Bugs anyone?

Deni's mom maintains that she needs a dose of this Asian bug, known to scientists as ulomoides dermestoides and to laymen as the darkling beetle. According to her, secretions from the insect strengthen the body's defenses against her diabetes.  I don't know how many she eats a day, but they are put in bananas and eat whole and alive. This container is kept in a bedroom on the first floor of their house. Those little black dots are the bugs, she has food in there and cotton.

Cirebon Mall - dessert court

As the middle class continues to grow in Cirebon - more international franchises are opening.  Here are two:  One from Korea (the ice cream) and the other from Hong Kong (sweet egg waffles)

These are the ice cream cones - I didn't try but Regina's daughter said it tasted like corn

These egg waffles were filled with cheese - but you can add almost anything!

 

While Regina and her family ate hotdogs and drank coco cola I ate..

Rice with coconut, pumpkin and chicken -yum!

Avocado juice with sweetened condensed milk and chocolate syrup 

Tofu and Tempe with lots of spices!  Enak!

This is food from Solo - very good!

Fourth of July Food ala Cirebon

Happy Fourth of July

As hard as I tried, Ms. Regina still had me work today!  Not only is it our Independence Day, but it's also Saturday.  However, after doing workshops all morning with the teachers we went in search of 4th of July fare. Here it is!

The owner of this establishment lived in Canada for a while - so we were able to talk about Montreal, Quebec and Toronto. He also told me how much he loved snow.....







     



                                                                                   This is the the Mrs. Erot hotdog we got (Please        do not ask me about the story behind Mrs. and Mr. Erot)  The coco cola bottle is made special for Ramadan and it says "Have a great Ramadan with Oma"  Oma is the name they call me - grandmother!

                                                               

Sprucing up the outside of the school - just in time for the new academic year

Welcome to another school year!  The teachers will come tomorrow (July 2nd) and the students will be here the following week.  Everyone is busy preparing inside and outside of the building.  

Can't imagine students playing after school when it's 91+ degrees- but they do!

New colors on the outside of the building

School's Initials designed in shrubbery

I've given up my dream of ever becoming an international spy

Like a fool, I had Ba Sari back for another massage.  Within one minute of her pressing down on my pressure points I was crying out in pain.  I never would be able to withstand the  interrogation room for thirty seconds!  While I cried out - she laughed.  My saving grace was that I had no idea what she was telling me in Bahasa, but then she didn't realize I kept telling her how mean she was!
After an hour of this torture, I must admit I feel sore but so much better. And when the joy of pain inflicted upon you is only $4.50......