Whose looking at whom?

We were walking on the beach one evening and all these Muslim women were taking pictures of each other in the setting sun. We had endured a whole day of scantily clad women on the beach and suddenly in the middle of it all there are these modestly clad women. It was refreshing in its distinction. In Papua when we go to the beach or the pool we (women) are wearing board shorts and T-shirts. Bali...well, not as modest and a bit of a shock. Really ladies...do we really have to show so much skin. Enough already, and that it why these women were refreshing. On the other hand...many a Muslim man can be seen walking slowly down the beach gazing at what their women would never ever be able to show in public. It is a strange perspective that unfolds every day on this Bali beach. Near naked western women, fully clad Muslim women, fully protected Balinese woman, and watching eyes everywhere.
We are now in Yogyakarta on the Island of Java. It is an hour plane ride from Bali and a completely different place again. Papua, Bali and now Java...amazing country this Indonesia. We will be making our own Batik tomorrow...we will see how creative this Price family is.