Great Local Saturday

So yesterday I did some exploring around Jakarta....It was really great....I saw some different parts of Jakarta!!!!!! I first went to an an area that had many different fabric shops.....So I did a little local shopping...I purchased some amazing Batik made with only natural colors (grays and browns) from all different types of wood.....it is very special....I am having it made into a comforter!!!! It is very special and the people making it were soooo excited about it!!!!!!! They were telling me that when people shop for Batik, they are looking for a treasure....It will be sooo beautiful when it is finished....

After that I bought a nice fabric to have a blouse made...Buying the fabric was the easy part....the girl then took me into this huge traditional market on the 2nd floor where there were sooooo many tailors....they were every....one after the other!!!!!!!!!! All were super busy stitching away...some by hand and others by old sewing machines....she took me to one stall where I met a guy by the name of David....we discussed the design (with pictures and hand gestures), then negotiated on the price, and then he took my measurements......I hope i looks nice when I pick it up next weekend....if it does, I think I have found myself a tailor!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, I then went to a local flower market....they had plants everywhere!!!!!! But I was looking for Orchids!!!!!!!!!! I found sooo many....actually I was able to buy 6 orchids for $10...soooo cheap....they are sooo pretty!!!!!!!!!!

I had really a nice time discovering the local things!!!!!!!!!!!! Very cool day!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend in Sulawesi

I have just arrived home from a great weekend in Sulawesi outside of Manado...I met up with some friends travelling around Indonesia!!!!!!!! Great to see you Laure!!!!!! We went to Tangkoko-Batuangas Dua Saudara Nature Reserve where we hiked to see Tarsiers (smallest mammal) & Black Macaques (species of monkey that are only existing in the forest i this area in Sulawesi)...before our evening hike, we walked through the village to the beach...it was a beautiful black sand beach with many man-made boats!!!!! It was really nice, but not pleasant to swim as the current was sooooo strong!!!!!!! Later that afternoon we headed for a hike to see the Tarsiers as they are nocternal and the next morning to another hike to see the Macaques....it was great to see them...the Tarsiers are soooo tiny with cute little fingers and the Macaques were sooo cute while moving through the trees....it took us forever to find the Macaques, but when we did there were many...it was well worth it....after we hiked back to the car and started back to the village, there were some more on the way...they proceeded to jump on the side mirror next to where I was....I totally thought they were coming into the car....these ones were not as nice since they were digging through trash and it felt like they were more agressive as they were showing their teeth....very interesting!!!!!!!!!!

Later on Sunday, we headed to Manado to lay by the pool and relax at the hotel...sleeping by the pool was great!!!!!!!!!! This morning before heading home I had an AMAZING massage (1st one since arriving in Indonesia) and then had lunch and headed to the airport...It was a great weekend....on the flight I met a couple travelling around and they were telling me about another amazing experience they had on Sulawesi...I think I will be going back really soon, but to another area!!!!!!!!!!!

My 1st Day in Thailand

I love Bangkok...it is very nice. SOOOOO HOT!!!!!!!!!!! So much more hot and humid than Indonesia (or at least it is right now...maybe that will change). I had an amazing Sunday...it started with amazing Crepes at a great restaurant. After breakfast I went to The Grand Palace followed by Wat Pho.....these places are amazing....I spent 5 hours walking around in 100 + degrees, sweating my ASS off, in these amazingly beautiful places!!!!!! Afterwards, there was no way to keep me outdoors....had to cool off....went and had a great pedicure, followed by a ride in a Tuk Tuk, and then dinner.....it was a very full day!!!!!! I really enjoyed it.....next time....floating markets!!!!!!!!

The Bribe

So.....no one in Jakarta follows any sort of traffic rules....on a very rare occasion the police just block an area looking for people breaking the traffic rules....Last friday my driver Ismi made an illegal turn, which he does all the time (by the way...he is a very safe, aggressive, and fast driver)....oops...police....of course he starts discussing with him and he could have had his license taken if the policeman wanted too....at some point during the conversation the back window rolled down...I was curious....then he rolled it back up....basically he negotiated his way out of losing his licence to $10 and then to $1....the reason was because I am American....when he told the policeman he was driving an expat from USA the policeman started appologizing and saying "Sorry, Sorry". Ismi then was in control and still offered him the equivalent of $1.....the policeman nearly fell to his knees backing off as he told us to move on....

