Understanding Paddy, finally

(Note to mom and dad: yes i'm walking barefoot in a paddy field, but endemic schistosomiasis in Indonesia is limited to Sulawesi.)

As an agri-economist, I've always regarded paddy cultivation as one of my areas of relative ignorance. If there was one thing I knew too little about which feeds millions of people worldwide, it was rice: rice growing, rice transplanting, rice cultivation in lowlands (in continuously puddled fields) vis-a-vis rice cultivation in highlands (dry areas and only rainfed), rice harvest, post-harvest handling such as threshing, rice dehusking etc.

I still know very little. But since last month I feel like I know a little something. At least.

IRRI, the International Rice Research Institute, has these nice learning modules on rice and soil fertility on their website and a final online quiz. And so I tested myself and found that I aced the quiz.

Paddy cultivation is very special and distinct from other forms of agriculture. One of the most interesting things to learn was that under anaerobic conditions, in puddled fields, the sort of electro-chemical processes in the soil are not at all the same as under aerobic conditions. The nitrogen cycle, for example, is quite different. Wheras under normal (aerobic) conditions, urea fertilizer is typically lost through leeching or nitrification, under anaerobic condition it is more probably lost through volatilization (gaseous loss).


Following this preparation, I thought I was ready for a workshop with rice farmers on soil fertility and soil testing. That's what we did on a very windy day in Lombok. Walking through puddled rice fields, making holes with an Auger borer and sampling soil.


And I was pleased with the result. Of course the farmers have all the practical experience and i have none. Everything I know and learned comes from studying and reading documents.
But I did feel like I knew very many things about rice soil fertility and about growing healthy rice plants that the farmers didn't. In fact, I knew so much (admittedly not all of it would have been practical for the farmers) and found there was so little time to explain it to them, that I didn't even get to deliver most of the stuff I knew...



But I'm excited about my work. When I was 25, after riding rickshaw for 1.5 years, I enrolled in an agricultural Masters program at Uni. I've never looked back since.
Working with farmers in developing countries is fascinating and I'm happy to have found what I want to do, finally, at the age of 29. (That's not so bad considering my dad is still figuring out at 68 if he should have become a carpenter! I would have liked that... or for him to be a gardener.... instead he became a white-collar worker, aarrgh!).



I know I will take a break from time to time from this, because not everything about development work is great; and also to enjoy the luxuries of living in an industrialized country or to see my sister start her own little family.

But this thing here is my calling and it is my safest bet for ever becoming a fulfilled and happy young professional.

The bug just gets into you...

That's how the surf legend Gerry Lopez describes it. He means regular surfing, which i'm not really into, but it's close enough. Windsurfing is my surfing.

In all fairness, this can happen to you with any other sport too. I'm currently reading Nick Hornby's "Fever pitch" in which he confesses about his obssession with football since childhood. His condition is far worse than mine. I'm not obssessed, just hooked (...almost a pun there).

Lombok is famous as a surfing destination, so naturally that's what every one does down in Kuta. I've seen a few kitesurfers too. Nobody does windsurfing here, and globally speaking, the sport has probably been in decline since 20 years. Only the die-hard windsurfers are still at it. Nowadays most people will take up kiting if they're gonna do a wind-water related activity, much in the same way that in winter sports most young people took up snowboarding (instead of skiing) once it had been invented.



On windsurfing, one of my friends here noted that it "consists of slightly nudging a sail back and forth". I don't think he has seen the aerials of Jason Polakow and the likes. Most other people here don't really know what windsurfing is.

Anyways, it's still cooler than swimming. I used to be a swimmer before. That was obviously very uncool. I wore speedos, goggles and a yellow swimming cap. As a windsurfer I'm now officially cool. All kinds of people in Kuta wanna talk to and associate with me suddenly. It's a superficial world!


This was posted by somebody on the iwindsurf community forum. So true!
(click on it for a close-up view) http://www.iwindsurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24020&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=12f059676552b9533bc67febb82fbee9

The wind has been poor in Lombok for a few weeks now and I've really begun to feel the sailor's doldrums. It is taxing. It is. It's like I'm a changed person now, I'm addicted, it's the bug that's really got me. I check the wind/weather forecast practically every day now just willing it to give me signs of reprieve: a day or two maybe. I wanna go windsurfing badly. Instead I just get to read weather reports online, analyze patterns, tables and graphs. Yeahie, fun!

