Sunday Morning

It's Sunday morning a great time to make your afternoon and evening meals since it gets so hot as the day progresses. I know I've been here too long when I get the pot from the drying rack and out flies a lizard and I don't flinch. I just wash the pot and keep on going. I also have the backdoor open to let in some fresh air. Of course there are no screens on the doors or windows, so in hops a rather large frog. It's sad, I hear myself saying to the frog, "Sorry, you can't stay in here, you're too big." He has a cousin (or brother/sister?) who is a resident of our house. The smaller relative keeps to the bathroom or my room. Unfortunately late last night as I was going into the bathroom, I stepped on the little fellow. Who knew frogs squeak? I'm happy to report, he's still alive and hopping in our house!

Breakfast of Champions!

From backyard banana to breakfast bowl. What could be easier?

I think I have a problem with my lesson

Bryan was writing about himself today. It was the class assignment. I was trying to get them to understand themselves at a deeper level. I discussed what it means to be an outgoing person. Bryan wrote, "I'm an outgoing person. I'm always going anywhere with my bicycle."

Do you think he grasped the concept? Or that I have to reteach it!

Chrissy's 28th birthday

The newest bule (not pictured) had her birthday on the first day of school. A group of teachers took her to a seaside restaurant. She's from San Diego and loves the water, so it was fun watching her eyes light up when she saw the Java Sea. These women are seriously looking over the menu for the shrimp, crab, whole fish, and eel that we had for the dinner.

harbor along the Java Sea

These were some of the fishing boats that were docking for the evening. As we sat and ate dinner, more were coming in with very few lights on and just a small motor.

I finally saw the ocean!

In a village about 45 minutes from Cirebon is the Java Sea. The name of the village is Juntipenyet and this restaurant Mina Ayu is located on a dirt road that leads right to the harbor. The restaurant is built over the water. The smell of salt air, and the beautiful ocean breeze made me very happy.

Saw This on a T-Shirt

I'm a student
I'm study every day
I'm free on Sunday


I guess it beats the Sponge bob and Simpson t-shirts I see, not to mention the ones that are very suggestive.

Christmas in July

This is the ledge along the stairs that go up to the third floor. The ledge is nothing but particle board over a beam. They don't want the children to step on it or sit on it, so until they get other plants - this is their deterrent.

Saturday before school starts

At four p.m. Saturday afternoon I finally got a door, a light switch and furniture for my classroom. Love the door- I can have the title without the responsibilities! It's Regina's old door, her office was moved. I must admit it was rather frustrating to spend Friday waiting for the room to be completed. But as I keep being reminded this is on Indonesian time.

Look Ceilings!

For those of you who followed me last year - this is the third floor, it was just a concrete slab. We had no roof, so when the rainy season comes, and it does, many of the classrooms had water pouring into them. Now since the school is really growing, they needed to construct classrooms on the third floor. We have windows (some classrooms on the second floor didn't have them) and we have ceilings! The classrooms on the second and first floor have metal ceilings- great for when the little children are singing or making noise!

Construction Equipment

No hard hats, no shoes, and bamboo scaffolds and ladders. This is how the third floor of the building is being finished.

4 days before school begins

This will be the classroom I'll be teaching in this Monday. The students are ready, the teacher is ready, and hard to believe but this will be ready.

Village at the base of Gurung Ceremai

Saturday we decided to take a hike to a national park near Cirebon. Actually, near is a relative term. We drove for an hour. Then walked for about 45 minutes through a village and a forest before we even got to the entrance of the park. But it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.

Mango farming outside the Ciremai National Park

The plastic bags are to keep the insects from devouring the fruit. What a time consuming job! But the fruit is wonderful.

Village Cemetary

As we hiked up the gravel road away from the tiny village we encountered this cemetery. Most burial plots appeared very small, and some were so old the moss covered most of the tombstone.

Mount Ciremai

The mist rolling in over Mount Ciremai on our descent trip. We never made it to the top (nor did we plan to). That takes about 5-6 hours. We hiked about four and that was plenty. This mountain is the highest mountain in West Java.

Clear, cool water

It was remarkable! This water flows down to the village and is used for drinking, cleaning and watering their crops. This picture was taken from many of the skinny, scary, bamboo bridges that we needed to cross.

