Becoming a Muslim in Semarang Java

Monday morning in Semarang Ika and I awoke in Hotel Santika and enjoyed an Indonesian breakfast of steamed rice, tofu, beef broth and fruits.

Hotel Santika caters mostly to domestic guests and does a good job at providing the kinds of food that they like.

There was also and omellette maker standing by just in case.

Our schedule for the morning was to visit Ikas parents in the kampung (village ) of Klipang to the east of the city. They had cleared out the front of their shop as they were expecting 300 people for the wedding reception on Saturday. Here in Java if you invite 50, 150 will come because they are anxious to see what is going on and to get a free feed.

Important paperwork had to be taken care of which consisted of getting the people at the Ministry of Religion to accept my papers and make me a Muslim. Ika and I rode over to a part of eastern Semarang called the Bukit (hill) where the small office is located on the back of her parents motorbikes. Several other couples, all Indonesian, waited outside staring at me like some specimen on a dish. I am sure they do not see many westerners show up and ask to be converted.

As usual in Indonesia there was a problem with some part of the paperwork and one of the men said he could help us if we gave him a lot of money, very religious! The declaration of no impediment that I got from the British Consulate in Bali was too short, the head guy said. He said he wanted the declaration I signed, plus the certificate Mark Wilson gave me. Showing us other forms from foreign embassies around the world that he had inside his desk he told us that usually they contained much more data and mine was not as forthcoming as he would of liked. I called the British Consulate hoping to sort the matter out over the phone but they were busy. Another problem was he needed every page of my passport photocopied including the blank pages and told Ika that her photos had to be with attire that was more formal.

He did however perform a conversion ceremony for me. Sitting across the desk from him we shook and held hands while he made me read a whole page of promises, translated by Ika, one of which was to pray everyday. I glanced over to Ikas mother who was snickering, knowing full well I am not likely to pray to anyone ever.

The last part of the conversion was having me repeat a 2 sentence phrase in Arabic, after he read it to me in small chunks, 3 times. For me not being religious I did not feel uncomfortable as I am not giving up anything or gaining anything, only money. For people who truly believe I respect their decision to become a Muslim. For me it was one of the many hoops I have to jump through to marry Ika. If they ask me to stand on my head and sing Blue Suede Shoes I will do it, it does not mean I am Elvis though.

One question that was asked on the Blog before was how I was going to deal with the circumcision issue. I told Ika before that if her relatives want to cut pieces off each other, by all means go ahead. I intend to walk away with all the body parts I came with.

Imagining that they might ask to see the goods I decided to tell them that it was considered a crime in Britain to show your private parts to anther man, so they would have to trust me. Anyway I knew things would progress as money had entered the equation.

I rode away with Ikas dad, who never says a word, clasping my certificate and list of things to do. Ika and got new photos taken downtown, photocopies done and got Mary to the British Consulate to fax my signed declaration which now would be accepted.

We are all good to move forward and our next step today is to have holy water splashed on us at the house by some religious people and in the evening 50 people will come to say prayers. Anticipating long waiting periods I am taking my book, Bob Dylan Chronicles, along. Sean and Chris arrive this evening so I super excited to meet them. Wedding is tomorrow!

I have taken photos but the hardware out here is old and does not have USB slots. They will be posted soon.