100 Days

Today marks the 100th day of our voyage, and the ship commemorated this milestone with a remarkable cake creation.

As you can see, we completed phase one around the Americas and now it's time to visit ASIA beginning with Indonesia.

Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia, known for its unique geography, diverse environment, and rich cultural heritage. It is an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, with major islands like Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. Only 900 islands are inhabited. But just imagine this country has a population of around 282 million people.

We arrived in Mataram around 3 in the afternoon (our time) which is around 1 AM MST. Mataram is a city and the capital of the Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara. It is situated on the western side of the island of Lombok. The urban area covers roughly 24 square miles and is home to around 441,150 residents, resulting in a population density of 2,780 individuals per square mile. This density of one square mile in Lombok surpasses the entire population of Pinedale, Wyoming! The accompanying photo (of poor quality - captured through a bus window) provides a glimpse of the bustling street scene, illustrating the prevalent use of scooters as a primary mode of transportation in the city. In fact, it was common to witness families of four riding on a single scooter (often without helmets - my mother would have had a fit!) Many were also seen transporting huge bundles of grass or sacks of rice as they navigated through the streets.

Mataram is known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and stunning landscapes. The city has a strong connection to Mount Rinjani, the second-highest peak in Indonesia. The Lingsar Temple in Mataram, Lombok, is a significant religious site that dates back to 1714 and is recognized as the oldest and largest temple on the island. This temple symbolizes harmony between Hindu Bali Lombok and Islam Sasak Lombok, representing a blend of traditions. Pura Lingsar features a pool of water sacred to the deity Vishnu, home to a family of holy eels that can be fed with hard-boiled eggs. We watched as eggs were placed in the water but were unable to witness the holy eels.

The people of Lombok demonstrate a deep reverence for their religious beliefs through the abundance of temples and the adherence to traditional practices such as daily prayers and rituals to connect with spiritual entities. The Islamic heritage in Lombok traces back to the 15th century, when Muslim traders introduced the faith to the island. Initially a minority, Islam gradually gained prominence and eventually became the predominant religion in Lombok.Despite being known as the "Island of a Thousand Mosques," Lombok is home to over 8,000 mosques, including 3,767 large mosques and 5,184 small mosques scattered throughout its 518 villages. During our observations, we noticed the abundance of rice fields sustaining the local population, where we witnessed not only residents carrying the huge whtie sacks of freshly harvested rice but also numerous Muslim temples dotting the landscape.

As we travel the globe, I find how true the phrase is: "The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people." Here of but a few of the young and old, construction workers, talented musicians, and a child of Lombok we met during our first encounter with Asia.

Exploring Indonesia, a nation rich in diversity compared to our own, with its vast population, extensive rice fields, and breathtaking vistas of mountains and temples, proved to be an exceptionally distinctive, memorable and unexpected journey.