My Heart Will Go On

First (yes that is the title of this post) I need to explain a bit about Indonesian music. In one word, cheese, and the more the better, it's awful. Secondly, just about every Indonesian song finds it's roots in either Bob Marley or Celine Dion, they're kinda like the royal family of Indonesian music. Now, in English club last week we were talking about music that we like and what are our favorite songs where. Naturally, "my heart will go on" ranked at the top of their lists. Then somehow the conversation shifted to national anthems. The kids wanted me to sing mine so I told them that if they sang "My Heart Will Go On" then I would sing the "Star Spangled Banner" for them thinking that there was no way they would. Turns out that I was wrong and they called my bluff. So after listening to 15 high schoolers pour their hearts in to a stirring rendition of Celine I began the anthem. (as I side note, if you've never tried to sing it before, it's a really hard song to sing and apparently no matter where I start my range can't handle it). Anyway after that they taught me the Indonesian Anthem (Indonesia Raya) and then they chased it with anouther round of "My Heart Will Go On".

Cabe Merah

The other day I was hanging out with some of my Balinese friends after a basketball game and one of them brought out a bag of cabe merah (extremely hot chill peppers). For the record I've gotten pretty used to spicy foods here and my stomach can take a lot but these peppers were on a new level. I ate one and immediately started sweating. Of course they thought this was hilarious and started making fun of me. Somehow the situation quickly escalated and it became a contest to see who could eat the most. (I came in third with 15). That night my stomach was a little twisted up but after that I figured the worst was over. Wrong again. The next night after my digestive track had done its thing and the peppers were making their exit I immediately knew something was horribly wrong. It felt(burned) something like a volcano erupting or maybe more like a fire breathing dragon coming out of the other end. It was so bad that it left me searching frantically for a block of ice to sit on. Needless to say, I had more peppers the next day.

It's still rock 'n' roll to me

March is a big month for Bali. From around March 14th until March 26th (Nyepi Day, the climax of the celebrations and the start of the Balinese new year) just about all of Bali shuts down. Classes are canceled, work is put off, and there are loads of Balinese (Hindu) ceremonies. In Klung Kung they had a big ceremony that lasted three days and each night they had a fund-raiser/party after the ceremony. One of my Balinese friends invited us to come, and since it was three of the girls last night in Bali, we decided to check it out. They had a live band covering some English and Balinese songs which provided a really nice atmosphere. Then, due to a bit of miscommunication and my Balinese friends scheming I ended up on stage with the band. The first two songs were Balinese but pretty simple so I played a bit of lead guitar and then one of the guys knew "Freebird" so we rounded out the set with it and a Balinese rendition of "Don't Stop Believing" and a simple blues jam.

Galaxy

There's a basketball court at the town center in Gianyar and lately I've been playing some pick-up ball there. While I was playing the other day I met some college kids from Denpasar and they asked if I could play with them next Sunday. So as pulled up on my motor bike I saw a couple refs and two teams in full uniforms and a big crowd waiting for the game to start. So, naturally I assumed that something had been lost in translation (my bahasa still has a long way to go) and they just wanted me to watch their game. Nope. One of the guys walked over and handed me a Jersey and we started doing lay-up lines. The game was a blast and we pulled out a nail-biter with a few late baskets in the fourth quarter. We have a big game aganist klung kung next week so hopefully can get anouther mark in the win column.

Also, as I side note I've lost all respect for "big men" in basketball. As out of positon as it seemed for me, I played the 4 and 5 spot in the game and it's a joke, it's so easy to score and pick up rebounds and blocks.

The sea was angry that day my friend...

this is a quick two parter since I've been away from my computer for a while...

First, this week I'm living/teaching in a new city, Klung Kung. However, the city itself is not nearly as much fun as the name is to say. Yappenatim is closed for one week so I'm teaching at a government high school called SMU. It's I nice change of scenery but I miss the kids at Yappenatim, and after being gone for a week I've realized home much like home Gianyarhas begun to feel.

A large swell came through the last few days, now I thought that I'd ridden some descent sized wave before and that I was decent but these waves were on a completely different level. I estimated that they were around 15 feet and afterwards I talked to some local guys and then checked the report that night. Turns out they were around 4 meters. So being scared out of my mind and pissing my pants I paddled out. I dropped in a bit shallow on the first one I could just to build up a bit of confidence, then on the next one I went all out and dropped in just a tad bit to deep. I hit a chop on the drop in and lost it. For a minute or two I thought that I was never going to resurface (it felt something like hopping into a washing machine and setting it on spin cycle). After about 15 seconds of tumbling and bumping into the reef I finally popped up above the surface with nothing worse than a damaged pride. (After that I took it a bit slower and I was able to get a few waves, some of best I've ever had a chance to ride).

Yappenatim

Lest everyone think that I really don't do anything but surf and ride my moped around I figured I'd talk a bit about teaching. I do most of my teaching at a local orphanage called Yappenatim. I have two 7th grade and two 8th grade classes there. The kids are out of control but still a blast to be around. Because the level of English is so low we've worked mostly on basic topics ranging from basic vocabulary to forming simple questions. I usually teach from 8-12 and then try to hang out and play sports with the kids after class for a bit. I also teach twice a week at a government elementary school. The kids there are really cool and we spend most of the time playing games that keep them entertained and help build their English vocabulary.

Keramas

For those of you that don't know Keramas is a world famous break spot with a heavy, right-hand reef break (the picture is from a competition last season) on the East coast of Bali. Which, conveniently, is about 15 minutes from Gianyar (my house). Needless to say I've spent a good deal of time there since I've been in Bali. After a few early spills and tumbles I've begun to get settled in there and it feels a bit like home. Right now it's high season (the rainy season - till march) for the east coast of Bali and the waves have not disappointed. They're been averaging around 6 to 9 feet since I've been here (Keramas surf report). Once the seasons change some trips will be made to the west coast and hopefully I'll be able to get some nice left handers too.