Impressions of Lombok (Part 1)

Hello My Dear Great Ones,

This Christmas I decided to head to Lombok, which is a tropical island in Indonesia. The country of Indonesia itself is a wild collection of islands of various sizes.  Lombok is located just east of the much more famous island of  Bali, which has become very commercialized over the last 30 years, yet is a very popular vacation destination  amongst travellers the world over.  However, I would say Lombok, serene, peaceful, with great vegetation, beaches, and snorkeling will eventually become like Bali.   Here are a few impressions (part 1):

Money:  10 000 Indonesian Rupiah = 1 Canadian dollar

Sooooooo 100 Canadian dollars = 1 million Rupiah.  On Lombok I am a Rupiah multi millionaire.  Crazy when you buy a coke in Lombok  it costs you  10 000.

A million Rupiah!

Lombok is a very lush, very green island.  Most people live in poverty and eke out a living as a farmer or by selling stuff to tourists or both.

 A worn out street though a worn out town.

 A rooster with his flock.  Chickens are everywhere.

 Jungle is thick.

 Standing in a banana grove.

 The place I am staying at is set in a lush garden.

 A native peacock dance.   This took place on Christmas day at my resort. Amazing.

Frog gargoyles overlooking the ocean.

Scenes from everyday Lombok:

Motor bikes are a major source of transportation on Lombok.

The flag of Indonesia.

Coconut husks.

A replica of a native home.

A Lombok convenience store.

Garden scenes from my hotel.

Typical Lombok boats parked on the beach.

Lombokians, Lombokites, not sure what they are called are truly one of the friendliest, laid back people I have ever met.  Very peaceful and kind.  Here are a few I met:

 An old man in traditional muslim dress.

 Timeless.

 Gramma carrying a grandchild.

 Mother and daughter.

 Cute.

 Gramma.

 Teenagers are the same all over.

 Little girls walking in the rain.

Brother and sister caught in the rain.

Next week: Lombok part 2.  Till then God bless you.

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Luke 2:1-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Why was Jesus born in a barn?

Jesus was born in a barn--otherwise known as a stable--simply because there was no room at the inn (Luke 2:1-7).

All the inns, hotels and guest rooms in Bethlehem were full. There was not a single room left for Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, and her husband Joseph. And Mary was ready to have her baby. Desperate, and with no place else to go, they were able to lodge in a stable where there was straw to keep them warm. Jesus` first cradle was, in fact, a manger--a straw-filled trough which was usually used to feed the animals.

However, since Jesus is God`s Son, and since God can do anything, He could have been born anywhere. God could have worked it out that He be born in a nice inn or fancy room. But God chose for His Son to be born in a stable. This is because Jesus came in humility and in poverty to identify with the poorest and weakest among us.

Jesus is the King of Kings and could have been born in a palace. Instead, He chose the path of humility, of lowliness and simplicity.

Jesus could have been born in luxury. Instead, He was born in a stable with animals. How glorious a King Jesus is that He would humble yield to such a lowly birth!

Lyrics

1. 1. Oh, come, all ye faithful,
   Joyful and triumphant!
   Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.
   Come and behold him,
   Born the King of angels;
2. (Chorus)
   Oh, come, let us adore him;
   Oh, come, let us adore him;
   Oh, come, let us adore him,
   Christ, the Lord.
3. 2. Sing, choirs of angels,
   Sing in exultation;
   Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
   Glory to God,
   Glory in the highest;
4. 3. Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
   Born this happy morning;
   Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n.
   Son of the Father,
   Now in flesh appearing

2

I pray that you will all have a wonderful Christmas!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

Christmas

Hello Dear Great Ones,

I love Christmas, I hate Christmas.  I love the true meaning of Christmas.  Baby Jesus,  peace on Earth, the holidays, time to be with one another.   Good memories. 

I hate the commercialization of Christmas.  Shop till you drop, buy, buy, buy.  Tired, sick, pressure to get the right presents, too much going on, lousy weather.  Bittersweet memories.  

Here in Hong Kong, despite the 96% non-Christian population, store owners have seized the opportunity for commercial exploitation of a "western" tradition and market Christmas as soon as halloween (the worst tradition ever) is over.  The following pictures show some of the "Christmas," displays that they have at the malls here.  I am not sure if the word kitchy really describes it.  Maybe weird, what are you thinking, over the top, kitchy glam, and bizarro will.  

Have a great week.  God bless you.  

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk   

 I love the rustic look.  The "snow" by the way is fake.  Cotton or something.

 Huge Christmas tree.  Note the elf on the tree.  Huh?

 A Christmas gondola?

 This display was called a "romantic Christmas."  Hmm.

 Weird.

 Tree is so big there is a cabin part way up.

 Most Hong Kongers have never seen snow or actually experienced temperatures below freezing.  So the fake snow is laughable really.

 Adults line up to sit with Santa and get their picture taken.  Note Chinese style Santa outfit.

 A child saying hello to a Christmas elf.

Presents in a cart?

No way.  The giant rubber ducky in lights on a side of a building.  Note dolphin with Christmas hat.

I live in a weird and wonderful land.

Some Cool Vegetation

My Dear Great Ones,

Ok I will be careful not to gloat too much here.  While Alberta and Northern Europe dealt with cold, snow, and storms this week I went on a little nature hike near my school and took a few pictures of the vegetation.  I should get to know their names, but I will save that later for retirement or semi-retirement. Hong Kong is a lush place vegetation wise.  There are lots of parks and wilderness areas, which for some reason they don't promote enough.  Guess the HK nightlife is more interesting and brings in more cash.

Enjoy the pictures, have a great week and hope things start warming up weather wise for you all real soon.

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

My school is in the middle back top of the picture.