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Published: July 26th 2012
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Ramadan started today, but there was some confusion. The government decided it didn't start
until tomorrowbut some Muslim groups insist it is today. We are waiting to see how it will affect us especially as we are in a strong Muslim area and then heading to Jakarta which is even stricter.
We got up early and boarded a boat in the dark to reach the markets. We had been to a floating market in Thailand which was very busy and full of tourist stuff. They had stalls on the banks of the river as well as those in the boats. This was very different. It was in the middle of the river and definitely served locals not tourists. It was a lot smaller than we expected, but fascinating to see the ladies manoeuvre their boats so cleverly. Fiona had been hoping to buy rambutan but the selection for sale was limited to bananas and pineapple, along with various vegetables. It was obviously the wrong season. Toby bought a bunch of bananas and was about to eat one. However the other guests on our boat were Muslim and we thought it might be rude to eat if they were celebrating Ramadan where
they don't eat during sunlight hours. So the bananas were put on the seat between Fiona and Harriet.
We set off back to the hotel past a pier where there are loads of macaques. People on another boat were throwing fruit at them so Toby and Fiona chucked a couple of bananas. They seemed to like them but fought with each other over them quite aggressively. As we passed the landing place for the pier the boat came quite close - about 5 metres and a cheeky monkey spotted the bananas. He launched himself at the boat just where Harriet was sitting. He missed but managed to haul himself on board, giving Harriet time to move and Fiona time to push Toby over as she tried to escape. He nearly went overboard. The monkey grabbed the whole bunch of bananas and jumped off the boat. We were all shocked but couldn't stop laughing. Harriet thought she may have provoked him by staring in his eyes. She won't be trying that again.
Toby has been suffering for ice cream withdrawals so we tried to find an ice cream shop. We thought there might be one near the post office.
We were just looking around when Joni the guide spotted us. He was still trying to get us to go to different places with him but we told him we were leaving Bamjarmasin and we said goodbye. He told us about the cake fair near the Mosque every afternoon for Ramadan. This was almost as good as ice cream to Toby and he persuaded Fiona and Harriet we should go later in the day.
We walked back to the hotel past a central mosque. It must have been very full for Ramadan as the street was full of men seated on the ground listening to whatever was being said in the mosque and the street was closed to traffic. Toby wanted to try the street food and seemed to enjoy it. Whilst he was eating Harriet and Fiona became surrounded by young boys who got very excited when Fiona started to take photos. Indonesian kids love to be in our photos.
As we made our way to the mosque we walked along the river. It was really beautiful and felt very Parisienne. Banjarmasin has definitely captured our hearts. Harriet found some boys playing football and had a few
kicks with them. Everyone here is so friendly. Even the police are friendly, like in Samarinda. Toby spotted a police motorbike and asked the police if he could climb on. They had no problem with it and then wanted to chat to us and were really lovely to chat to.
The mosque is unlike any we had ever seen - it looked more like a spaceship than a mosque, but it is quite beautiful in its own way too. The cake stalls were all erected but alas no cakes. We struggled to find a restaurant open for dinner, but eventually did and as is usual in Indonesia, the food was great. As Toby had missed out on cake, we went back to see of the ice cream shop was open, which it wasn't. Yet again we bumped into Joni. We were starting to think he was following us. He insisted on walking us to another ice cream shop which was also closed. He explained the cake fair would only start tomorrow in line with the government Ramadan dates. We said goodbye to him- again - and headed to bed.
We had to make a quick detour however to
the Texas chicken fast food restaurant across for the hotel to get one of their sundaes. Apparently it was pretty good. And ice cream cravings are satisfied for now.
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