Well here's an odd sort of coincidence. Or I don't know if it counts as coincidence, really … but on my brief trip to Starbucks this morning to pick up my latte (takeout only), I ran into my old buddy Hendra, whom I have not seen in perhaps a year. One would think this more likely to happen were there a lot of people in the mall, but in fact there were not. It was only me and Hendra. We chatted for a bit, tapped elbows in the new manner of greeting, and then headed back to our separate places of isolation. Other than this single trip, I am at home the rest of the day, chatting online, watching movies, reading, staring into space, napping, eating--y'all know the drill. Just this morning I have been watching a film biography of Jerry Lewis. It is interesting to see how highly valued he is by comedians such as Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Chevy Chase and so on, as well as film directors like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and others. I've always liked Lewis well enough (though I am aware that there are those who can't stand him), but this film documentary leaves me with the definite impression that I have generally underappreciated his multitudinous talents. Hey, now there's an idea for quarantine entertainment: Watch old Jerry Lewis movies!
Visits
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
Lock Down Bali Style
Seems that Bali is finally taking coronavirus seriously, even though there have been only 3 reported virus related deaths here, around 100 in all of Indonesia. Of course, the key word there may be 'reported'.
But western businesses in particular are closing down, or adjusting operating hours and conditions. Starbucks, for example, is now, and for the indefinite future, takeout only. I tried to get into the spirit of the thing this morning by ordering a delivery latte via Gojek, but it turns out that Gojek has also adjusted practices and is not serving any nearby Starbucks. Hardly any point in ordering it from faraway and having to pay that much more for delivery.
So I drove out myself to the Renon outlet (where I gathered this info in person), and brought my latte back home. This arrangement, as far as I can tell, will extend for the next month anyway on a see what happens then basis. Traffic is quite sparse, the mall quite deserted, except for the grocery store within.
All of the tourist attractions are, of course, closed till further notice. Western bars, clubs and restaurants closed. The major drawback of this short of shutdown in Bali is that the Mickey Mouse not-ready-for-prime-time internet services are pretty much worthless, unless one finds starting at the revolving circle of death entertaining.
In the meantime, for entertainment, despite the blistering and possibly as dangerous as coronavirus heat, I strolled over to the new building site, finding that the flooring is now complete and counters are being installed. The man on the site tells me that it will be one month more. I think one month at the very least. But it's okay. I'm in no hurry, and Louis, the owner, is stuck in Australia till God knows when.
But western businesses in particular are closing down, or adjusting operating hours and conditions. Starbucks, for example, is now, and for the indefinite future, takeout only. I tried to get into the spirit of the thing this morning by ordering a delivery latte via Gojek, but it turns out that Gojek has also adjusted practices and is not serving any nearby Starbucks. Hardly any point in ordering it from faraway and having to pay that much more for delivery.
So I drove out myself to the Renon outlet (where I gathered this info in person), and brought my latte back home. This arrangement, as far as I can tell, will extend for the next month anyway on a see what happens then basis. Traffic is quite sparse, the mall quite deserted, except for the grocery store within.
All of the tourist attractions are, of course, closed till further notice. Western bars, clubs and restaurants closed. The major drawback of this short of shutdown in Bali is that the Mickey Mouse not-ready-for-prime-time internet services are pretty much worthless, unless one finds starting at the revolving circle of death entertaining.
In the meantime, for entertainment, despite the blistering and possibly as dangerous as coronavirus heat, I strolled over to the new building site, finding that the flooring is now complete and counters are being installed. The man on the site tells me that it will be one month more. I think one month at the very least. But it's okay. I'm in no hurry, and Louis, the owner, is stuck in Australia till God knows when.
Dead Bee
"Was you ever bit by a dead bee? You know, you got to be careful of dead bees if you're goin' around barefooted, 'cause if you step on them they can sting you just as bad as if they was alive, especially if they was kind of mad when they got killed."
So said Walter Brennan, playing Eddie in the 1944 Howard Hawks film loosely based on the Hemingway novel To Have and Have Not--a line not in the novel itself, but added by William Faulkner during his brief unhappy stint as a Hollywood screenwriter.
Never thought much about it, till last night, when I was stung by a dead bee. A wasp, actually. Worse than any old common bee. I had seen the thing earlier, lying there on the floor, but paid little attention to it. Something to be swept up in due time. But on the way to bed, barefoot, I stepped on the critter and Yup, I'll be damned if it didn't sting me (or bite me, as Walter put it). And damn did it hurt! Ever been bit by a wasp before? If not, don't bother. Not a happy experience at all.
