A message from Bob & Felix
Blijf op de hoogte en volg jet
30 Augustus 2012 | Indonesië, Mataram
Mataram, 30-08-2012
Selamat siang! We are now already 20 days in Indonesia. Two chameleons from Germany and Holland changed color rapidly after arriving in their new socio-ecological system and getting sunburned. Diets of these two unique species were changed drastically which resulted in too many toilet-visits. The twenty days have already showed us so much about Bali and Lombok. The first week of our stay we celebrated holidays in Bali. On the 16th of August, we took off from the touristic, mostly Bogan covered beaches of Legian, Bali, to pick up Jet from the airport and travel together to Padangbai where we would take the public ferry towards Lembar, Lombok the next morning. After a 4,5 hour trip by boat, we arrived in Lombok and we were picked up by the driver of Viavacare. The trip to Gili Gede took us 45 minutes by car, 45 minutes in which the driver used the horn approximately 450 times. Out here, the horn is a universal signal for overtaking, accelerating, braking, warning before a curve and whatever you might imagine to use it for. Truly amazing multifunctionality! Like eating a duck’s heart, blood and brains because it is a waste to give it to the pigs (or because it is forbidden to feed it to pigs due to religious reasons..)
After arriving on Gili Gede and meeting all the staff of Viavacare, we spent the rest day being speechless about the place. The following days, we joined the staff in their daily activities to get an impression of their jobs and characters. We helped them with cleaning, cooking, maintaining and supplying. Most of our free time was spent with plastic pipes in our mouth just beneath the surface of the water, what an amazing life you can find down there, if you know your way around the plastic waste and the bombed patches of corals. We have met already a lot of guests from Viavacare as we were entering the island during the last part of the high-season. We got to know a lot of nice people and they were friendly and open to discuss with us the means and end of our project.
For those who do not know, we are starting up an educational program related to the dangers of plastic in the environment and how this relates to tourism, the locals, and their means to make a living. We realized that a part of the plastic waste is coming from the ocean currents, but the majority comes from the villagers on the island. Their lack of knowledge about the effects of this waste results in plastic-dumps everywhere on the island, and as fish and birds get attracted to the smell of food in the plastics, they eat it. These animals are then fished/caught and eaten by the locals, which creates serious health-hazards. It is truly a shame to see such a beautiful place being spoiled by the introduction of plastics for every single item you buy at the local warung (shop). Although the introduction of plastics worldwide does not relate to the local people directly, we will start with an educational program on the primary school on the island. This is to teach the children about the effects of plastic waste to the fish their parents catch on a daily base. As the twig is bent, the tree is inclined.
In a project meeting on the island, with ourselves, Jet, Ratu and Holis and Jantine, we decided to go to Mataram for a couple of days, to prepare and develop the educational program further. Through Jantine, we got in contact with a big group of people who are all willing to collaborate and assist us with our project and we are very grateful for that. Right now, we are staying at her place and working on the materials for the program.
Soon enough, you will hear more from us about the project. We want you to stay updated and hope you enjoy reading our stories. For now, we will take off to the market, to get some local tembaco, some Arak, and see the sunset at Sengigi beach while toasting on the 24th birthday of Bob who is now dressed up completely Indonesian style!
Cheers!
Bob van Wessel & Fritz Makakinio Lebfromm
Selamat siang! We are now already 20 days in Indonesia. Two chameleons from Germany and Holland changed color rapidly after arriving in their new socio-ecological system and getting sunburned. Diets of these two unique species were changed drastically which resulted in too many toilet-visits. The twenty days have already showed us so much about Bali and Lombok. The first week of our stay we celebrated holidays in Bali. On the 16th of August, we took off from the touristic, mostly Bogan covered beaches of Legian, Bali, to pick up Jet from the airport and travel together to Padangbai where we would take the public ferry towards Lembar, Lombok the next morning. After a 4,5 hour trip by boat, we arrived in Lombok and we were picked up by the driver of Viavacare. The trip to Gili Gede took us 45 minutes by car, 45 minutes in which the driver used the horn approximately 450 times. Out here, the horn is a universal signal for overtaking, accelerating, braking, warning before a curve and whatever you might imagine to use it for. Truly amazing multifunctionality! Like eating a duck’s heart, blood and brains because it is a waste to give it to the pigs (or because it is forbidden to feed it to pigs due to religious reasons..)
After arriving on Gili Gede and meeting all the staff of Viavacare, we spent the rest day being speechless about the place. The following days, we joined the staff in their daily activities to get an impression of their jobs and characters. We helped them with cleaning, cooking, maintaining and supplying. Most of our free time was spent with plastic pipes in our mouth just beneath the surface of the water, what an amazing life you can find down there, if you know your way around the plastic waste and the bombed patches of corals. We have met already a lot of guests from Viavacare as we were entering the island during the last part of the high-season. We got to know a lot of nice people and they were friendly and open to discuss with us the means and end of our project.
For those who do not know, we are starting up an educational program related to the dangers of plastic in the environment and how this relates to tourism, the locals, and their means to make a living. We realized that a part of the plastic waste is coming from the ocean currents, but the majority comes from the villagers on the island. Their lack of knowledge about the effects of this waste results in plastic-dumps everywhere on the island, and as fish and birds get attracted to the smell of food in the plastics, they eat it. These animals are then fished/caught and eaten by the locals, which creates serious health-hazards. It is truly a shame to see such a beautiful place being spoiled by the introduction of plastics for every single item you buy at the local warung (shop). Although the introduction of plastics worldwide does not relate to the local people directly, we will start with an educational program on the primary school on the island. This is to teach the children about the effects of plastic waste to the fish their parents catch on a daily base. As the twig is bent, the tree is inclined.
In a project meeting on the island, with ourselves, Jet, Ratu and Holis and Jantine, we decided to go to Mataram for a couple of days, to prepare and develop the educational program further. Through Jantine, we got in contact with a big group of people who are all willing to collaborate and assist us with our project and we are very grateful for that. Right now, we are staying at her place and working on the materials for the program.
Soon enough, you will hear more from us about the project. We want you to stay updated and hope you enjoy reading our stories. For now, we will take off to the market, to get some local tembaco, some Arak, and see the sunset at Sengigi beach while toasting on the 24th birthday of Bob who is now dressed up completely Indonesian style!
Cheers!
Bob van Wessel & Fritz Makakinio Lebfromm
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30 Augustus 2012 - 09:38
Fleur Pennings:
Dear Bob and Fritz,
Thanks for the update! Having visited Via Vacare a few times and growing to love it very much, we are very curious how your project will progress and grow. We wish you all the best, please feel free to ask for help.
Perhaps we can participate in anyway.
And most of all, ENJOY!!
Fleur Pennings
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