Your neighbours in Indonesia

If you're in a village:

It's essential to introduce yourself, and preferable to have a house warming party.

You could well be expected to join evening village patrols and be part of social events.

If you're Muslim, expect to be invited to every event in your local mosque.

If you have family in the village, you'll be expected to be very much part of it.

You might well be asked to host village meetings when your turn comes up.

If you're in a town:

Pretty much optional

If you're in a gated estate:

Nobody cares but join the local Whatsapp group.

Diversity:

If in a village, you may meet the odd Christian or whatever else non-Muslim

Towns - Whatever goes, but there's a notable racism against anyone who might be Chinese - regardless of how many generations their families have lived in Indonesia. That's a throwback from communism.

Gated communities tend to be a lot more diverse, but you won't even meet most of the people.

Much of the above won't apply to Bali, and probably not in some other places as well.

@Cheryl,

I live in north Bali in a village in the town centre.

Just a few weeks ago the neighbours gathered to cement our road. Donations of cash had been made and a local business tipped in the rest.

We worked from 8.00 am to 9.00pm to get the job done. Some of us shovelled sand and rocks, others wheeled the barrows and others made the tea and coffee.

It was a lovely bonding day.

A few weeks later i had a cardiac arrest. For the 3 weeks until i returned to Aus, my neighbours and friends looked after us. Every morning the garden was raked and watered, ladies came to clean the house, my ironing was picked up and returned, and every night there was a knock on the door and someone had dinner for us.

It was Bali friends who got me to the ER and massaged my arm and cold feets while the clot passed.

Before my event, i cooked bread and made Ozzie sweets that i would give to neighbours. My 77yo husband mows neighbours lawns and we keep our streets cleaned.

We looked after 10 families financially during covid all over Bali.

My neighbours rallied for me when i was in need.

I am so lucky to have the beautiful villa that we live in and amongst such lovely neighbours.

I am in Aus having medical treatment and still my neighbours are looking after my villa and my pet fish. I really am blessed.

Memories.

When a village house is being built the village comes together to get it done.

We got loads of help to finish the heavy work on ours, and I've been out there doing the same for other people.

Village life here is pretty fantastic with a level of mutual consideration and assistance I've never seen in the UK.