Thoughts

 

Talking to quite a few Indonesians, particularly the people from Lombok that I have spoken to, the way that they think about and practise their Muslim religion seems somewhat different to the Muslims I have met in the UK.

It seems a far more peaceful and thoughtful way of being, with an openness and acceptance of other religions and cultures and an ability to live in harmony with those with alternative views on life.

The cornerstone of their belief is to accept and only worship the one God, Allah, but they are understanding of the Hindu people who worship many Gods and their temples and seem to be happy to live together in the same communities. There appears to be a respect for others views and not, and this is only my feeling, a drive to convert others. I did later chat to a driver who confirmed this. He said, in the Koran, it doesn't teach them to convert others but to respect others views and to live along side other people with different religions, peacefully. 

His outlook, like mine, is that we are all human, 'under one umbrella ' no matter what colour or race. We are one race, ' The Human race'

We shared a similar philosophy in that we should try to live in the present and not worry about the past which we cannot change.......it has taken me years and I am still not quite there.......and to not worry too much about the future as it may not come.

I said the 'present' has another meaning, a present is a gift - and so 'The Present Time' is also a gift which we should cherish.

The onus of their religious practice is very much on prayer. This is a really important part of everyday living to them here. The call to prayer rings out 5 times a day and they openly go off to pray, even if they are working or 'guiding for tourists'. But it is also about meditation and reflection. They like to think about their place in the world and their life and how they can be a good person and how to achieve peace, harmony and happiness. 

The next important thing to them is charity, but this to them is in their way of living which does appear to genuinely be an effort to live in a way that not only benefits them but others too. And this will mean other members of their family, weaker or poorer people in the community and also to the visitors.

Understandably they need to make money, and the tourist is an important source of income in places like this which attract visitors. But they understand that visitors like us, particularly the Europeans, want to know and understand their culture and they want us to know and learn from them as much as they can learn from us. Although more and more, the adoption of the 'western ways' is not a good thing. They are aware of this though, particularly here on Lombok. They do not want to become like Bali, and there is a resistance among the people to the increasing change. 

Rasak, our forest guide, said this was due to the fact they were never occupied here, by the Dutch, so the western influence has not developed in the same way as in Bali and Java.

What is unfortunate is that they know that our standard of living is so much higher. You try to explain that in our country everything is so much more expensive and so, even though we have money, we are not rich.....but to them we are. I have a budget to keep to but they see that I have had the means to come here (even though I worked hard and long to get it) and to me £1 is 'nothing' as they see it. I try to explain that each one adds up, but I think they think this is funny. I am on holiday right!? If they travel, and many men do, they will always work as well, unless they can stay with a relative abroad. So they will always try to eek out the extra £1 here and there. Even the honest and fair ones, because they see it as fair......and in a away it is. But I do find this a bit uncomfortable. It is hard to balance being sensible with my money and not getting ripped off with a need to not be mean and stingy and I end up feeling a bit mean, because I am careful with money and this is in built and established in me. I hate the feeling and it haunts me a little. I suppose because I do care what people think, about me and my behaviour.

What I do find hard to rationalise is their thoughts on women. And it has to be said that, apart from Tutut - the lady in Yogyakarta - I have only spoken with men about their religion and life. 

They are, of course, respectful of women and they are a lot more relaxed about the Hijab, with some deciding not to wear it. Tutut said she didn't want to, but she did wear a hat all the time. She was educated and went to university, as are many of the women here. They do mostly wear the Hijab though, even the young girls. They also completely cover up, always wearing long trousers or skirts, and often long sleeves, whereas the boys knock around in T-shirts and shorts. And this is the tropics, where heat and humidity is high! 

In the cities of Java, it made me sad to see many little children, girls under 5, wearing it too. I cannot see how a small kid should need 'protection' and modesty. A child, in my view, should be innocent and free. And it is strange because Muslims do believe that a child is born with no 'sin'.

There are occasions where the ladies will take off the veil in public, or in more relaxed situations and this is not so frowned upon. 

The male attitude seems to be that females are like delicate flowers that must be protected. Contradictory to this, they understand too that women are and can be strong. The woman is the centre of the home and family and the mother is extremely important and respected. 

When you ask, what do women need protecting from? there is an awkwardness to explain. I think the answer is 'from other men' but if Men are respectful and honourable, then there should be no need for the woman's protection.

The primary purpose of wearing the hijab is to fulfil religious commands, as a symbol of obedience to Allah. ....or is it to men  also? It is supposed to protect women from 'unwanted attention'. Does this mean that men are so weak that they cannot control their 'attention'.

One guy said that women do their thinking with their 'emotions' where as men with their head. This made me laugh. I think this was the rationale for women not having the vote in the past. A 'Victorian' view. But he also said that a relationship should be like a partnership, a couple working together to compliment, understand and stand together, throughout life. 

Of course sex before marriage is forbidden and it is extremely important for a woman to be a virgin when she is married, but I could not get an answer as to whether its necessary for men to be, or even if its important. 

Although Radak did say to us that he found it hard to get a partner - partly due to his 'face' he said - but also because he worked as a guide and so was seen by the local girls as mixing with western women. He said that if you are a tourist guide, it is assumed that you will go to parties with tourists, maybe drink beer and sleep with western women. And this would be frowned upon by the local women and girls and make you unpopular and not a good choice for a husband.

Thinking back to when I travelled through Java on the trains they had announcements on how 'sexual violence' would not be tolerated. At the station on the advertising screens there were ads showing scenes of domestic violence & which number to call for women. ...it makes you wonder if this is a big problem here, for it to be highlighted in this way.

On a lighter note, It's also funny that most of the Indonesian men smoke, but I've  ot seen one single lady smoking. Of course cigarettes are cheap - 45 to 50p a pack of 20 for the cheapest kind. Brands like Camel are more, up to £2 a pack.

Some men I have met - like Bagus in Jogja - think religion is daft, and I think there are some that don't really follow it or may just give the impression that they do. He said, 'lt's crazy!......you have nothing and yet you pray to God 5 times a day!'

I think in cities this is becoming more common, but in rural communities they are still holding on strongly to their beliefs and religious customs.