One month left in Jakarta

Good evening!

Today I went to Fitness First again (for the last time, since my membership expires this month).

On my way there I got stopped by the ojek drivers at the entrance to Mega Kuningan.

Now where they know me, they stopped me and wanted to show me something. Now they have three bottles hanging inside their little tent. And in every bottle there is a snake. They opened one of the bottles and started playing with the snake. That poor thing can barely move on the tiles (just like Maj-Britt and me, since they can be very slippery...), which makes the men much faster than the snake.

Then picture session began and every ojek driver now most likely has a picture of me and with me.

In the end they threw a stock over the snake, which made it impossible for it to move at all. And they could pick it up from the ground and put it back into the bottle.

They told me that they eat them and that they are delicious.




The guy here playing with the snake is named Agus. Agus has plenty of pictures of me and with me now... More than I have of him!




After fitness I have only been back here at Casaluna and relaxed, until I went to Grand Indonesia with Maj-Britt at 18.00 p.m. to eat fries and burgers at Burger King.

Afterwards we walked around and I was stupid enough to try a sample of some DURIAN cake... I get more and more convinced that I am one of these persons who hate Durian! I hat to take another sample of some popcorn afterwards, just to get another taste. But unfortunately I chose the sugar popcorn... But stille better than Durian cake!

We had some frozen yoghurt at Sour Sally's and went shopping in Forever 21 and Mango.

A great girls evening!

Now I'm back in my room at Casaluna. I have just had the guards help me with ordering a taxi for tomorrow morning at 4.30, where I'll leave for Sumatra for my four day vacation.

I'm starting to get a bit nervous about the trip and if I will get around ok. But I have had a lot of advice so far, so I guess/hope that I'll be just fine! Maybe I'll get 10 years older during these days, just like Heidi and my trip to Bandung! :)

Tonight 00.05 will also be the time, where there is exactly one month until I leave Jakarta. And tomorrow 17.00 (Danish time) there will be exactly one month until I arrive in the airport in Copenhagen. I'm both a bit scared and sad about leaving Jakarta. I guess I will miss it really badly, even though some annoyances, like the heat and the traffic, have been hard on me. But on the other hand I really look forward to coming home again!

I'll get back to Jakarta on New Years Eve, so most likely my next blog update will be in the new year!

So happy New Year everyone!

And good night here from Casaluna!

Christmas in Jakarta and COBRA's!!!

Since last update, we have had Christmas.

Christmas eve's day was not very amazing. I went to ITC to go to Carrefour and shop some jewelry for bringing home.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing at home, until Andreas, Eva, Maj-Britt, Johan and I left Casaluna at 18.45 to go and have our Christmas dinner.

Maj-Britt had ordered a table at Kampus (http://www.kampusjakarta.com/), where they served a nice Christmas buffet. Kampus has a turning restaurant with huge windows. That way you get to see most of the city, if you stay long enough in the restaurant.




An Indonesian Santa was walking around Kampus while we had our dinner. I had seen him giving presents to some children, so I was flirting heavily - until I realized that all children and woman got a present: A monkey teddy bear and two pieces of chocolate.

But I have two monkeys now, since Maj-Britt didn't want hers!




On the picture above you see the sofa style furniture they put in a lot of restaurants. It looks very nice, but it is not good for having a dinner...

In the background of the picture you see some of the lights from the buildings in Jakarta.

After Kampus we were looking a bit around to find another place to have some finishing of drinks. After a while we settled with Ritz (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Jakarta/Information/Default.htm?om_b=10_information) in Mega Kuningan.

Ritz was very beautiful decorated for Christmas.




And after Ritz we walked home to go to bed. They say that turkey makes you tired... Maybe it is true!

The 25th was relaxation again! And I slept almost all day until Maj-Britt and I left to go to a Christmas party that we had been invited to by Helen, an external consultant at the embassy, at 16.30 ish.

