Mausembi/Maurole, Flores Island (Saturday, August 17 to Monday, August 19)

We observed Independence Day from the Japanese (WWII) and the communist Chinese while anchored at this community and caught up with Galetea (Neil, Julie, Teague and Bailey from Menlo Park) for a game of bocce ball on the beach.  From our anchorage we watched an erupting volcano about 15 miles from us, fortunately only smoke.  Mausembi was a very friendly village with Muslims and Christians.  There were rice paddies nearby and the farmers still use water buffalo for farming.  Lastly there was a turtle that circled our boat while in anchorage.

Call to Mecca.  Even though we’ve been to four islands, two of which were settled by the Portuguese and predominantly Catholic, we are constantly reminded that we are in a country (approximately 250 million people) that is about 75% Muslim.  Even in Timor and Flores, we were awoken early every morning at 4:30 a.m. with the Islam call to prayer over a loudspeaker – this happens five times a day.  The Muslim women have taken to wearing head scarves; according to Lonely Planet, this trend has started in recent years.

At first, because of my western perception of Islam, I was a little nervous about being an American traveling in a Muslim country; but the warmth and friendliness of the Indonesian Muslims helped me quickly overcome this concern.  They love meeting westerners and greeted us with many warm smiles.  I have been approached by many young Muslim women wearing head scarves asking for a photo with me in them.  From my observation, there is a vast cultural difference from the way Islam is practiced in Indonesia than in the Middle East.  Definitely the chanting and drumming remain a component of the Indonesian prayer tradition but only headscarves are worn with very westernized clothing such as tight t-shirts and jeans – of course covering shoulders and knees.  Such a friendly tolerant attitude is displayed by the Muslim Indonesians towards Christian Indonesians and Westerners.

Navigation.  Navigating the coastal waters of Indonesia is a real trip!  Plenty of fishing boats, traps and nets – EEKS – lots of navigational hazards to watch out for!