A few months ago I also noticed that I had started greeting my neighbor with a Shaka sign. I shouldn't have done that; I'm really still a beginner and I reckon Shakas should be reserved for the veterans of the sport or at least advanced riders.

I've been sick for a few weeks including over Chinese New Year when there were a few windy days here in Lombok which I then had to miss on account of a bad catalpult in which I busted and badly bruised my left arm. And then I got fever. And something else threw my rhythm in-between that. But I'm back dancing again. Figuratively. The absence of wind didn't help to lift my spirits of course. But I went running down in Kuta a few times over the last two weeks and I've felt better health-wise. I'm still absolutely thrilled to live and work in Lombok. And I still would maintain it's a good place for windsurfing. But obviously it doesn't get as windy as Hawaii. So it's not really a "sustainable" outdoors activity to do here, in the sense that you can't really count on being able to do it every weekend. Which means I will never become as good as Mr Robby Naish.

If you don't like surfing there are other things to do in Kuta.
This is what we came up with. It's called the "Great ball bouncing game". The rules are like the medieval knights' jousting battles, but instead of charging each other with lances and on horse-back we do it on foot and with great bouncing balls.

I also met an American, Larry, who's been living down in Kuta for years and he is a veteran windsurfer, and real fun! How cool is that!! He must have thought he was the last unicorn until I came along. We talk about gear, the marvels of windsurfing, the good and bad sessions out on the water, the con's and pro's of kiting, and everything else related to windsurfing every time we see each other. It feels good to have a fellow windsurfer around.

It looks like it's my last few months here as my contract ends in September. Come June and July the tradewinds bring some nice northeasterlies. I can't wait for it. If this is my last season here, i'm gonna make it a good one.

Lombok Traffic and more

NB: The pic above was taken by my friend Dewi in Bali, not in Lombok. It would be unwise to ride motorbike in Lombok wearing a bikini.
Bali traffic is kind of similar to that in Lombok, although I think I've found Balininese outside Bali-Kuta to be a little bit more patient and amicable in traffic.

A couple of years ago it was governorally decreed that motor-cyclists must switch on head-lights at all times of the day. Police at Praya's two traffic check-points now enforce this rule between 8:00 and 16:00 hours, as with helmets which are mandatory. But after 5 pm nobody gives a damn.

In rural areas, the majority of motor-cyclists still drive without helmets, let alone headlights. I do welcome mandatory helmet laws but more is needed to educate people about traffic rules and what's not safe driving: suddenly pulling into the opposite lane; driving in the middle of the road for no apparent reason; stopping abruptly. And what is the most disturbing to me of all: swerving recklessly around corners onto main roads. Everyone continues their haphazard ways in traffic, in spite of helmets and headlights rule.

I heard that every week some 500 new motorcycles are being registered on Lombok's streets. Not to mention the unregistered bikes. And no way can the provincial and local government add new roads at that rate. The pot-holes don't get better either. Some roads are repaired, others crack anew.



In a way this traffic behavior is congenial to drivers here. Everyone keeps moving forward. Or so they think. The argument is often made that there is order in chaos, or some form of efficiency. I wonder if that's true. It's not apparent to my eyes. I'd be interested to see a study on this.
I've seen Gordic knots in traffic here in Lombok. Traffic came to a complete halt. Motorcyclists pulling in from the rear of a traffic jam always fill every last gap at the spearhead of the traffic, where the jam occurs, making the node ever larger and harder to break.

Bad driving takes its toll on human lives here too. And often enough, it's the wrongdoing party injuring a diligent driver. This happened to a friend of mine. He was hit by speeding boys. He was lucky to survive. What is needed is traffic education.



Because in Europe and North-America one hundred years ago, motorized vehicles were introduced and only gradually replaced horse-drawn charriots, people had time to adjust. Coupled with a stronger tradition of law enforcement in the West, it worked out fine. But here, well it seems even twelve year olds seem to have the money or pull (with his parents) to own a motor-bike and ride it to school.

It's important to be empathetic as a driver here. And to understand that the rules are like... on a ski hill. Lombok traffic works a bit like traffic rules on ski hills: if you're coming from behind and from up on the slope then you heed who is in front of you and down-hill. No-one cares what's behind them, everyone just looks ahead. This can be evidenced by the scarcity of intact rear-mirrors on motorcycles. Only about 30% of motorcycles have both rear-mirrors, and only 30% of those who have them will use them. The percentage of conscientious and diligent drivers is wee small.