Ismi later told me that this guy was scared of Americans and the power we have....I just laughed....I just thought it was hysterical....of course Ismi was VERY fortunate to have me in his backseat that evening.....

1st Travels - Feeling like an Alien!

So...last week I had my first business trips....1 to Yogyakarta & the other to Surabaya. These 2 days were very interesting and tiring....no Yogyakarta is not the land of Yogurt like many have asked me!!!!! Hehehe.....soooo funny!!!!! It is an amazing place actuall in central Java that has some temples.....I was able to see quickly a Hindu Temple called Prambanan and it was really beautiful....I am very excited to go back there sometime soon so I can see Borobadur as it is suppose to be really spectacular....oh...forgot to mention that the most active volcano in the world is in this area....Merapi!!!!

Surabaya was the real adventure this week....I arrived in Surabaya with my new co-worker Theresia....we walked off the airplane and into the terminal....everyone was staring at me like I was an alien fresh off my spaceship.....it was sooo funny....people were following us around and Theresia was telling that they were in shock and could not believe to see a white person....when we stopped to get water in a very rural area, everyone was waving at me saying "Hilo" instead of hello...close enough....it was cute, charming, and funny all at the same time. I have never felt so out of place in my life, but not uncomfortable at all!!!!!!! Was a really nice experience!!!!!!!

FIrst trip to Supermarket Alone & other things

This past weekend was rather lowkey....I rested to adjust to the new timezone which I think I am finally on!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! Also went to the mall to buy a couple things to set up in my apartment....nothing too interesting there....I also bought some orchids, unpacked everything I have so far, set up the router and the Wii....I am all set!!!!!!!! I am ready for visitors!!!!!!!!

Tonight after work I went to the supermarket by myself close to my apartment. It was fun....the supermarket is soooooo stimulating since everything is new (from the brands, the flavors or fragrances, to the packaging, etc....). Of course when you are in there alone everyone just stares at you and I can only imagine what they are thinking....probably the biggest one is "What is that girl doing here?" The little children are soooo shy with me as they love to stare and then if I smile at them they hide themselves...it is quite cute! Everyone is still very nice and welcoming....I have learned a few local words already and hope to pick up some more real soon!

I am looking forward to my travels this week (as long as I get my Kittas - resident permit that will allow me to come and go from the country)...should get it tomorrow (fingers crossed)!!!!!!!

It is nice and interesting to hear the mosques all the time...had dinner next to the pool last night and it was very loud with all the surrounding mosques calling at the same time....I find this really beautiful to hear!!!!!!!

Well, I promised some pics, but I have not been soooo successful at this (I have taken a couple, but have been very busy to post)....I promise they will show up on facebook really soon!!!!!!!!!

Till next time...."Selamat Malam"..."Good Night".

1st Week in Indonesia

So....I probably should have written sooner, but I have had little to no spare time and when I did, I was crashing face first into my bed since I am still adjusting to the jetlag!!!!!!!! This week has been great!!!!!!! Everything is sooooo new and I have had so many new experiences this past week. I went to the imigration office this week to get my resident permit which was quite funny....I went in with my driver...no one spoke English except him and he had me sit to wait...I was sitting and sitting with all of the gossip flying in the room with stares....I can only imagine what people were thinking! It was soooo chaotic and it did not appear to have any order, but apparently there was. I sat for about 1 hour waiting alone....finally a guy approached me with a picture I had sent from the US and he said "Bu Jamie" which when pronounced sounds like "Boo"....it made me giggle....anyways it just is like Miss in English....I followed him to a room where they were processing docs inside....opened the door and I walked in and a guy looked at me, smiled and said "WOW!!!!!!!!!!! It is a real American girl...mmmmmmm". It was a nice compliment, but really funny...I could only say thank you and go on.

I went to a university that is about 2 hours away....it was in the countryside, so it was nice to see the landscape outside of the city!!!!!!!! Very pretty......The team here is very nice and welcoming!! My experience so far is AMAZING!!!!!!! I really love it and can't wait to experience more!

This week I will go to Yogyakarta which is in central Java for a day trip (short flight) and then I will go to Bangkok for the weekend as I will work there next Mon & Tues. Can't wait!!!!!! Soooo many new adventures....I just don't know what to do with myself....the camera has been taken out and charged, so there will soon be some photos on facebook.....I will go for a walk tomorrow to capture my neighborhood!