Janet Piper was born in England, the second of four sisters.
Some of her best memories are of playing together in their
wonderful garden in Kent. When she was 12 the family immigrated
to Sydney to seek a better life. Janet has held many jobs
– advertising cadet, employment officer, Indonesian
news translator and research assistant. Currently she is the
Finance Administrator at the Australian Music Centre. Janet
has also owned several businesses with her husband including
a souvenir design company and a café in Glebe. Recently
they opened a massage & beauty spa in Kuta. At present
Janet is based in Sydney, but she and her husband return to
Bali regularly to oversee their business.
What was it like moving from England to Australia?
Changing countries was challenging because it involved leaving
the family behind, starting in a new school and making new
friends. Sandy beaches and surf, huge hairy spiders and getting
burnt the color of cooked lobster at Cronulla Beach were all
new experiences.
What are your hobbies?
Drawing, painting, writing, drumming, swimming and acapella
singing.
How did first get interested in Indonesia?
I credit (occasionally blame!) my sister. She was studying
Indonesian at Sydney University and we shared a house. We
had frequent Indonesian visitors. I was tired of being left
out of conversations so I decided to learn the language. That
decision changed my life.
When did you first visit Indonesia?
Indonesia was my first trip overseas. I fell in love with
Java and was enthralled by the beauty of Bali. After a year
in Indonesia, I had to go back to Sydney and it was there
where I met my future husband Iwan, who is from Jakarta.
Have you traveled much around the archipelago since then?
So far I’ve been to Java, Bali and Sumatra. On my next
trip I hope to visit other parts of Indonesia. I particularly
like Bali because it offers the best of Eastern and Western
lifestyles. There are more business opportunities, great beaches
and of course the every day theater and pageantry of Balinese
life.
What are your favorite places?
In Java, Parangtritis, Yogja, and Mount Bromo. In Bali, I
like Kuta Beach, Ubud, Lake Bedugul and Candi Dasa.
Did you have any adventures while traveling?
When I was a member of W. S. Rendra’s Bengkel Theatre
group I played the nurse in Macbeth at Taman Ismail Marzuki
in Jakarta. I also once heard Ravi Shankar play at a friend’s
house in Bali.
Is there a big Indonesian expat community in Australia?
Yes. However, it’s smaller than say the Greek or Vietnamese
expat communities. There are two main groups of Indonesians
working in Sydnay – the students seeking a university
education and business migrants.
What do you think are the most common misconceptions Indonesians
have about Australia?
That Australians are anti-Indonesia and that many are racist.
What do you think are the most common
misconceptions Australians have about Indonesia?
Many Australians mistakenly believe that the majority of Indonesian
Muslims follow an extremist ideology. Also, there are still
some Australians who still don’t realize that Bali is
part of Indonesia!
What is interesting or different about being married to an
Indonesian?
I see the world through different eyes because I have intimate
knowledge of both Javanese and Balinese cultures. I have a
second home in Indonesia, another place where I belong.
Do you still have a strong connection to Bali?
Yes. In October of last year we opened Jennifer’s, a
massage and beauty spa at 25 Ronta Lane near Poppies 2 in
Kuta. Customers are happy and business is going well. It’s
because of our spa that we still have a strong tie with Indonesia.
In what ways do you think Bali has changed since the
bombs?
Bali is much quieter now. People feel less secure. Tourist
numbers were almost back to normal, then dropped drastically
after the second bomb attack. Now businesses have to rely
a lot more on domestic tourism to survive.
Where were you at the time?
At the time of the first bomb attack I was in Sydney. When
the second bombs exploded I was at a play, Terrorism and the
Art of Taxidermy. I feel very lucky we were not victims of
the explosion at Kuta Square. We ate at Raja’s restaurant
in Kuta Square two weeks before it was bombed.
What do you like best about running a business in Kuta?
Besides the positive feedback from customers, I like being
close to the beach. At the end of the day Iwan and I walk
along the sand, then just sit and watch the sunset together
- a simple but delicious pleasure.
What aspects are the most challenging?
Sometimes things take a long time to get done. Not always
understanding how the local systems work can be challenging.
Do you have any personal plans for the future?
To spend half our time in Bali and the rest in Australia,
to spend more time painting, and to maybe even open another
business.
What hopes and dreams do you hold out for the future
of Bali?
I hope tourists continue to come back. I hope any development
is undertaken in harmony with the unique beauty of Bali. I
hope for peace and prosperity for all the people of Bali.
Janet can be contacted via her email: jp@amcoz.com.au.
For anyone interested in being considered for Siapa, please
contact : <pakbill2003@yahoo.com>
Copyright@2007 Al Hickey
You can read all past articles of Siapa
at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz
