Last Day in Indonesia

 Surabaya, Indonesia is much more prosperous than Yogyakarta where we spent our first two days. Surabaya is a port city with corporate and government headquarters along with tourism.and manufacturing.  Today's schedule included visiting a Chinese Temple (shown above) and a Muslim Mosque.  

After visiting two temples in two days, I thought today would be boring.  Oh my gosh, was I wrong.  We began with a short bus tour before stopping at a park honoring the United States participation is freeing Indonesia from Japanese occupation during World War II.  

                    From there, we each climbed into a tuktuk for a ride to the Chinese Temple.  

The tour of the palace was interesting and capped by a puppet show.  We were invited backstage and this is what happened;  

        I watched enough Sesame Street and Mister Rogers with our children that I was a natural.

Back into the tuktuks for a ride to the mosque.  It was too crowded to get a decent photo of the mosque but here is a pic of the long street market leading to the mosque.

During our walk through the market, I was blessed with one of my most meaningful travel experiences.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I love children.  I did my best to nurture our own children, grandchildren  and those of other parents through leading Scouts, coaching baseball and softball and substitute teaching.  I've done my finest work for free.  Ruth Ann says it is because of the sparkle of my strong inner child.  While we were strolling through the narrow streets of the market, I noticed two young local Muslim boys following us.  They looked to be brothers about six and ten years of age.  When they saw me notice them watching us, they shyly smiled and hurried on.  A few minutes later, they passed us in the opposite direction and I waved to them as they observed us and they broadly smiled at each other. and moved on.  Again they passed us but this time they smiled back at me and sort of shoved each other as I waved to them.  During our time in the market, I also smiled at several Muslim girls who shyly looked at us curiously and returned my smile.  I had read from a Churchill and Turen travel report that Indonesians might want to get their photo taken with us.  Therefore, when these two brothers returned a fourth time and moved closer to me, I pointed to my cell phone as if to ask if they wanted a photo.  They quickly ran off and I told Ruth Ann I was afraid I might have frightened them.  A minute or so later, they returned in a rush with two more boys, a phone and smiles that lit up the market.

It was one of those magical moments when we can connect with strangers heart to heart without saying a word.  I was as happy as a child.

     

” Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.” – Dr. Seuss