An adventurous shopping trip

Shortly after we started exploring Tengge village, entourage in tow, a scooter came to a sudden halt beside us. It turned out to be our morning visitor, Waihyu, big grin on his face.

He asked where we were going to, and when I said to buy food, he frowned and said (simplified version) ‘No too far’. He asked what we wanted to buy, and when we said chicken and vegetables, he offered to go fetch them.

We said we like to choose our own, so after lots of Google Translate too and fro, he said ‘wait here’. 10 minutes he returned with a friend, also on a scooter, and told his to hop on and they would take us!

So we ended up having a pillion tour of the coast. Aside from the now familiar houses, shops, schools, mosques, goats, chooks, rice and crop fields, we also scored some stellar views of the bays along the coast.

1st stop was a house on the side of the road - ‘chicken shop’. We walked up the rough rocky ‘drive’ and saw a raised shed/coop with 60 to 80 live chooks in it. We negotiated a price, but declined the chance to choose our victims. Then Dale wisely suggested that we collect them on the way back as we had no ice. I was SO relieved! Of course I know it’s hypocritical to eat chicken, but don’t want to witness its demise, but I reserve the right to be a hypocrite over this! Waihyu translated the question ‘intact or cleaned and dressed’. I specified cleaned, no head, no feathers and no feet!
Apparently this was amusing.

Next stop was Pantai Oi Cabbe, a sheltered beach in bay further south. It was an absolute hive of activity. He took us here to buy veges from a vendor whose mini truck was parked right down on the beach - rear wheels being lapped by waves! We chose a variety of vegetables - egg plant, tomatoes, mystery greens, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers etc.

Then the best bit! We wandered along the beach. The sand was black volcanic sand, and there was so much activity.

Men were unloading fishing nets from the last night catch, and the women wade out with buckets and pick over the nets, removing the fish and filling their buckets. The fish ate mostly a sardine kind of thing. The buckets are tipped into polystyrene boxes on ice. Repeat.

Lots of kids were playing in the beach and swimming, the polystyrene box lids make great boogie boards!
Groups of women, and men congregated along the shore. Being Sunday it seemed to be a time to mix work and pleasure. They were all friendly and either waving or saying hello as we walked past,

One lady left her group and came and introduced herself (sorry forgot her name) and chatted. She had excellent English, and wanted to know where we came from and how we got there etc. Her husband came and joined us for a bit. The rest of their group - friends and family looked on, whispered and chatted, lots of laughter!

After a good wander and having taken lots of photos, and having our photo taken with the locals, on their phones, we headed back to where Waihyu & mate were waiting and went back to the chicken vendors (both women) to collect our chooks.

Our trip back didn’t seem to take as long as getting there - isn’t that always how it seems? - despite Waihyu’s scooter having a mechanical issue, he stopped at a house, had a quick chat with a woman there, and left his scooter there (on the road), handed the keys to the lady, then wheeled out a bigger, better one, and off we went! I have no idea if she was a friend, family, or just asked to borrow it because he broke down in front of their home!

Back at Tengge Beach, we thanked Waihyu and asked him what we were owe him. He wasn’t sure what that meant, so I said ‘pay you’. No he said, no pay! He’ and his mate had each given up their Sunday afternoon and used their fuel, so we insisted. Then he argued the amount (IDR 100,000 = $9.60), but as we said it was to be shared between them, and insisted. Again amazing generosity from people with so little!

As soon as we kayaked back to the boat, I prepped the chickens / separating into meal sized portions for freezing. They must have misunderstood my ‘no feathers, no head, no feet’ request. The birds were cleaned and plucked, but only the lower beak and toenails were removed 😳.

I thought it might be tough meat, but the chicken tenders I did for tea were very tender! I n fact I think they were better than any I’d ever eaten before! (Cue blowing one’s own 🎺. I guess we scored young roosters, and not tough old chooks who no longer lay!Read more