To my family and friends following my blog, I first say Ramadan Kareem. I hope you all have great month and missing everyone and everything about Ramadan back home so much! We are wrapping up our second week in Indonesia and today marks the start of Ramadan. Given the difficulty of promoting water filters during Ramadan because the majority of people are fasting  in Java we have arrived in Bali, a majority Hindu island. We plan on spending the next few weeks throughout Bali working with resellers and meeting customers.

It is bittersweet leaving Java because I could really feel the Ramadan spirit as we left. Markets were extremely busy with people buying last minute goods for the month. Major city streets were filled with “Marhaban ya Ramadan”  (Welcome Ramadan) posters and there were even special Pepsi, Dominos, and KFC ads catered to Ramadan iftars! From every majority Muslim country, I have traveled to I noticed how much Ramadan is commercialized and how much people are encouraged to spend even though the month is about piety and modesty.

We experienced such great hospitality and kindness while in Java. Everyone welcomed us into their homes, shared stories,  and offered us tons of food. We were able to experience both sides of various cities in Java in terms of socioeconomic status. Indonesia is quickly growing and it is evident from the busy streets and cranes from construction. Even though Indonesia’s economy is growing, it still has problems with basic issues like clean water and garbage disposal. You can walk past huge skyscrapers here but then have a massive pile of trash right next to it.

Bali is a sharp contrast from the places we have been in Java. Even though its been one day, I have already seen more dogs here in Denpasar than all of the 6 cities we traveled in Java combined. There are also a lot less mosques here and and more Hindu temples. Around nearly every shop we traveled past, I noticed incense and offerings at the store front. There are also a greater number of western tourists throughout the city streets then we have seen in the other cities in Java. I am curious to learn more about Hinduism and its influence on Balinese culture during our stay here. since, personally, I know very little about Hinduism.

That’s all I have for now but I will definitely try to blog more frequently. Take care.