Indonesia = the 80s

I swear it, Indonesia IS the 80s. If you get in a time machine and travel to the 80s, you'll end up here. Here is why Indonesia is the 80s:

-The TV shows. Game shows, sketch comedy, bad fantasy and soap operas (preferably with elements of bad fantasy involved), that's all there is. To see the muslim version of Joan Collins is truly hilarious.
- To take the tv link one step further, The Gong Show. This is like Red Faces, stretched out into an hour length show. And all the presenters have SO much energy. SO MUCH! SUPER!
- The music. Rock bands with Poison style hair, Pop singers with enormous perms, and the passion, oh the passion. I bet they're just singing about rain in Africa...
- The clothes. The truly trendy folk (orang yang trendi) wear bright clothes on mismatched colours and patterns (although I must admit, I like not having to consider whether my clothes match...)
- The make up. Big purple and blue shadowed eyes never left Indonesia. Someone stopped me on the beach the other day to ask about my 'bedak'- face powder. Apparently my red cheeks are 'Cantik'- beautiful.
- Layering. Because of Muslim tendencies, few people wear little tops or skirts. UNLESS they wear them over the top of footless tights or body shirts! Yeah!
- The obsession with instant coffee. Sumatera is supposed to have amazing coffee. I wouldn't know, everyone is just so excited to offer you instant, or even better, 3 in 1! (That's coffee, sugar and creamer, byt the way).

Went to the beach, it was ok. I can't believe there are so many beaches with dirt coloured sand. Have taken to sitting on Pantai Padang (Padang Beach) of an evening, and have discovered it's a place young couples go to sit in the semi darkness- but not touch. I have not seen a boy and girl touch since I arrived. Also saw a cat strolling along the beach... weird.

So the trip to Bunggus Beach was cool, we hired a taxi for the day (you pay his fare and his food), stopped on the way to FEED monkeys, they take peanuts straight from your hands. Was a bit sad, because they're not really wild any more... but oh so cool! I have lots of photos, I just wish I had a net connection fast enough to upload them :(

Then we went to Pantai Carlos di Bunguss, and swam in the bath warm water, and watched traditional fishermen (they row these huge nets out to sea, then haul them in mby hand over a period of hours!), and I drank from a coconut :) Later we went for my first traditional Padang meal and I ate with my hands! Yeah. I am SO Indo. Except the taxi driver laughed at me, because I wasn't doing it right. Ok, maybe a little way to go.