destination for quickie marriages.

However, the Malaysian government may not be as quick to condone these unions as Malaysian men are to enter them.

In a statement to the press, Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee Leong said that, “If the mother is Thai, then the child will be a Thai national, regardless of whether the husband or the father of the child is a Malaysian.”

According to the Bangkok Post, some children of such unions have not been allowed to register in Malaysian schools, owing to their contested nationality.

(scource: http://www.coconutsbangkok.com/news/a-warning-to-malaysian-men-be-wary-of-thai-marriages/)

giving google+ the preference for posting my pix :-)

If you like to follow my posting of pictures, please do so at https://plus.google.com/photos/118368231017162743201/albums

For me, it's a very convenient way of posting:
1. I edit the pix using picasa;
2. picasa allows me to keep the originals, and save the edited pictures, and
3. it allows me - with only one click - to put the pix online,
4. and all that at no costs, absolutely for free.

If you have better alternatives, do let me know! paulbavo@gmail.com :-)
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who's the world's largest employer?

In today's FT:

"Travel and tourism are now the world's largest employer, accounting for 255m jobs, according to Datamonitor. The industry is expected to generate 73m new jobs by 2022."

That line makes one think. The production of happiness is obviously more important than the production of goods. There might be hope for the human race after all :-)

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dreaming about the death

I have been dreaming about the death lately.

First, it was a dream where my late aunt (is that correct? She was the sister of my father's mother) appeared on one of my travels. She died at the age of 103, and she prayed every day that the good Lord would come and take here out of this life.
In my dream, she looked old, but much younger then I remember her. I was travelling to Bali, and suddenly I spotted her between the other passengers waiting in line. She was vibrant, and told me: it's so necessary to travel while you can. I admired her for still travelling at her old age!
A day later, I dreamt about my late mother. She died in an old-folks-fully-service-residence, in her sleep. It was a nice death.
In my dream, I could not see her. She was totally covered, even her hands and her face. But I could hear her sweet voice, unmistakinly hers, telling me: I'm so glad you visited me, I'm so lonely.

Now what to think of that? Am I approaching the world between the living and the next life? Such sweet dreams :-)

Old School

Today's visit to H&M. Paying the bill, I notice that the cute boy collecting my money is wearing a BEATLES T-shirt. I ask him: wow, are you a fan of the Beatles? He replies: very much so, they are really OLD SCHOOL. They really are, I tell him, they are from my younger years :-) He smiles with a bright smile, and opens his shirt for the picture, so that the group he's so proud of is more clearly visible.
So old school is back! Get ready for more antiquities!

Cebu becomes first province in the Philippines to pass anti-discrimination law

by News Editor

The Cebu City Council on Wednesday passed a landmark anti-discrimination ordinance on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, age, health status, ethnicity and religion.

Advertisement

The landmark ordinance will prohibit excluding, refusing or dismissing any person from public programs and services and educational institutions on the basis of disability, age, health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and religion, according to a report in the Sun Star.

The law will also prohibit discriminating against any organisation or group. It also makes it unlawful to deny medical and other health services, transportation and other facilities based on those biases.First-time offenders will be fined P1,000 or imprisoned for one day to 30 days. Second-time offenders will face a fine of P3,000 or suffer imprisonment of one day to 30 days or both at the discretion of the court. For successive offenses, violators will be fined P5,000 or be imprisoned for one day to 30 days or face both at the discretion of the court.

see more on  http://www.fridae.asia/newsfeatures/2012/10/19/12005.cebu-becomes-first-province-in-the-philippines-to-pass-anti-discrimination-law?n=sec

for more info, see:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cebu-City-Anti-Discrimination-Ordinance/262913083822365

Family stronger then Art

Remember I told you about Kan, almost a year ago? He's a Vietnamese guy, working in Bangkok as an artist. I promised him to publish some of his work in a book, and I kept my promise (of course), the book is selling on blurb, on this link. It sells well.

Now what is interesting about Kan's situation? His family in VietNam is quite well off. His family needs someone to take care of the family business.

Now Kan has to decide. He must choose between following his artistic desires (and he's quite a promising artist!) and following the needs of his family.

For the moment, he choose to close down his artistic being in Bangkok, and to return to VietNam to join his family and be at their service. Which means he'll have to forgo every fiber in his body that makes him an artist. I deeply respect his choice. I also think that his artistic genetics will pop up again, sooner or later :-)

Come and see next week (or month, or year, or decade)!

I need new furniture!

The living room in the renovated house needs new furniture. I asked my brother Rafael to make it, a couple of months ago. He promised to work on it, but it might take him a year or so to finish :-)
The final result should be something like the picture above, but then over a whole wall of 6 m width. No doubt it will be amazing, if it ever gets ready!

the Pink Pants Pool

As you know, we love swimming. When on holiday, we swim at least twice a day. And when we are home, we really enjoy a morning swim!

So it was with great pleasure that we learned that a new pool opened in our city Gent: zwembad Rozebroeken (translated: the pink pants pool, although it has nothing to do with pink pants hehehe). You see the picture on top. Their site is http://www.sr-rozebroeken.be/BENL/site/index.aspx .

It's a HUGE state-of-the-art pool, with all the newest thrills and technical gimmicks! We love that pool. Only problem is that it's a bit too far to cycle there in the early morning, so we have to drive by car.

We swim from 8:30 to 9:10 a.m. At 8:30, the pool is almost deserted, very quiet. Around 9 a.m., the schools start to roll in, and it's really a pleasure to see all the youngsters learning to swim, or if they can already swim, perfecting their swimming skills.

So, if you want to visit us in the early morning hours, you know where to find us!