A moped fascination

I've been cringing a lot, yelping and screeching while here Indonesia.  Why? The dang mopeds/motor bikes! My distress is due to many factors:  so many of motorbikes, no helmets, the way they weave in and out of traffic or turn right in front of you, but most of all the children.

Let's discuss the first factor, the quantity. Yesterday we were trying to guess the ratio of cars to mopeds.  Mopeds out number cars by 15-20:1 (our visual calculation).

The mass numbers make them appear as if they are a gang of mopeds.  They are actually intimidating to me.  I get the same feeling just like when I see and hear a bunch of motorcycles coming behind me on the road back in the U.S. Secondly, no helmets.  Granted in Bandung, I have witnessed many helmets being worn, but in Bali, much fewer helmets.  I feel naked if I ride my bike without a helmet, I can't imagine that the moped riders here, are not worried about their heads or the heads of their passengers.

Thirdly their driving.  They weave in and out of traffic like they are crocheting.  You have to be ready for one coming up on your side, front or suddenly turning in front of you. You have to go carefully and slowly so that you can react to their sudden whims.  The road is theirs, anywhere they can find to squeeze by you, they will.






Lastly and most distressing of all to me is the children.  When I say children I don't mean teen-agers or grade-schoolers (them included as well), I mean toddlers and infants. Many just being held in arms, not in carriers, strapped to their mother's chest either.  Just held as if she is sitting on the couch. First time I saw it, I yelled "Oh No, a baby!! How can that be allowed?" Each time I see a baby on a moped, I continue to panic.

When planning my visit to Bali, I read that my hotel had moped rental.  I thought, I'll rent moped and go sight seeing.  I used to ride a dirt bike. I rented a moped in Bermuda and drove on the left-hand side of the road. I can do it. Once I arrived to Bali and in one evening witnessed the moped riders, my decision quickly changed.  Never, rent a moped in Bali, unless you want to be killed on injured.

Bali

With all that said, the longer I have been in Indonesia and have witnessed the moped riders the more I am beginning to admire them.  They are talented drivers,  they control their speed, they are very aware of their surroundings, they can balance anything while they are driving and riding (including babies). I have seen moped riders with bamboo, boxes, packages, groceries, you name it.  It is impressive! If you ride a moped every single day to go to work, school, the store, the mosque/church, long trips for years and years, you become very experienced and therefore a good driver.

At Kuta Beach

Moped rider with a dead bike being assisted by a friend

This is the reason why I would never rent a moped in Indonesia, I have little to no experience. Renting a moped once for 4 days 23 years ago does not count for experience, neither does riding dirt bike for 4 years (for fun and recreation) when I was 8 years old.  People who come and rent mopeds here with those backgrounds are setting themselves up for a disaster. In Indonesia one only has to be 13 years old to obtain a license to ride a motorbike on the road.

School boys on motor bikes

My need for more information and data lead to some interesting articles about fatalities and injuries. I looked up information on moped traffic accidents in Bali and most of the victims were who? Foreigners. Since the start of the year 15 foreigners were involved in motorbike traffic accidents in Bali (4 died and 12 injuries).  Also the locals do not take too kindly to foreigners and moped accidents. They almost always blame them for the accident because, in their opinion, foreigners don't know how to drive mopeds.  It's just like I always say back at home in the U.S.  It doesn't matter if I'm a good driver, it's the other idiot drivers I have to be worried about.


For more information on moped incidents in Bali go to:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/05/24/motorbike-crashes-in-bali-killing-more-foreigners.html
Copyright 2016. Vivienne Lettsome. All rights reserved.

Tanah Lot and the Sea Cucumber

Tanah Lot is the site of a large rock formation with a the temple Pura Tanah Lot sitting on top.  Hindu make pilgrimages to this unique shrine to worship the Balinese sea gods (Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara). Priests are on site to bless you with holy water which comes from under the temple. Venomous snakes are believed to "protect the temple". In caves across from the temple there is a snake available for viewing.  Not certain if it guards the temple or is venomous, being anti-snake I chose to stay clear.



The temple is one of seven Balinese "sea temples" located around the south-western coast Bali all built within view of the other. At high tide the temple on the rock is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, but at low tide the site is a fun place to explore tidal pools.

As a non-Hindu, I still appreciated and enjoyed this site immensely for its gorgeous ocean views, life filled tidal pools, and many souvenir shops. There is also a cliff side restaurant with outdoor seating.



My favorite memory of this site, however will be my family's discovery of a Sea Cucumber, a sea creature I previously knew little about.

The discovery - Video

Sea Cucumbers are echinoderms, found only in salt water and are distant family to urchins and starfish. They often move along the ocean floor scavenging on tiny bits of algae or microscopic marine life.  The serve a important purpose in the marine ecosystem, breaking down nutrients to assist in the degradation process. I don't even want to begin to describe what it felt like or explain it's extremely gross defense mechanisms (you can read more about that for yourself).



In Asian countries this creature is eaten as a delicacy! Let's just say that it was a very very interesting tidal pool find, but I never have plans to sample that dish.  There were plenty of crabs, fish and snails in the tidal pools but the sea cucumber was quite a surprise. I was excited that we found and were able to learn more about this strange creature.

For more information about Tanah Lot go to and sea cucumbers:

http://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/tanah-lot.htm

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seacuke.html

Copyright 2016. Vivienne Lettsome. All rights reserved.