Tirta Sanita hotel and spa

Only 23 Km from Cirebon towards Kuningan, this was my getaway location for the Indonesia's Independence day. It was much cooler in the mountains, and because it's the fasting month for Muslims, we were the only ones there!

Tirta Sanita hotel and spa and surrounding area

The cottage I stayed in and the beautiful countryside.

Tirta Sanita hotel and spa

I had a 3 1/2 hour spa treatment that cost me 266,000 rupiahs - or approximately $27.00!

Tirta Sanita hotel and spa

I just sat and relaxed before I began my long journey back to the States.

Lomba makan kerupuk

Players race each other to see who finishes the one cracker (kerupuk) first. The challenge– can’t use their hands!
These crackers are made of rice, but others are made with shrimp and flour.

Independence Day Games

Coins are shoved into a melon which is suspended on a string. There are three players on each melon. However,
the melon is covered with coconut oil and charcoal. The children can only use their mouths to get the coins out of the melon. Whoever wins the most coins - gets all the coins from the melon.

Indonesia's Independence Part II

The two ladies are from Sulewesi. The young girl is representing Kartini known as a pioneer in the area of women's rights for native Indonesians.

August 17th is Indonesia's Independence Day. Students from First Grade through 5th dressed in traditional clothes of the five major islands.

Independence Day Fashion Show

The boy in the tan tunic and pants is representing Mohammad Husni Thamrin, an Indonesian national hero. The young boy next to him is in a native Papua outfit. The other two represent Bali (gold bandanna) and Java in the white t-shirt.

Expat's humble abode

One of the many ponds/pools that Vaughn has created throughout his beautiful gardens. He also build a guest house and the next picture is his pool house. Although the buildings are small it is a peaceful paradise.

Vaughn Thomas's House

An expat from Wales who taught in Cirebon for five years then moved to the coast. He found this place - which at the time was nothing more than pineapple trees. For the past six years, he has built this compound. Truly remarkable when you realize they don't have architects. It was designed and built by Vaughn and two Indonesian builders.

Ruma Tanah Baru

Rumah Tanah Baru is the home of ceramicist F. Widayanto. He has created quite a tropical garden with a main wooden residence (which you can stay in for $100.00 a night), a ceramic workshop, and a traditional pendopa pavilion. Everything that has been created in the house was made by this man.

F. Widayanto's home

Strolling the gardens of the house outside of Jakarta.

Ceramics of F. Widayanto

Two of the more outlandish but fantastic ceramics found in the house

Everything in the house has been designed by the ceramist. This is the master suite's shower.

The walls are all hand painted. The one picture is from the second story balcony looking down into the living room. The other is the entrance into the same room

How did I miss this sign!!!

On the way from school I noticed this sign....They are talking about spicy jumbo shrimp!

Shiatsu massage- Indonesian style

Because of all the stress of not having water, and because I love massages I went Tuesday after school to a place that performs shiatsu massage. It is a form of Japanese massage (originating from the Chinese).The oriental goal of any traditional Chinese medicine (and its Japanese counterparts) is basically to bring about a balance of forces (yin and yang) in the body, and thus to help the body to heal itself. This is accomplished by reestablishing the flow of Qi (Chi). In more modern English, we are more inclined to say that Shiatsu is used to create a general sense of well being and relaxation. It is useful in bringing relief caused by certain conditions that range from generally poor health, or stress, to specific injuries. Sounds great! First thing, the young lady spoke NO ENGLISH, and my bahasa still remains quite limited. Second she held up a pair of shiny yellow satin clown pantaloons for me to put on. I quickly vetoed that idea. All was going well until she "greased" my back, climbed up, hung an a railing and proceeded to use me like a slip-and-slide. She kept gliding back and forth and I couldn't help but laugh. I wasn't laughing though, when she next jumped up and down on my back a few times. Then I thought I was a human trampoline. I quickly learned the Bahasa word for hurt - SAKIT - I used it quite a bit. However, when all was done, I did feel sooooo much better. Now I can face waterless Cirebon again.

The Fun Never Ends

Saturday afternoon the primary water pipe for the entire city of Cirebon burst. Unfortunately it appears that one person was sucked up the massive pipe and died. Cirebon, even though we still have chickens, goats, and other creatures is actually larger than Wilmington, Delaware. The reports are saying that the city will have no water for at least 7 days, possibly 14. Our options have been: 1) if you have a well and a pump you turn that on or 2) you buy drinking water and use it for bathing and laundry and cooking. Since the tub in my humble abode leaks we can not fill it with the precious water. We have been relegated to getting the big water cooler jugs and pour them into a bucket then scooping it out. Girl Scout camp was never like this! Needless to say, I opted to go to Regina's house where there is a pump.

Family fun at the beach

At the end of the walk

After a walk through the National Park we were overlooking the white sands of the beach. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Tsunami warning at National Park in Pangandaran

Five hours away from Cirebon is Pangandaran. It’s a narrow isthmus with a combination of white sand beaches and volcanic black-sand beaches. I enjoyed it much more than the commercialized and westernized beaches of Bali. We left on Friday afternoon for the weekend and I could have stayed forever!
This is the same area that was devastated by a tsunami in July of 2006. Yet, it’s remarkably back on track and thriving quite well.

Porcupine in Indonesia

Who knew that porcupines existed in caves in Indonesia? Along with bats (my favorite!) I was able to go through a deep long cave that is part of the Taman Nasional (National Park) at Pangandaran.

fishing hut

One of the many fishing huts that dotted the Indian Ocean near Pangandaran.

On one small rocky area was a fisherman who the guide says is out every day. He dresses like Spider Man!

Our intrepid guide

The five of us went on this old boat. I couldn't get over the different colors of the ocean.

Taman Nasional (National Park)

At the end of the peninsula there is a national park and a nature reserve.It is not that big- 540 hectares. A part of it is open for public.

Indian Ocean at Pangandaran

On a small motorized canoe going around the isthmus of Pangandaran. The waves were massive, but the view was spectacular!

Delicious seafood in Batu Karas

Batu Karas

A nice little surf beach with long breaking waves, volcanic black-sands. Although it was raining, we still were able to take a ride on a banana boat and then eat at a small restaurant along the coast.

Home away from home this past weekend

These views are right outside our rooms. Very relaxing as I read my book and drank my coffee.