There is a wasp hive just nearby in the parking bay, quite near my door, and I have noticed them buzzing around in considerable numbers for the last couple weeks, often enough floating through the open door. They are much smaller than western style wasps and they had not heretofore interfered with me. I do note that the dog was stung several times, but that's 'cause he was trying to eat them. A lot of lip smacking and tongue lapping when this happened, but he still didn't seem to mind all that much. For me, though, it felt like someone had stuck a steel pin right into the bottom of my foot. And the pain lasted perhaps 15 minutes.
Quite a lot has been written about that line. It may be the most interesting thing about the film, not to mention the novel. Although I'm not sure why. Was you ever bit by a dead bee? It is somehow a thoughtworthy question, metaphorically anyway. And now I know how it feels in fact as well!
So said Walter Brennan, playing Eddie in the 1944 Howard Hawks film loosely based on the Hemingway novel To Have and Have Not--a line not in the novel itself, but added by William Faulkner during his brief unhappy stint as a Hollywood screenwriter.
Never thought much about it, till last night, when I was stung by a dead bee. A wasp, actually. Worse than any old common bee. I had seen the thing earlier, lying there on the floor, but paid little attention to it. Something to be swept up in due time. But on the way to bed, barefoot, I stepped on the critter and Yup, I'll be damned if it didn't sting me (or bite me, as Walter put it). And damn did it hurt! Ever been bit by a wasp before? If not, don't bother. Not a happy experience at all.
There is a wasp hive just nearby in the parking bay, quite near my door, and I have noticed them buzzing around in considerable numbers for the last couple weeks, often enough floating through the open door. They are much smaller than western style wasps and they had not heretofore interfered with me. I do note that the dog was stung several times, but that's 'cause he was trying to eat them. A lot of lip smacking and tongue lapping when this happened, but he still didn't seem to mind all that much. For me, though, it felt like someone had stuck a steel pin right into the bottom of my foot. And the pain lasted perhaps 15 minutes.
Quite a lot has been written about that line. It may be the most interesting thing about the film, not to mention the novel. Although I'm not sure why. Was you ever bit by a dead bee? It is somehow a thoughtworthy question, metaphorically anyway. And now I know how it feels in fact as well!
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Gummy Me
Had an enormous nail in my back tire this morning, likely inflicted somewhere between the pharmacy and my apartment. For a time, I couldn't find the problem. All I knew is that the bike was making a rather loud tok-tok-tok sound, like something was caught in the wheel. Stopped the bike, but couldn't find anything in either wheel. So I tok-tok-toked down to the nearest bengkel, luckily not far away, and finally found the nail, that being the cause of the sound, after I pulled in there. Got it fixed for Rupiah 25.000. Not bad, I guess. About 2 dollars USD.
Getting some coffee now, and doing some more grocery shopping later. Yesterday I managed to come home from the shopping trip somehow with mostly cake and chocolate bars. Need to get some actual food. The trouble is, I still have no bottom teeth, so it's a bit difficult to find gum-able foods that will be nutritious. I can eat bananas, mashed potatoes, soups. Otherwise?
I also need to call the dentist today and set up an appointment so that we can continue with the implantation of some new teeth. The coronavirus, however, is shutting down so many businesses that I fear the dentist appointment may be problematic.
Having said the above, I just received a message from the dentist saying that the lab will be closed for indefinite period of time. For it looks like I will be gumming into the indefinite future. You know, Louis warned me that this was a bad time to have teeth pulled. Turns out she was right. As usual.
Getting some coffee now, and doing some more grocery shopping later. Yesterday I managed to come home from the shopping trip somehow with mostly cake and chocolate bars. Need to get some actual food. The trouble is, I still have no bottom teeth, so it's a bit difficult to find gum-able foods that will be nutritious. I can eat bananas, mashed potatoes, soups. Otherwise?
I also need to call the dentist today and set up an appointment so that we can continue with the implantation of some new teeth. The coronavirus, however, is shutting down so many businesses that I fear the dentist appointment may be problematic.
Having said the above, I just received a message from the dentist saying that the lab will be closed for indefinite period of time. For it looks like I will be gumming into the indefinite future. You know, Louis warned me that this was a bad time to have teeth pulled. Turns out she was right. As usual.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Impending Move
Soon I will be moving out of my little place into another little place--albeit not as soon as initially planned due to problems with the builders, the delay due to the Nyepi holiday, and now the delay due to the coronavirus measures.
