A Great Find

One of my volunteer projects while visiting Indonesia is to visit Mare Island and give recommendations about the homestay’s and possible marketing suggestions.

On our way to the Island of Mare

As we stepped off the boat and onto the dock, we were greeted by a lovely English-speaking lady, Naneng, who has been helping the villagers create a destination island. There are 250 people here, and they all knew we were arriving. There were 6 of us plus the boat crew, and they had homestay’s for all of us.

Old friends meet up

entrance into the village passing by coconut drying for soap

The first was the colorful painting which they’ve in incorporated on the docks, entrance signs, border walls, houses, and planters. The island is very clean… that was the second thing I noticed. Also, every home has many plantings. These people are very proud of their village and excited to think of that tourists would come to visit their homes. This is the beginning of what they have been working towards.

We began our visit being escorted by many community people to the community center where there were whole coconuts waiting with holes punched in the center to drink from. I’d never tipped a coconut upside-down to drink out of. The people watched me carefully while I began to gulp down the coconut water. The first few times I had coconut water dripping down my chin and people stared and laughed as I wiped my chin with my hand. It was very hot so anything to drink was welcome. I ended up drinking the whole thing. Then they cut my coconut in half and handed me a spoon to scoop out the coconut gel to eat. I’d never had that before either.

We sat around the table and were told what they had planned for us. Then, some ladies who make pottery helped us make some. They use clay brought from a specific place up in the mountains where it’s dug up and carried down to the ladies.

The village is extremely small, and we were guided along a walking path to our homestay where we met our host for the night. LOVELY people. Our accommodations where better than I had anticipated. The cook and her daughters were all cooking and they loved the fact that I was interested in them and what they were making. After lunch was resting time. For me it was too hot to lay down in a bed where there was no air, so I went into the very clean kitchen and spent an hour sitting on the floor with a young little girl about 4 years old. Her mother had just fried bananas and made a peanut sauce to go with them. We tried to talk to each other by using very simple words and me using a translation guide. We laughed and laughed together. Soon, others came into the room to visit and chat. I had a delightful time with these people.

Our host home and serving us dinner

The host had many questions and really wanted us to talk about their home and the meals that were served. We had a person with us to translate, but she was running around the island doing her own thing and did not help out. This was an issue with me because she wasn’t doing her job, so I couldn’t do what I’d come to do. I have since filled out an evaluation of our stay and have given suggestions on how to improve what they have started and ideas of how to market their island for tourism.

Before sunset, we hopped on the boat and went around the east side of the island to watch the sunset. Before we arrived, some young adults had gone before us and cleaned up all the garbage on the beaches.

As soon as I set my feet on the island I went up to them and asked if they’d take me into the forest. I really wanted to get into the wooded area. So off we went, and they were so excited to show me. I asked about the trees and plants as we went. At one point, one of the men climbed so fast up a coconut tree with a machete and started cutting coconuts down. Then we went back to join the others on the beach where there was a big 3-gallon thermos full of ice. They started cutting open the coconuts and pouring the coconut water into the thermos of ice. That was our treat on the water. Very nice while watching the sunset.

After dinner we met the leaders of the island back at the community center to talk about the future of their island. I listened for an hour to our people talking back and forth with them. One idea was to build a sea wall that would be impossible for the fish and dolphins to escape at low tide, so the tourists could see the dolphins. Yikes! Stewart and Alison explained why that was not a good idea. No idea what will happen with that.

I felt compelled to say something. (You know me, I can’t keep my mouth shut forever). I said, “In America, my hometown of 7,000 people is a tourist destination. The business people want the tourists to feel welcome and safe when they arrive. So the business people keep the town clean, put up signs with clear directions, and have plantings around the town. You and the people of your village have done a lovely job with your village. It is clean, nicely painted with cheerful colors and you have wonderful signs. The people in the village have made us feel welcome, and there are places to stay. You have done an excellent job.” Paul was with us and translated for me, and everyone smiled and clapped.

Meeting with leaders of the village     Community movies nightly

Early morning we headed to Garaica Island and met a woman who has a homestay. She has her own generator and boat. The other homestay in town send people to her for their meals. They offer boat rides for snorkeling and fishing. She understands how to market her homestay. I told her she is a real entrepreneur.

At the other side of this island a few years ago, the governor (who was from the island) built a resort. They brought in their own workers and did not use the villagers. The resort failed, and they stopped caring for the property. It is now totally vacant. The buildings are still in pretty good condition, and the plantings are overgrown but very healthy. It’s a shame to see this area vacant, and locals fear that this type of development will continue throughout other islands.

We stopped at an uninhabited Island where some went diving, others snorkeling, and I took a walk on the beach. The water was rough, and my body needed a break. So I began to walk. Even though there are no people living on this island, there’s a huge impressive dock. I’m not sure why.

As I was taking photos of the garbage on the beach, I noticed this shell and just about fell over and in love with this find. It was spectacular! In perfect condition and huge. But I knew I couldn’t take it for a number of reasons. First of all, I wasn’t sure it would fare well in my luggage. Second, I was with a group of conservationists and they would have a fit, and third, Customs. So a person who was with us from Indonesia, gladly said she could take it out of my hands.  I was disappointed because I really wanted it but knew I couldn’t have it. Called “Chambered Nautilus”

I’ve shown this photo to many people here and they are surprised I found it at all. They also said it’s worth a lot of money. No doubt. At some point this photo will be blown up and developed and will hang on my wall. A great find it is.

The boat ride back to Ternate was very rough and everyone had to find a comfortable place to sit or lie down so we all wouldn’t get whiplash or be bumped around; this was a 4-hour ride. At one point, we decided to stop at an island for lunch, but we didn’t want to go into the village because of the amount of time it would take. So we made a picnic on the dock. I was the last person off the boat and when I poked my head up over the dock this is what I saw.

The village people had come to us. I was so surprised. They brought us some wonderful food. A few on the ladies kept touching me and wanted to touch my hair. I let them, and we held hands. More and more people came onto the dock, and when we left, there was a big good-bye.

Good bye to an unexpected wonderful lunch 

 

The Chambered Nautilus