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Shea is in Jambi (Bule masuk kampung)

This time visit i was kind of nervous as everyone knows i'm coming... i did 2 days fasting with family and a night tarawih (night prayer) in my childhood mosque. i felt weird as well as excited... i used to have no idea what was the world like... i didnt miss anything. how do  explain this.. everything seems so plain . because i have seen or tried thing that ever better than what we have in my home town. street ice cream i used to think was good isnt good anymore since i have tried "Ben and Jerry" for instance.
everyone looks the same but just getting old. some old people i knew has passed away.. the kids i remember have already grown up. and im the same me according to my mom. Those travel days i had didnt change who and where i came from. im still doing well with the bucket cool shower and hole in the ground toilet. i speak not Bahasa or English but Jambinese language... then i know im HOME.



Idul fitri is a big celebration for muslim after a month fasting.. big feast / festival... everyone buys new clothes, fix and repaint their house, buy new furnish or car, cook delicious food, bake cakes etc...this is the day when we ask for forgiveness and visit our relatives and friends. I spent my Idul fitri at my grandma's house, uncles and aunties came so did my cousin... i have about 200 or more relatives... such a big family... one of my mom's cousin has 11 children and these children had married and have kids... not to mention from my dad's side. Yes we Indo loves  and like to keep our family close. That's why "family matter's excuse" is excepted in  Indo office such as: 3 days off from work because cousin's wedding, grandma is in hospital, kid is sick etc etc.
anyway... Idul fitri is usually last for a week. stores, offices and banks are close.. nobody wants to work. I also visited relatives.. house after house.. food and a lots of food. wore my new cloth:) this time Idul Fitri we dont celebrate it for a week because my wedding... Yes im getting married!!! such a big deal for my family. and they want the best. im getting marriage in a very Jambi traditional way in my Village. I'm excited to see Shea with the traditional clothes and follow all those ceremony..
everything is already booked and set. This is Kampung / village way, where my neighbours started to come on Wednesday and will keep coming until Sunday to help to cook the food. make our own spices etc. this is also their socialise time when they work, talk and meet their neighbour. the closer the day the crowded the house will be. my family bought a whole cow.. sounds tragic.. we kill a cow for this wedding. Bless the Cow.
Kevin Shea landed yesterday from his long flight from Sydney.. 22 hours in total, our good friend Derek who lives in Jakarta came and met him in the airport. they both flew to Jambi. I picked them up and was so happy to see them both. i miss my craka Kevin Joseph and it was good to see Derek. i took them to Padang restaurant, Shea's favourite Indo food and we finished pretty much everything they served on the table. Padang restaurant is kind of restaurant where serves pretty much everything they sell / have in a small plate and let we decide what to have.. they bill according to the food we eat. Yesterday Meal for 4 people was $25. or 250 thousand rupiah.
Shea only brought a backpack and needed some clothes and pants so i took him to a nearest mall to shop. he was so excited cos everything was so cheap and wanted to shop more. Abadi Hotel is where Shea and Derek stays. one of nice hotels in Jambi with pool. room isnt a matter as long as a pool that's what Shea wants. when we got here first thing they did was jump into the pool. i kept rushing him as my parents were waiting to see him. off we went to Tanjung Johor village where my family live.
And just like i had in my mind people started to come just to see him and Derek, bule (called for white or western people in Indo) yes they wanted to see bule. Shea was nervous but he was doing well. he shook everyone's hand and said "Assalamualikum" greeting for Muslim. it was fun to see. looks like he made a good impression to my family and neighbours, im happy. i had a long day so did everyone.

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