Still, I will give credit to motorcyclists and car driver about being understanding and forgiving in traffic situations. A near-death collision? The parties may just smile, shrug it off and drive on.

Perhaps they are too forgiving? In Germany, reactions by other drivers are an efficient educative mechanism to enforce traffic rule compliance. In other words: social control. In Berlin I have witnessed many cases of convulsive road-rage which would have merited no reaction at all by Lombok drivers. Let me expand on this point. For example, in Germany, it's an almost capital sin to slow down another driver for no reason, or especially force another to brake for you. A haphazard traffic maneuver will warrant a belligerent retributive honk, a Medusa stare, and not infrequently, a middle finger. I know what I'm talking about because I was a rickshaw driver there. I remember I sometimes blew a fuse myself.

At the same time, in Germany one is constantly on one's guard not to elicit such responses by other drivers. Because everyone goes to such great length to play by the rules, we are kind of offended if others don't. The social cohesion just breaks down. Here in Lombok, such is the aloofness of the perpetrator, it is not felt by him at all. And neither the affected parties or on-lookers will react with short-temper.

It is ironic that in Lombok, where communities are so governed by social control, this aspect of social control is not enforced at all. I think this is because traffic and transportation falls outside the realm of the “kampung” (neighbourhood) or “desa” (village). How else can youngsters get away with their reckless driving, including roaring motorcycle engines sounding at midnight down the street? The kampung's authority does not extend to the roads.

Windsurfing Lombok, at last!

This is my windsurf entry.

One day in Lombok, I thought to myself, I need something other than swimming to keep me happy in my free-time.



So I bought myself a windsurfer in November 2010. And began taking my first windsurfing steps after a loooong break from windsurfing. I was in way over my head. The board was too small, and too technical to ride, not to mention too fast. (Fanatic Falcon 111L). It's really a board meant for advanced riders. I love it now, but I didn't love it then. I'm sure the folks from the windsurf shop in Singapore meant well, little could they know about sailing conditions in Lombok and/or my skill level. (Although I do remember stating in the shop that I couldn't yet waterstart.) But when you have to learn planing on that kind of fickle board, or balancing on it to uphaul a 7m sail in rough conditions (because you don't know how to waterstart), it can be very unforgiving. And scary!



I knew so little about windsurfing, I had to consult Youtube on directions of how to rig up a sail properly.

In January 2011, my Naish 7.1m Rallye freerace sail (only sail!) and I took a little fateful tumble in the waves off Selong Blanak beach. It was a beautiful day, but hey I couldn't even make it past the shorebreak. The sail was practically torn into two under the weight of the crashing waves. No battens broke, surprisingly.

As I climbed out of the water and carried the rig out, my worst fears became true. I inspected the sail: it had a giant L-shaped gash that no amount of sailtape would ever fix.

I was only just learning how to balance myself on the board then... with broken equipment and no way to get a new sail quickly, my windsurfing was obviously going into hiatus. I was kind of in a state of shock and perplexity: did that just happen to me? Did that rogue wave - because that's what it was, a rogue wave - just kill my ambitions in a split second?

Learning to windsurf was what I've been waiting to do for a loooong time, I even had my motorcycle modified to be able to transport the board, sail and mast. I couldn't believe it. I dragged the torn sail behind me out of the water, you wouldn't believe it, but oh how mirthless a beautiful blue sky can be!

I don't have a photo to show for it, but the Naish Rallye looked in bad shape.

You know that feeling of happiness when it overcomes you and, say, you're on standing a beach... you suddenly find yourself doing cartwheels of joy? Well let me assure you, that was not a day to do cartwheels down the beach. I felt VERY mellow.



For the next 2 months, I wasn't up to much: mostly loafing around like a walrus, drinking beer, shooting cans. As Steven Wright noted: "24 beers in a case and 24 hours in a day....Coincidence?". I'm only joking. Saying stuff like that could probably get me fired. In March 2011 my parents brought me 2 new sails when visiting. It's stuff like that for which I'm super grateful to my parents for, even really indebted. Not stuff like edging me on to go to college (came out more confused), or making me learn more languages so that I could feel less rather than more polyglot ;) , or wearing braces (my teeth are crooked again).