Helen had made wonderful food and she and her husband, Ken, had made sure that everything should be just as "Christmassy" as possible! It was very lovely! And Helen really gets credit for her food. Below the menu:

Drinks:

• Almost everything (but I mostly got white vine)
  

Snacks:

• Mushrooms with Spinach & Ricotta
• Turkish Cigarettes
• Samosa & Spring Rolls

Appetizer:

• Peach-Champagne & Strawberry-Almond Soup

Main course:

• Roast Turkey
• Gravy
• Traditional Dressing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Mustard Glazed Ham
• Mashed Potatoes Casserole
• Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes
• Golden Dome Cauliflower
• Julienned Carrot & Zucchini with Honey
• Rolls & Butter

Dessert:

• Frozen Lemon Meringue Torte
• Coffee/Tea/Liquer
• Butter Tarts
• Mince Tarts
• Meringues
• Chocolate Snow Cookies
• Mandarin Oranges

Wonderful! And than they had "Santa" visiting, who brought a present for everyone! Maj-Britt and I got a bottle of red vine from Santa. That is something we don't get often here, which makes it even more special to enjoy a nice glass of red vine!

Ken took some of us guests for a little walk around the neighbourhood to show us a "house" down their road. And someone really lost it. A very rich Indonesian has build a copy of Bukingham Palace on a small and poor street in Jakarta. "They must be confused with all that money!"

Today I have been sleeping again! Afterwards I went to Carrefour and ITC, thereafter to Fitness First. On my way there I saw a kind of silent demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy. Some Chinese were sitting on the sidewalk in a meditation position. I was thinking whether I should stay and watch them and see when someone came to move them. But unfortunately I didn't. And when I came back - they were gone. And I do not believe that they went because they just wanted to...

I went further. And here it was! In front of Ambassador Mall some of the ojek drivers that stand here every day were hunting a cobra they had chased out of a field between our embassy and Ambassador Mall. It is the field where whole Mega Kuningan is supposed to be evacuated to, if there is a fire or and earthquake. And in this field apparently there are cobras... Enjoy!

I must have been looking quite astoned, cause suddenly it was funny to show me how they could make the cobra rise and attack and two men were hitting the ground around the poor animal with stocks, which definitely did not make it less aggressive...

And one of them was offering me to catch one for me for 40.000Rp... I have no clue what a cobra should cost.

They showed me another cobra they had catched today in this field. They had put it into a plastic bottle. And there was poison everywhere around this poor thing in the bottle, since it had been attacking the plastic walls all the time.

The cobras were a bit small and I got the impression that they were baby cobra's. They were not very thick and they have probably been around 40 - 50 cm long (but again I'm really bad at making such estimations...). But when they rose up to attack they got a huge head!

Since that I've been sleeping and relaxing again... So not much new under the sun!

Jakarta is filled with mosquitos lately and on the 25th I really got bitten, so now my legs look as if I have some kind of bad itchy disease...

Holiday and goodbye to Heidi

Monday was mostly spent at Casaluna - relaxing, on the internet and that typical kind of stuff...

Around 16.00 I went to ITC with a very nice batik fabric I had bought in Yogya. And now a tailor is making me a dress of it. I'm thinking about wearing it on my way home to Denmark! :)

At 16.30 I had to meet up with Heidi at Oakwoods, so I was waiting at Starbucks.

We went to have Heidi's last manicure/pedicure (and a pedicure for me) at Plaza Semanggi.

At 19.00 Heidi had ordered a table at Amigo's, Bellagio Mall, Oakwoods for her goodbye dinner. Frozen Marguaritas and great people! :)




Tuesday morning I met with Heidi at 9.30 at Oakwoods again and we were going to the post office to ship home some of her stuff. And I wanted to sent home my Christmas cards.

Afterwards back to Heidi's place to pack the rest of her stuff and wait for Henry. And then it was off to the airport to sent Heidi to Thailand (where she is making holiday before going home).

It was a bit sad to sent home my travel mate, but on the other hand it reminded me that I'll soon also go home. And even though I like it here now and it is getting better every day, I'm also looking forward see everyone again back at home!

I met Santa at the airport! :)

Henry brought me home and I showed him Casaluna. And the rest of the day again went with internet and relaxing.

Today I have been at the post office again and right now I'm at Starbucks in Plaza Indonesia. I came here after the post office, eat some sushi and have finally gotten my 2010 calendar from Starbucks after I filled out my bonus card! :)

Johanna came and we have been talking and eating sushi (again) and drinking coffee at Starbucks (again). Now she has also left for the airport - Christmas holiday.

