Ninja mechanic, Java to Bali

 

All of a sudden Anggi's car clutch just fell in to the floor and stopped working. No chance of changing gear at all.

We were lucky it broke ten meters from the tire repair shop.

They have a large air pump machine. The Indonesians roads call for many tire repair emergencies.

It is a proper Java style repair headquarters

It is both Restaurant & Tire repair! We are so lucky!

The tire repair guy went with a motorcycle to get a mechanic.

I am sure he is a ninja mechanic. If he lacks the tools he has the moves, to fix it!

Searched for a problem...

...and while we wait for a repair we can have a lunch.

The cook got busy right away.

Ramen noodles with an egg, one euro or dollar including a coffee and bottle of water.

We had two, so two euros in total.

While we are waiting, we offered to give away our cat (in a box).

What cat? You may ask?

*

Two days ago: morning at Anggi parents place in Probolinggo.

A cat is meowing in a box. Somebody just left it there. Very irresponsible!

After some consideration: we decided we will save him.

Poor thing is way too young to be left alone.

After some effort, he started drinking

Anggi went to pet shop to buy a proper cat milk.

*

Back to our clutch repair.

We offer our cat the cook.

First she says: yes. 

Then she realizes cat is still drinking milk: says no.

Then we tell her we have a big bag of powdered cat milk. 

And she says yes again.

Bye, bye

... little cat.

....

Meanwhile...

Found a problem.

The clutch hydraulic is leaking

This part has a defect

They could not find a part. But they got similar one.

Here is a guy showing extra technique how to use string to pull seal off and then put on again.

Even a ninja master, sometime needs to learn new lessons.

They put it in, try if it works?

No! not working! Still leaking.

This part is broken. It was not the seal that was the problem.

The shop that has a right part is 2 hr drive away (do not trust google, it is probably 2 hr!)

Average speed in Indonesia is 30km/h

We call the towing service: it would cost 100 euro to get us back home.

When they hear the incredible amount of money: 100 euro!

The mechanic says he will use a bus and go get it.

This means: wait for bus + drive + buy + wait + drive = cca 6 hr

He will do it for much less money!

The tire repair shop has it all. Not only it is a repair shop, it has a sleeping area too!

It is a vulcanizer + restaurant + hotel!

Well, I suppose we will just lie for next 6 hours. Lie under the coconut tree (or equivalent), tropical style.

While we wait, I observe the surrounding. It reminds me of my grandfather place.

All sorts of ingenious solutions.

This river for instance.... To clean the cat when she was dirty from poop, Anggi used baby wipes. Special soft, with vitamins, disinfection and skin protection.

The new cat owner... used this river and was done with it in fraction of the time too.

 Indonesia cats get tough or die!

Mechanic comes back in 15 minutes.. he has an idea!

He will go home to make the missing part.

After coming back second time: it fits. And the clutch is saved!

Will it last? Yes! Before it was made of plastic, now it is metal.

Is it as good as the original? No! It is better!

We gave the mechanic 40 euros, his helper got 20 euros and cat owner 10 euro (to buy more cat milk).

All of them are so happy, they can not stop smiling.

40 euros is probably the money he usually gets in a month.

And so the life goes on in a microcosmos in the little part of Java.