Upping the Security...

At the end of Ramadhan (Idul Fitri), most Muslims in Indonesia will go back to their home village for a visit. At our old house, nearly a third of our neighborhood was gone during this time. Another thing that happens during the run up to Idul Fitri is that there are a lot of people looking for money to pay for their way home. Sadly, as a result, there is also a big increase in theft and home breakins during those weeks. We have already heard from friends and neighbors about some incidents happening around our area, and there's lots of reports in the newspaper as well. If a thief is spotted, the standard thing to yell is, Maling!!! Maling!!! (thief! thief!), and that will bring out the whole neighborhood (with weapons) to catch the thief. Many of our friends say that thieves are killed immediately if they are caught, and I have heard enough stories to believe them.

Don't worry about us though, we have our ferocious guard rabbit, Kiki, and we are also trying to be a bit more careful about keeping things locked up and put away.