Day 3: Angklungs, Bricks, Elephant Grass, Oh My!

In the morning, we set off to visit the second market to buy the third cow with the leftover funds from our previous purchase of the two cows. This particular market seemed larger than the one we had visited the previous day. Our team wandered around the market and witnessed the goings-on while our team leader and the orphanage staff selected their final cow: a healthy male that would eventually become a strong bull that could be sold for a greater profit. The funds we had left were insufficient to pay the full price of the cow, but the orphanage topped up the rest of the money. Our team soon left the market feeling gratified by the successful purchases of the three cows. The fundraising team felt especially proud since their initial goal was only two cows. As a result, they had met and even exceeded their goal of buying two cows.

The Second Cow Market

We then travelled to the orphanage’s fields, where the cows’ stables were built. Upon visiting the cows, we recognised the bulls that the orphanage had purchased with our funds the day before and even got the opportunity to feed them some hay.

Just outside the stables, several boys from the orphanage gave us a demonstration on how to make bricks from scratch. Using a recipe of water, six parts sand, and one part cement, they mixed the concoction with large shovels and used moulds to set the shape of the bricks. Our team watched the demonstration carefully as we would later make bricks ourselves.

We returned to the orphanage, where we had a quick lunch and gathered with our Indonesian friends there to learn more about traditional music. Our teacher was the husband of a staff member in the orphanage and taught us how to play a traditional instrument called the angklung. The angklungs were made with bamboo and rattan. After splitting us into groups of three, he taught us how to play the instrument. We held the angklung by dangling it on two left fingers and using our right hand to shake it gently, which would produce a single note depending on the length of the bamboo.

The Angklungs

After a lesson on different music systems and some practice, our teacher taught us how to play the song “Rasa Sayang”, which was familiar to both Singaporeans and Indonesians alike. Together, we played the song by following a numbered musical system, and hearing the lovely music brought smiles to our faces. Through this angklung-playing session, we not only learned more about general music but also about the local culture, as music plays a significant role in shaping local culture. Fundraising I/C and resident musician Liz Yeo deeply enjoyed the musical session.

“Playing the angklung together my friends made me appreciate traditional music so much more.”

Soon after, we returned to the fields to make bricks and cut grass to feed the cows. We split ourselves into three teams and rotated among making bricks, cutting grass and resting so that we could all have the opportunity to try all the duties.

Remembering the demonstration earlier that day, we mixed the cement, sand and water and set the bricks in moulds. However, making bricks from scratch was not as effortless as the boys made it appear. Mixing the ingredients thoroughly with a large and heavy shovel required much of strength, and the cement mixture needed a strong hand to be set into the moulds.

Mixing the Cement

Setting the Cement in Brick Moulds

In the grassy fields, we were given scythes that could cut plants with. We cut elephant grass, a tall leafy plant which grew naturally in the open fields and were used to feed the cows. We meticulously used the scythes to cut piles of elephant grass, often while getting small cuts on our arms and legs from the sharp leaves.

Cutting Elephant Grass for the Cows

With these activities, we caught a glimpse into the agricultural lifestyle in Indonesia. We realised that it required much more strength than initially anticipated and much endurance throughout the process. We gained more appreciation for this lifestyle, which requires much physical exertion and hard work.

Overall, today was a day of learning and gaining appreciation for the local culture. We caught a glimpse into their love for music and the lifestyles some of the locals live in Yogyakarta. Having experienced some of the activities, we have a greater understanding of the locals and their lives.