The High Life

702 days ago
	Well, I thought that the end of the rain meant a beginning to the healthy life. So I joined up with a fitness club... ok, this isn't what I would normally do to get fit, but the problem here is that although they have great weather for being outside and all, most people have demonized the sun. It is weird, you have these ladies who don't ever go to the beach or even outside because they are deathly scared of becoming dark. Although I love Indonesians, it has grated on me lately how racist so many of them are. It is really a shame because the country is so diverse and they seem to have very paradoxical perspectives on this. On the one hand, they always say everybody is "my" brother and we are all the same. But then the same person is likely to make jokes and deride Papuans for being so dark and "primitive". I just wonder how somebody who knows their environment intimately and can live off of so little is considered stupid. Oh yeah, intelligence is based entirely on how well you can use a cell phone (it matters little that you have no idea how the battery, let alone the phone works). THe worst are my students. Being the upper crust they laugh and make fun of any black or dark skinned person they see in a book. Even 6 year olds join in... they must start the brain washing at an early age. Anyway, the lack of people at the pool really gives me an advantage. Kiky and I have the pool all to ourselves every day of the week. Since it is in a 5 star hotel it is in really decent condition and although small, it feels mighty large when you get it to yourself. It is a nice break from the everyday chaos of life around me. Although it is situated in an incredibly busy part of town, it is rather peaceful as the pool is on the roof of the hotel. This means great views and a sense of being outside the urban intensity that you can expect to find rampaging across Asia. Oh, just to add to the sweetness of the deal: for a two month membership for Kiky and I the price was very reasonable... 500 000 Rp, which comes out to about $55 US these days. Anytime you feel stressed just think of me wasting away the morning poolside and that will surely make you jealous and you will forget entirely why you were stressed to start with!