And I'll soon leave for home.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas tomorrow and in the days to follow!

Yogyakarta

Thursday was a short day at work. Actually I was not at work at all... I went to a workshop with Anjelita about energy efficient houses.

At lunch time we left and went to the ambassadors residence, where we (the embassy) were having a traditional Danish Christmas lunch.

I WAS IN DENMARK LAST THURSDAY!!!

The residence was amazing! Very nice!

And the food was great! Very typical Danish Christmas buffet - there was just no pork. But we even had Roed Aalborg, stuvet hvidkaal, roedkaal, leverpostej, rugbroed, sild e.g. and risalamande at last. Delicious!

After the Christmas lunch Andreas and I went to ITC to meet up with Heidi and shop a bit around. It did not get late though, cause Andreas was going to a hear a Swedish dj later that evening at one of the clubs. And Heidi and I were going to bed early, cause we had to get up again at 3.00 on Friday.

Friday morning our plane was leaving at 6.00. But it was good that we got up quite early, since we had gone to the wrong terminal... But we still had time for an ice cream (frozen yoghurt) at J.Co.

In Yogya we were picked up by the driver from our hostel. He took us around the city and showed us the most important things for our weekend.

We arrived at "Green Garden Bed and Breakfast" (http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/MSA-Green-Garden-B-and-B/Yogyakarta/36397) - the best hostel I have seen so far!!!!!
We even got breakfast on the first day! And they even put up our national flags to honor our visit!

We went to the room, relaxed a bit, used the internet in the room and then we borrowed some bikes from the hostel and took the bike into the city. I haven't been on a bike for half a year now. It was just amazing! As soon as we had figured out how to get around the traffic, we both enjoyed it very much!

The bikes were parked and we could walk along Malioboro Street - the shopping street in Yogya. And of course do some batik shopping, which Yogya is famous for.
Yogya is also known as "The city of batik"!
And a lot of sitting down having something to drink or ice cream - it was hot outside! And hot = exhausting!

A bargaining Catharina

After enough of shopping (or what Heidi thought was enough shopping...) we walked to Pasar Ngasem (= Pasar Burung = Bird Market). But we only walked through, since Heidi got afraid of getting the bird flu.

Right behind Pasar Ngasem Taman Sari is seated. Taman Sari is some kind of ruin. And apparently an old water castle.

The water castle itself was not really amazing at all. But the view from up there was great! There are volcanos all the way around Yogya and it is beautiful!

We wanted to take a becak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_rickshaw) back to our bikes, but we only got as far as KAKIKU, a massage place that Robert (the host at the hostel) had told us about. Here we got a 90 minutes massage! Sooo goooood!

Heidi and me in a becak

From here we walked back to Malioboro Street, looked a bit around and found Bladok (a German restaurant), where we had dinner.

We took the bikes back and I was tired enough to fall asleep while Heidi had only been on the internet for a short while.

Saturday we got up early, had an amazing breakfast again (This is really the best breakfast I have had so far in Indonesia! And so western!) and sat outside waiting for Thomas (the other driver), who was going to take us around for sightseeing that day. We left at 8.30 and went first to Borobudur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur). On the way there were some other smaller temples which we also saw.

Borobudur was amazing, but quite crowded... And again there were a lot of people wanting to take pictures with us!

After Borobudur we had lunch in a small city near by - a very cheap restaurant and the food was actually really good! I have never before had a steak for 6 Danish kroner...

After eating it was time for the MONKEY FOREST "Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi", where we bought rice cake, tofu and tempe to feed the monkeys.

There were no monkeys at all when we arrived. But Thomas called them and they came. And I fed a monkey!!!! :)

After this we went on Lava Tour Kaliadem. This is a city covered with lava from the last erruption of Mount Merapi. And it is amazing.

There is also a bunker - for security reasons - where 16 volunteers died under the last erruption. The bus didn't make it in time to pick them up, so they went into the bunker. Somehow the people getting the idea with a bunker for protection against a volcano haven't really thought about how warm lava is. So the 16 volunteers were steemed inside the bunker with many tons warm lava on top of them...