"Our Guides"

The gentleman on the right is Pak Toto. He is the school driver, and handyman. He drove us to the base of the village where we began our hike. The gentleman in the white baseball cap met us at the wartal and asked if he could tag along. Both the men knew many of the trees that were being planted in the National Park. They showed us the nutmeg tree, different coffee trees, and cassava trees. Regina doesn't know any of this - she just complained until we got to the waterfall!

cooking at the wartal

This is one of the two sisters (I think) who ran the kiosk part way up the mountain. She did all the work, and was constantly scolding the other. To make coffee, or even instant noodles this was the fire they used.

part way up the mountain

There was a little warung (kiosk) part way up the mountain. This woman, and we think her sister were running it. Check the tree going through the roof

Gunug Ciremai

The area is composed by volcanic rock, both old and young volcanic resulted from volcanic activities of Gunung Ciremai. This was the path we followed up to the hot springs and waterfall. I like the little sign posted on the tree!

National park at Ciremai

Gunung Ciremai is a unique mountain ecosystem and is located close to the sea. Ciremai Mountain is classified as A mountain, which means active. This Park plays major role as water catchment area and source of water for communities, agriculture, fisheries and industries in the surrounding areas, including Kuningan, Majalengka and Cirebon districts.

View from half way up the mountain

The air was incredibly clear and cool - a great day for a hike. By the time we had finished we had been hiking about 4 hours! Needless to say I went right home and took a very long nap.

Coffee beans in Gunung Ciremai National Park

Coffee beans drying in the heat/shade of the mountain. They will be packed up and walked down the very steep terrain.

Sawer Waterfall at Mount Ciremai National Park or Gunung Ciremai National Park

Well worth the climb! breathtakingly beautiful and very refreshing. This is one of two waterfalls. I attempted to get to the other one, but these old legs couldn't make it up the steep slippery rocks. I didn't feel like going to another Indonesian hospital.

Updated kitchen

Look at all the modern conveniences! Even a toaster oven. I go away for a year and look at all the changes!

Backyard and natural dryer

most exciting addition!

I now have a machine that easily dispenses drinking water. No more hand pump for me! Now if I can only figure out where I could plug it in then I could get hot water for my coffee. Now I'm just boiling water on the stove outside.

Look1

I have an indoor sink. Now, it was just put in the wall along side the frig - but still it's a sink! By the way, bath is still with a bucket and cold water. Just had one! I'm in the same housing complex but in the back, so I have roosters crowing and now the goats are bleating.

Upgraded living conditions!

I'm finally in a house! And notice the lovely upgrade - I have a toilet! Now mind you, the step up and down is a doozy. But then I guess that is what is meant by "the throne".

Still have frogs and lizards though. Frog met me in the bathroom this morning (don't even want to think he hopped through the toilet). The lizard was in the plastic bag where I put my apple core and was trying to get out.

Who Knew?

Chrysanthemum flower tea is one very common Chinese tea. Drunk with meals it helps to aid digestion, especially of greasy foods. It is also commonly taken to help strengthen the lungs and relieve head congestion. In China, chrysanthemum tea is now being recommended for office workers exposed to Video Display Terminals (VDTs).

Dragon's Mustache

Upon arriving in Jakarta we went to Samudra", a very famous restaurant for dim sum.
It required public transportation that included a transfer. Public transport in Indonesia goes from bad to worse. We were on the “bad” route. This means we left point A in a crowded but clean bus to ride to point B. Then like cattle we were pushing and shoving and leaping over a large gap between the platform and the bus for our transfer ride. As we are riding along – we pass point A again! It seems that Jakarta buses run only east west and north south and constantly circumvent the same location!

Interesting signs at the fair- next to each other

The one in all Bahasa talks about how much paper people in Jakarta use.

Jakarta Fair

Regina needed to go to the doctor's in Jakarta so we left early (5:45 a.m.) on the only train that had seats. Thought we would see the Jakarta Fair. It it was one big advertising extravaganza. They gave me a blueberry with mint oreo to taste. Yuk!

Last Day for SPB school trip

We are at Legion Beach in Bali. We got up early, ate breakfast at the hotel and walked to the beach. The joy on the children's faces says it all. I asked Regina if I could stay in Bali for the next month or so. This is my idea of camping!

Casa Luna Ubud

Regina and I ate at a restaurant in Ubud run by a bule (foreigner). She and her Indonesian husband now own three restaurants. "Fragrant Rice", is a book that the owner, Janet DeNeefe, has written.