When I came here to Kampung Kumpul last year at about this time, I didn't like it at first. I was used to living in a house, for one thing. And I was also very sick last year at this time (and remained so for months). Not surprising that one wouldn't like anything, including his living quarters. Having felt relatively well, however, since August or so, I've come to like the place and the people who live here (for the most part). I've settled in, as I always do anywhere, and I suppose I will settle in to the new place as well. Nonetheless, I was appreciating this secluded little neighborhood during the Nyepi day silence--the unpaved rocky road, the fields all along the verge, the little family of cows living in the field, the silence, not only on Nyepi but throughout the year, in this out of the way little cul-de-sac. The new neighborhood, once the dwellings are finished, will be much more densely populated. Moreover, my new place is not within an enclosed setting, as is Villa Kampung Kumpul. But on the other hand, it is a little bigger, it is brand new, and everything (one expects) will function properly. And it is less expensive (given that the owner is my dear ex-wife).
When I came here to Kampung Kumpul last year at about this time, I didn't like it at first. I was used to living in a house, for one thing. And I was also very sick last year at this time (and remained so for months). Not surprising that one wouldn't like anything, including his living quarters. Having felt relatively well, however, since August or so, I've come to like the place and the people who live here (for the most part). I've settled in, as I always do anywhere, and I suppose I will settle in to the new place as well. Nonetheless, I was appreciating this secluded little neighborhood during the Nyepi day silence--the unpaved rocky road, the fields all along the verge, the little family of cows living in the field, the silence, not only on Nyepi but throughout the year, in this out of the way little cul-de-sac. The new neighborhood, once the dwellings are finished, will be much more densely populated. Moreover, my new place is not within an enclosed setting, as is Villa Kampung Kumpul. But on the other hand, it is a little bigger, it is brand new, and everything (one expects) will function properly. And it is less expensive (given that the owner is my dear ex-wife).
Hunting and Gathering
Out of the house today, but I find that Starbucks will not open till 11 am (it's 10 now). But they got the wifi powered up, so here I am. The main thing is that I really need to get something to eat, so I'm hoping that the grocery in the mall will be open. I note that there is a fairly normal amount of traffic on the streets, and I reckon that it will only be the western-name businesses that are closed or delayed--establishments such as Starbucks.
I tried to watch a fairly entertaining movie last night, called The Banker, about two black entrepreneurs back in the 60s who must use a white front man in order to do real estate investing in Mississippi. Sadly, I could not see the final portion of the movie because the internet pauses were just too long, frequent, and annoying--which itself, of course, is because everyone is at home using the wifi due to coronavirus restrictions.
Yeah, maybe I can finish it today.
But the main thing is that I'm starving. Left in the apartment at this moment are a few eggs, a couple slices of bread and a little bit of instant oatmeal. Got to get my hands on something. The dog is looking sideways at me and keeping his distance.
I wrote in Facebook this morning how ironic it is to see all the vids and blurbs trying to turn coronavirus into some kind of catalyst for the adoption of plain old Christian values. 'Let's love one another, folks. Let's care for our neighbors. Let's come out on the other side with a new community.' Well, hallelujah. Praise God. Or should I say COVID-19. Oh well, whatever it takes.
I tried to watch a fairly entertaining movie last night, called The Banker, about two black entrepreneurs back in the 60s who must use a white front man in order to do real estate investing in Mississippi. Sadly, I could not see the final portion of the movie because the internet pauses were just too long, frequent, and annoying--which itself, of course, is because everyone is at home using the wifi due to coronavirus restrictions.
Yeah, maybe I can finish it today.
But the main thing is that I'm starving. Left in the apartment at this moment are a few eggs, a couple slices of bread and a little bit of instant oatmeal. Got to get my hands on something. The dog is looking sideways at me and keeping his distance.
I wrote in Facebook this morning how ironic it is to see all the vids and blurbs trying to turn coronavirus into some kind of catalyst for the adoption of plain old Christian values. 'Let's love one another, folks. Let's care for our neighbors. Let's come out on the other side with a new community.' Well, hallelujah. Praise God. Or should I say COVID-19. Oh well, whatever it takes.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Nyepi Redux
Turns out that the governor of Bali has ordered the extension of Nyepi through an additional day, which means that I am once again stuck in the house for the day. Oh well, at least they turned the internet back on and we are allowed to have lights. Didn't see this comin though. All I have in the fridge is one potato and a bag of dog food.
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