Another step closer to getting married in Java next week

This morning I hit Cafe Moka in Seminyak early for a quick bowl of bread a pot of Kopi Bali.

I had an appointment with Mark Wilson, the Honorary British Consul in Sanur. My purpose was to get a letter from him documenting the fact that I had sworn to be single with no impediment to getting married.

To do this I had to come up with 1,170,000rp and perform the little swearing ceremony. It was a bit weird actually because Mark asked me which version I needed, the Christian, Hindu or Muslim. I said it would be a Muslim ceremony so he said this one is a bit more involved. Sitting across from him I had to put my right hand on my forehead, palm facing outwards, the other hand on my back. I read the short declaration that I intended to marry Ika and was single. Then he had me kiss the Koran. We could of done without the whole thing, just stamp it and I am on my way, especially as I am not religious, but I will hand it to Mark, he does things by the book.

After 10 minutes I was out of there with my form ready to send to Java. Mark told me that when the child is born it will be stateless until the time I get it a British passport. I have 5 days to register the birth with some Indonesian governmemt office or else I am sure there will be a fine of some kind. After that I have to get the child a kids kitas, a type of year long visa. All bullshit and another example of Indonesian bureaucracy holding back people and the country. Imagine if the government made it a priority to attract foreigners with businesses and money and tried to keep their offspring who have been educated in foreign universities! The country would be on a different economic track than it is right now. But wait a minute! With all that freedom controlling the masses would be harder and therefore riskier for those in charge. Better keep a tight reign on everyone and make sure those pesky foreigners are kept hoping.

Ika bought me a poncho like all the locals use for their motorbike. I have been using a Goretex jacket but the problem with that is I sometimes forget it. The poncho folds square and fits inside the seat. You will see locals hurriedly pulling over to the side of the road and unpacking it any time it starts to rain. They come in 2 thicknesses, flimsy and strong. I got the strong one, color grey and look like a big ghost with in on. Its a great thing though.

I have to buy some shoes, a suit and a couple of rings in the next couple of days, as well as 6 black and white photos.

The weather today was steamy with clouds forming and sprinkles happening in late afternoon. I went to my gym for a workout and managed to screw my back up doing leg presses. Really painful and hurts sitting upright. The speed bumps coming over to Poppies II were killing me. I hope it will not affect the wedding. I think tomorrow morning will be a good test of what direction it will go in. I hope the mosque in Semarang has wheelchair handy.

Getting married as a muslim has its advantages, I can now go to the Hajj. Hajjblog.com. I can see it in a year or 2. White robe and a Canon digital camera with a 512 chip inside. Bottle of Bacardi well hidden.

There is a business opportunity there, I can see it. With all that stoning the Devil I could get a booth selling Chuckers. Really nail the demons out him!

After a bite to eat I am going home to lay flat for a while and see if my vertibrae go back into place.