Water parks & Muslim Countries

Some would think that you travel to get away from your own culture, to see new sights, traditions and customs. However, when it is 90 plus degrees and 100% humidity, we seek out sources of water. When in a big city, these sources of water come in the form of water parks. Yup, water parks with slides, inner tubes, laughs, screams, coca cola & berkas, of course. We managed to squeeze in a few hours at a water park in Jakarta, Indonesia and one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As the only western (aka white people) at the water park in Jakarta, we were an anomaly. Add to that, the fact that I was wearing a bikini, we stuck out like the proverbially sore thumb. Put a beer in my hand and the locals started taking our pictures. Stephen was the king of the park, because he had the bikini babe at his side who could ride the slides much faster than anyone else. It seems no one else understood the proper technique of laying out and riding high on the curves to maximize velocity.

Okay, we digress. Berkas at the waterpark. Totally unaerodynamic, somewhat dangerous and certainly not attractive. They came in all types & colors. Some were just one piece lycra suits with a hood. Others had draping with a scarf type piece wrapped around the neck. Don't get us wrong, not all the women had on berkas, just no one else was wearing a bikini.

We've dubbed Indonesia "muslim lite" as it didn't seem required to wear a berka at the park and they did sell beer.

At the water park in Kuala Lumpur, where it was part of a resort hotel complex, there were lots of other westerners, wearing a variety of outfits, including bikinis. Despite the fact that Malaysia appears to have a stronger Muslim culture, the park seemed more liberal - maybe because KL is a more cosmopolitan city.

AS THE TUK TUK SPUTTERS...

Our travels have taken us from Portland to Seoul to Jakarta, Indonesia. We spent a few days in central Java gazing at 8th century temples and then flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After two back to back overnight trains, we ended up in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The home of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. We are spending a week at a 'resort' here and will visit lots of waterfalls, cemetaries, temples and national parks. We are healthy and having a blast.

Sawatdee and Lah Gorn (hello and goodbye in Thai).


rachel & stephen