Muslims have begun fasting for the start of the Ramadan holy month in Indonesia.  However, it's not easy deciding when the actual fasting begins.

The Muhammadiyah group, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization, told its 30 million followers that Ramadan started last Friday. The government, however, declared the official start as Saturday, when most of the remaining 190 million Indonesians began the dawn-to-dusk fast.

Ramadan's start varies because Muslim countries and groups use different ways of calculating when the new moon crescent is sighted. Muhammadiyah, which uses calendar-based astronomical calculations, believed that the crescent should have appeared after sunset on Thursday. But the government argued it could not be seen by eyes or telescopes, hence Ramadan has to start Saturday.

Dewi gets ready to go to the local Mosque to pray.  She's holding her prayer rug.

The Muslim holy month devoted to dawn-to-dusk fasting, prayers and good deeds culminates with the three-day holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Muslims believe God revealed the first verses of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan, which starts with the sighting of the new moon.
The Muslim lunar calendar moves back through the seasons, so Ramadan starts 11 days earlier each year under the Western calendar.

Quality time with some Kindergarten Students



Lining up to go play

 Before I read to these students they had indoor playground time.  They certainly enjoyed themselves.

Lest you think I live in the lap of luxury

While I am truly grateful and thrilled to be living in the wonderful new home of Regina and Deni, it is still an adjustment.  The heater that is located in my bathroom does not have enough water pressure to work the shower head.   Therefore, I can turn on the spigot that is on the wall, wait to the water heats up (and hide from the flames sometimes that shoot out) and quickly lather up and rinse for about 10 seconds.  The water then turns cold and I start the process all over again.

Tissues continue to be the paper towel/napkins of most Indonesian homes and restaurants.  Toilet paper can also be used as napkins at restaurants.

Dewi, Ms. Regina's maid cooked these delicious and beautifully colored clams for us the other night. She told us that her mother and she caught and shelled clams back in the village where she was born. Now she is the only one working, since both her mother and sister are blind.

Dewi and I are are also language buddies.  We work in the kitchen together, she tells me the words in Bahasa and I tell her the words in English.  We even have a little notepad that we write down phrases and words.

Suzy Homemaker at it again

 
I'm really enjoying the fact that I have a kitchen to work in - as opposed to last year and that I have a family that is willing and eager to taste western food. We had roasted chicken with potatoes, carrots and onions.  Then we finished the meal with a homemade apple pie.  The pie was eaten so quickly by others rather than the family, so I just finished making another one.  I haven't made dough from scratch in years!  Jason really enjoyed rolling it out, and learning how quickly dough can stick to a counter when it's so very hot.  I like the rolling pin I bought, that Jason is holding in the picture.  It was the only one I could find, the handles are essentially useless, but it still did the job!

A fun time was had by all

Regina and some of the staff from school, enjoying the BBQ



Some of the many desserts



Medi and her family



The happy family, with some of the teachers from the school




Harris and Medi's new baby boy, Jie (Guy)



Everyone helps to ensure good food at the BBQ

New American Teacher, Kristen, helped out.  I told her this could be her new career if teaching doesn't work out.



Sharon, our fourth grade teacher takes a turn



Harris and Medi's elder son, Cay helps fan the flames



BBQ Time

Whole fish is being grilled to perfection

  Medi's husband is on shrimp and chicken duty

Grill is almost ready!  It's coconut shells that are used as the charcoal

Saturday's Little Adventure



The gentleman standing saw me take the other man's picture, and he said he wanted one of himself also! 



Sunday we are going to have a BBQ at Ms. Medi's home.  The fact that she just gave birth to her second baby boy two weeks ago, is not deterring her from have 20 people over.  Many of the local teachers are cooking, so we ex-Pats decided we would supply the fish for the BBQ,  Off we went, three Americans (me being the oldest- old enough to be these two young girls' mother) and Ibu Femi, a friend of Regina's.  Regina could not go, as she was in Jakarta picking up her children from camp in Bali. Ibu Femi's English is about as good as my Bahasa, so I knew it could be quite an adventure.  After getting lost down a few dusty, dirty, bumpy roads, we finally found the "fish market". Most of the fresh fish are sitting in tubs of lukewarm water with flies swarming around.After Ibu Femi bartered with the shopkeepers, the fish was descaled on a wooden board that rested on the stone floor. He then also gutted the fish.  I kept reminding myself how good it will taste once it is grilled.



Behind the woman is a mound of stingray that just laying on the floor.



The Day's Catch

Not a clue what these fish were, but I was checking their gills to see how fresh they were, as well as swatting away flies.  I finally bought two different kinds of fish as well as 2 kilograms or 4 1/2 lbs. of shrimp.

"Running of the Goats"

As we made our way out of the fish market we had to stop a few times as a herd of goats blocked our car's path.   We were at the outskirts of Cirebon, bu it is still part of the city.

Bamboo sheets with fish drying in the hot sun

As we attempted to find our way to the fish market, we drove down  a rocky, dusty road that led to this long row of fish drying in the sun. 

Mama Murphy's Down Home Cooking



This is the "easy bake oven" that I used - it actually does bake!



My two sous chefs - Tasha (Regina's daughter) and Dewi the family maid



This week's American Cooking was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and apple cobbler. The fact that the chicken got fried in a wok, added to its flavor.  The bigger obstacle was that there was no mixer or potato masher.  Therefore, a meat tenderizer and plastic spatula did the trick!

Low Tide



Hard to see- but these are some of the many sand crabs



During the last morning Regina and I walked the beach.  It was muddy, sandy and teeming with thousands of sand crabs.  It was amazing how far we could walk out without getting close to the ocean .

We were now on a mission to find a perfect location for the sunset.  All the brochures suggested Tangung Tinggi as a beautiful spot for watching the sun set.  However, when we got there it was very crowded so Taufik (the driver)  suggested a quieter location, which would have been ideal, if the clouds were not hiding the beautiful sun.

Manggar - the City with 1001 Coffee Shops

After a wonderful four hours exploring the various islands we/ no I decided that we should visit Manggar- the city with 1001 coffee shops.  It was only 1 ½ hours away by car, and maybe, just maybe I would be able to find a rich, dark, Indonesian coffee that would be enak (good tasting).  Not only were many of the shops closed, but the ones open were filled with old man playing dominoes.  We finally settled on one shop that was on a lake, only to have coffee served with sweetened condensed milk.  Less than 45 minutes later, we were back on the road – to go back across the island.  All was not lost, however, we were able to see white pepper plants, coconut palm plants, and beautiful mountains.

Pulau Kengkuas

From the top of the lighthouse

Pulau Lengkuas is the island where the lighthouse is located.  The Dutch build it in 1882 and we were able to climb the 302 steps to view the area in a entirely unique way.  What was fascinating about the lighthouse was that we were asked to remove our shoes as we climbed the rusted metal steps.

Bird Island

We're not sure if a German owns the entire island (which is rather small) or that he has build this house, eating area and another home on a specific piece of property.  Regardless, it was peaceful relaxing, and can be rented out!  All the furniture is from the trees on the island  and boulders were used to make the house. 

 

Sun drying fish to make salty fish



On the roof of this fishing hut are fish



A little piece of heaven

Our rental boat

Regina thinks her "ship has come in"

Beautiful star Fish on a deserted island