I then broke another sail (Neilpryde 7.7m) on another beach, in another shorebreak. That was up in Senggigi. The wind had died, and I was sailing back to shore. And that's how that rogue wave caught up with me. And hit my board, and took me down.

No cartwheels of joy on that day either.



In August 2011 I met Hans and Henni Brunner from the Sanur Bali Windsurf Shop “Jump and Jibe”. They are great people, and super helpful and probably the only ones who are actively promoting windsurfing in Indonesia. Against prevailing wisdom, there is actually decent wind practically every month where I live in Indonesia, in Lombok. It's just a matter of driving to the right beach, and having the right 'informants' to tell you where it's a windy day. One of my best informants is Tambun, my preferred coconut seller on Tanju'an beach in Kuta, Lombok. His wind information (wind at planing threshold – yes or no?) is almost always spot-on. In return for this service, I buy copious amounts of coconuts from him.




I bought a 2-camber Freerace sail from Hans and Henni (Severne Turbo 8.6m) and a Lorch Breeze 142 L freeride board. They perform fairly neatly together. The sail is so light, I can waterstart it with relative ease, even at sub-planing conditions. At 10 knots, this equipment can get me planing, even as a passive rider. Yuppie! The upwind ability is okay too, and I'm still experimenting with different settings and one other fin. Of course against the bursting speed of the Fanatic Falcon the Lorch Breeze is more of a Sunday ride, with a lot less adrenaline kicks. But for me windsurfing is not really about going the fastest I can, it's more about hooking in, getting into the footstraps, planing away and taking in the scenery, the ocean, feeling the wind, the sun, and feeling a little bit Zen...

After those sessions, when windsurfing is just sheer joy, that's when I do cartwheels on the beach.

All pics were taken back in August. I don't have any more recent pics, but I hope soon!

Selamat Tahun Baru 2012 Everybody

Spent New Year's on Gilli T.
Gilli T was supposed to have the biggest party ANYWHERE in Lombok. It was not big. I didn't mind.
We strolled back and forth on a 200m stretch between a few bars and warungs, and then i called it a night for myself.
The best part was going to sleep in the wee hours of the morning, finally, on the beach. It drizzled slightly through the night and there was a songbird over my head, so i chanegd spots a few times in the night. The next morning, I woke up alone and found a rainbow over the ocean and Bali somwhere in the distance. A few other early birds on Gilli T were up and away strolling around the beach and we all greeted each other with friendly smiles. Indonesians are such kind people.

My highlights for 2011?
- First, my sis' wedding party, with alomst my whole family in attendance. My uncles and aunts stole the show a little bit, but that was to be expected (I think!?!). Still can't wait to see the dollar-bill-dance pics. Joerg looked so instantly smooth and shockingly at ease, it seems he must have practiced a lifetime for it. Who had the camera? Or was everyone just too enthralled in the dance to remember to catch the moment on film? I never quite knew family gatherings can be so much fun.
- Tobogganing in the Czech Republic with my Uni friends in early January 2011. A big WIHA!!!
- Learning to windsurf. I've had an appetite for windsurfing ever since my class did a summer school-trip from Bonn to Bodensee in 10th grade. I learned the basics then, but never learned how to use a harness or get into footstraps which are prerequisites for planing. I've waited 10 years since then and for the opportunity to take up windsurfing properly. In 2011 I am glad I finally got the chance. It's one of the greatest fun sports in the world. I now own 2 boards and 3 sails. My smaller board is a Falcon 2011 with 111 Liters and my other board is a Lorch 142L wood edition. The Falcon has a disgustingly fast acceleration. It goes from 0 to 40 km/h in a few seconds when the right gust hits you. The first times I experienced that holding on to the sail was literally all i could do. I came away from many of my early sessions with bruises and blisters, and generally still feel hopelessly clumsy and useless on the water, and very much desperate to finally nail a carve jibe. But, no, I'm not frustrated yet. 2012 will hopefully have more windsurfing in store and I'm absolutely stoked. Windsurf til ya drop! I'll post some more about this soon.

Those were my highlights.
Wish y'all the best, wherever you are and whatever you did. I won't be mad at you if you send me some parcels with chocolate, yerba maté or other goodies. What? No, nothing, just saying.