john.robert_mcpherson
39 Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC training Indonesians in surf reel and belt, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
39 Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC training Indonesians in surf reel and belt, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
The Indonesians and Oriental tourists found my complexion, hairy limbs and height fascinating. Unlike other Australians, no amount of sun exposure could darken my skin. This was regarded by the Indonesians as a positive boon. Fair skin was regarded as a status symbol because of the perception that fair skinned people were not obliged to expose themselves to the sun like common peasants and peddlers. Rather, they were wealthy enough to stay indoors.
Indonesians have little or no body hair, and what little they had was black. My arms and legs were well covered in red hair. I had men feeling my forearms and saying "Oh, very good. Very strong." Hairiness apparently equated to manliness. At 6'4" I towered over most of the Indonesian men. Many did not reach my shoulders. Interestingly, as I worked on the beach, Oriental tourists would walk up and pose beside me as their friends photographed us. No doubt when they returned home they could show photographs titled 'This is me with the hairy, white giant'. I always smiled and posed for them, understanding their fascination with an odd looking human. Their smiles and thanks came in any number of languages. It left me amused and wondering if perhaps I had a career in Oriental circuses. I'll never know.
39 Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC training Indonesians in surf reel and belt, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
39 Palm Beach (Qld) SLSC training Indonesians in surf reel and belt, Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia. September 1977
The Indonesians and Oriental tourists found my complexion, hairy limbs and height fascinating. Unlike other Australians, no amount of sun exposure could darken my skin. This was regarded by the Indonesians as a positive boon. Fair skin was regarded as a status symbol because of the perception that fair skinned people were not obliged to expose themselves to the sun like common peasants and peddlers. Rather, they were wealthy enough to stay indoors.
Indonesians have little or no body hair, and what little they had was black. My arms and legs were well covered in red hair. I had men feeling my forearms and saying "Oh, very good. Very strong." Hairiness apparently equated to manliness. At 6'4" I towered over most of the Indonesian men. Many did not reach my shoulders. Interestingly, as I worked on the beach, Oriental tourists would walk up and pose beside me as their friends photographed us. No doubt when they returned home they could show photographs titled 'This is me with the hairy, white giant'. I always smiled and posed for them, understanding their fascination with an odd looking human. Their smiles and thanks came in any number of languages. It left me amused and wondering if perhaps I had a career in Oriental circuses. I'll never know.