Farmers market

Café Batu Jimbar is an alternative place to have lunch (or brunch) on a fine Sunday morning/afternoon. Located in Sanur it’s a good change if one’s tired of Kuta/Seminyak.

It started as a weekly farmers market, a combination of food and products selling but a friend of mine who was the only product seller checked out several months ago and what was left was food and some flowers. The food range from Indonesian dishes, and one or two international dishes aside from what’s offered in the café menu. My favorite would be ‘nasi kuning’ and muscle. Not ordered at once of course.

My friends the gardeners used to sell organic veggies (I sometimes bought mixed salad and strawberries), and lovely plants or flowers. Aside from them there would be varieties of organic products, such as jams, muesli, sugar, brown sugar, and organic bread, bagels, etc..

It’s interesting to see how awareness of “wellness” grew in the lives of many people in Bali (either living permanently or visiting). People are so crazed about organic, yoga, harmony of body-mind-soul that sometimes the whole idea sound overrated. They quickly pick up veggies and fruits labeled ‘organic’ without questioning, let alone having complete understanding of what the idea is all about that there’s a certain standard has to meet, during plantation, harvesting and so on.

My friends’ input is easy, if it’s labeled organic, the farmer would welcome anybody to come to their farm/garden and observe how they grow the food. And yes, my friends welcome people in their garden.

I personally am not obsessed about it. As long as the veggies/fruits I eat looks fresh, and certain it was cooked in normal manner, and edible, bring it on. If you start worrying, your palate can’t enjoy anything. Of course you’re potentially healthier by eating organic, but doesn’t your mind start wandering that the farmers used cow manure, and godknowswhat gross stuff. For this.. ignorance is bliss.. :)

Another snorkeling trip.

Tulamben. USAT Liberty shipwreck.

I was very much looking forward to going snorkeling in Tulamben again, the trip last October was total fun. Plunged in, swam toward the shipwreck, only caught a glimpse of some colorful fish. Water was somewhat unclear, the dive master said the past few days it’s been raining so blah blah, can’t see very far. Ugh!

Slightly envious watching the divers go all the way down to the shipwreck, wonder if it’s clearer down there. Can’t be right?

Had lunch with dive masters, it was just fascinating listening to their diving experiences. Of course at the end they tried to sell a lesson. Well, for that I need to visit my ENT doc and if he give me the green light I would sign up for a lesson first chance I get! BUT if not, I just have to be content watching videos as this one.

History:
The 120m long wreck rests on a 90 degree angle with the deck facing the open sea and used to be an American supply ship.Anchored off the coast of Lombok, the ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo during World War II. Miraculously nobody got hurt, but the damage turned the ship into a non-functioning and useless hull. The American Navy's plan to tow the ship to Singaraja harbour (north Bali) failed as the harbour was completely occupied, so the ship was intentionally stranded on the rocky beach of Tulamben, where it was unloaded.

In 1963 Mount Agung (the volcano which towers over Tulamben) erupted and the magma flow pressed the ship back into the sea where it presently rests at a depth of 3 to 29 metres. Since then, coral has coated the wreckage turning it into a new home for an extraordinary number of fish, coral and invertebrates. bump-head parrotfish, napoleon wrasse and barracuda are regularly spotted around the wreck.

Blood, anyone?

I’ve always had this fantasy (fantasy??) of dying empty. The empty part would be this vessel I live in, where all the essential parts are taken away, being used by other human being, until it’s completely immobile, and has nothing else to offer.

The movie 7 Pounds kinda resonate that deep wish. I’ve signed a card that if anything happens to me and I can’t be resuscitated my eyes will be donated. Which reminds me, I’ve to find that card.. Need to do the same for other organs, heart, intestines, kidneys, lungs, liver, and pancreas. The process seems to be very painful, but at the same time the right thing to do. Sounds weird eh?

Well today I had my first chance of being accepted to donate blood. After church they announced that PMI (Indonesian Red Square) was ready for people who wanted to donate blood. Without hesitation I had my blood pressure checked and I passed! I was thrilled, yet at the same time nervous of the consequences. You see I’ve been denied 3 times, twice because of low blood pressure and once because it was less than a week after my period. My anxiety has to do with my body’s reaction, whether I will have giddiness, or even get sick? Well, I guess I have to watch and observe.

I was declared healthy as a horse and was ready to donate. 30 minutes later 350ml of my blood was drawn in a plastic pack for people in need. Nope, I’m not banking it for myself, besides O type is common.