Merapi Golf & ancient craft

No championship results to record for our golf experience and no lava or explosions seen from Merapi hulking the sky behind us. Slightly confused by the extra four players hanging off the carts, we just rolled with it. Our un-speed-limited carts sped across the grass.

Begging is illegal in Indonesia and there is much unemployment so the Javanese must deploy their inventiveness (hence the ghosts - performance busking and we have seen a collection can taped to the end of an active ukulele).

The golf ⛳
My first hit of many into the palms was rewarded by a visit from a ball gatherer (would be begger) who offered me a pack of balls and my caddy told me I had to pay $100,000 for the offering which gave much incentive to hit the ball straight. Much to my embarrassment this little grandma had singled me out as the weakest link 😭 and headed for the trees on the left again as that was obviously where my ball would go.

Thankfully Eric wasn't having the best day either but his shots went further at least. Rachel and Bill powered ahead, the young caddy's all oohing and ahhring over Rachel's prowess 😬.

My caddy 'Noodle' was fantastic at finding my balls even with the tropical flowers being the same colour as most of the balls. It was a beautiful course and very enjoyable except for Bills caddy who received the tackle of the week when Bill attempted to catch my wayward, high shot on the green and bowled her clean over. It took her a while to move but up she did get, her little mates no help as they were rolling around on the ground laughing.

We decided to give our caddy's the 9th hole to play. After much consternation and reassurance they took the clubs and6t5 had a mad time running, hitting and giggling - they were hopeless which was surprising but had lots of fun just the same, with the role reversal of us polishing and proffering the desired club. International relations was the eventual winner.

I managed to talk Rach and our guide, Dhedy, into driving to a regional area to buy handmade traditional batik, on a tip from Julia, the wise.

A family home shed situation with very dodgy power extension combinations that melted the bees wax no trouble. With our little chanding tool we traced the pattern with hot oil onto cotton under the young daughters instructions, our guide informing me s Rach's was much better than mine 😒

After parting with a slightly modest fortune we returned to Yogya to show off our purchases with some curiousity that the patterns and colours appearing not dissimilar to our first nations art and craft back home. 🤔 Further investigation required...

Lunch was traditional rice and chicken, musically accompanied by 'Blind Boys of Yogyakarta'

We garnered an 'Aussie' corner of our hotel pool on return for some Bintang time and laughed at The waitresses' reaction to Rach's most indecourous order of Bintang tallie - no glass.

Tomorrow we head to the temples, stopping briefly for a 12pm video call job interview in the car red faced and messy hair with noisy aircon trying to keep up with 30 degrees humidity. Hopefully seen as tenancity and courage under fire 🤣Read more