Use Your Head!

One thing we noticed in Indonesia (and in other parts of Asia) is that a lot of people, particularly women, do not use their hands to carry things. Instead, they balance practically everything on their heads and leave their hands free. Some examples...



A decorative basket.



A large object wrapped in cloth (left) and fabric (right):



Burning incense (left), ceramic bowls (middle), and flower arrangements (right) for a ceremony:
Gravel for road construction work.

Dave and I must have remarked dozens of times about this method of carrying things. We wondered if it is actually easier and puts less strain on the back. We marveled at the incredible amount of weight that the women were balancing on their heads. It truly was amazing!

Our fascination with this subject clearly made an impression on Lydia. When we got home, I asked her to put away some laundry. I handed her a stack of clothes and a few seconds later she yelled "Hey, Mom, look at me!" I burst out laughing when I saw this: