(a buddy of Eric’s, who suggested the hotel that we are staying at) who lives in Jakarta, that we would be here for Nyepi. So we sort of understood what we were in for. But we do not actually know what to expect– we have been informed that the hotel will provide very little services today, but as we go up for breakfast, it appears totally staffed. As we take a look around, though, we realize that many familiar faces are not here. We find out that everybody who is operating at the hotel today is either Javanese or Sumatran, and so not celebrating Nyepi– Bali is mainly Hindu, while the rest of Indonesia is mainly Muslim.
No place to Go
In our room is a notice from the hotel management recommending us that we will not be permitted to leave the hotel premises today, which if we do, we will be escorted back to the hotel by the percalang. And so the restaurant is full– people have no place to go, although they have actually finished consuming.
We get chaise longues by the swimming pool– there are inadequate to go around. The day is hot and humid, and we remain in the pool more than we are out of it. The bar is open– the only obvious distinction is that there is no music coming from the speakers. There is a short, however heavy, downpour early in the afternoon, and musical chaises take place. We protect ours closely, and invest the afternoon as we spent the early morning.
No Fire, No Electrical Power Today
Dinner tonight is a special buffet, and is served only up until 6. We retire to our room for a nap and make our method to the restaurant about 4:45, which still feels too early, regardless of having actually avoided lunch. We start talking with the two ladies at the following table, Bev and Janet, who are Aussies from Adelaide and Melbourne. We compare notes on Australia, and after that they start downloading advice on Bali– Bev has actually been here lots of, often times. After supper, we hit the swimming pool, and as the sun decreases, we recognize that the hotel will not be switching on any lights this evening. We knew that the Balinese are not to use electricity or fire today, but we had actually understood that hotels and health centers were excused. Apparently, the exemption only uses to interior lights. So the night darkens into total darkness. We feel alone till 2 people join us, and we realize that they are Bev and Janet.
At about 9, we are asked to leave the pool so that everyone can go home, and so we head to Bev and Janet’s space to continue our Nyepi celebrations. We are well aware that the area behind the bar by the pool is a big, open hole that would not be enjoyable to fall into, however the remainder of the method shows more tough than expected– the actions and courses that are simple to browse with light become treacherous in pitch black. We had actually believed everyone had left, however as we attempted to get from here to there without eliminating ourselves, flashlights unexpectedly blinded us. It turned out that there were a number of security individuals around, most likely to avoid individuals like us from breaking our necks.
While we invite the New Year and Nyepi, it begins to put. About 11, we head for home, and again the flashlights amazingly appear to help us. In the really brief distance we have to take a trip, we get completely soaked.
We wander off to sleep, automatically noting that the storm’s strength has actually increased.
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