Walking on top of a city covered with lava

The next and last spot this day was Prambanan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prambanan). Much less crowded with tourists than Borobudur and much nicer. I can recommend Prambanan to EVERYONE!

We stopped by at Mc Donalds on our way back - very tired. And again this evening I fell asleep while Heidi was on the internet.

But it had been an amazing day - not only everything we had seen, but also everything Thomas had told. He for sure made me realize how much further we are in the western world.

Apparently they still do things here that I don't even dare to write on my blog. Maybe the government would close down my blog, if I did... But yes, we learned a lot!

Sunday we had this wonderful breakfast again and decided to take a becak into the city. We did a bit of shopping again and went to the Kraton (the sultans palace: http://asiaforvisitors.com/indonesia/java/central/yogya/kraton.html). This is by the way the most unimpressive cultural experience in Indonesia so far!

We took another becak to our lunch place that Robert had recommended - Hani's (a Belgian restaurant/bakery). Delicious!

From here we took another becak all the way back to our hostel, packed, relaxed and finally took a taxi to the airport, sitting and waiting in one hall, but this hall were four gates... That makes sense... ?

Back in Jakarta we found ourselves a Borobudur taxi, which brought us back home. Very suitable after a weekend spent at Borobudur!

And that was the weekend in Yogyakarta! And unfortunately the last holiday with my lovely Heidi-lady! :( But it was good!

Sankta Lucia

Wednesday the 17th of December I went early from work (15.30) because I was going to perform a Sankta Lucia parade at the Swedish handover of the EU Presidency and we were going to have a rehearsal first.

The event was held at the Shangri-La (http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/jakarta/shangrila).

It was great - Christmas decorations, ice sculpture, delicious food, the performance went well, nice people! Just perfect!

And best of all: Heidi was feeling better and able to join.

We were singing:
Sankta Lucia (http://www.jul-i-sverige.se/julsaang/luciasaangen.htm)
Goder Afton (http://biphost.spray.se/kristina.ekengren/3.html
Nu taendas tusen juleljus (http://biphost.spray.se/kristina.ekengren/3.html)
Giv mig ej glans (http://www.nykarlebyvyer.nu/sidor/TEXTER/POESI/ZT/GIVMIGEJ.HTM)
Staffan (http://www.traditioner.se/staffansvisa.html)
Stilla natt (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/non/sv/stillan.htm)

The event finished at 21.00 which was also about the time, where I very tired went home to bed. And for the first time I took a Silverbird (http://www.bluebirdgroup.com/executive.php?id=1)! NICE!

Wednesday last week was first spent at the embassy. Afterwards Andreas and I went home together – making a little stop at ITC to look at jewellery again...

Back at Casaluna it was time for getting dressed and getting ready, cause the evening should be spent at Independence Day of Finland at the Finish Residence from 19.00 until 21.00. Most of the Nordic interns were there – Heidi, Samuli, Øystein and Irma, Johan, Andreas and I.
It was brilliant! There was wine, There was rye bread, salmon (different kinds of salmon), meatballs, red cabbage, cheese and then there was liver paté!!!! And of course there were also a lot of other nice things. But rye bread with liver paté and red cabbage was great! Just what we needed!!!!

Øystein, the bad Norwegian :), Johan and Andreas talked me into trying Øystein’s snus and that definitely ruined the rest of my evening / night. I got the worst nicotine rush and did not have a pleasant night. Never do snus!!!!!

Thursday I went to the tailor after work – together with Maj-Britt. Of course my batik dress again did not fit perfectly, so I had to come again on Friday.

We walked through the whole of ITC and discovered a lot of new shops – super cheap snakeskin bags, jewellery and a lot of Christmas decorations. ITC just gets better and better.

Friday we had a fire drill at the embassy. We had to walk down from the 25th floor again. Since that my foot was hurting the rest of the day and I blamed it on the exercise. (Read further – the real reason will show up!)

Anjelita and I went to the tailor together after the fire drill. But again there was something to be fixed at the dress – I had to come back again later.

I worked late that Friday. After work I went to Starbucks to pick up Johanna, who was waiting for me there. I had promised to show her the jewellery store and the snakeskin store at ITC. And Johanna was just as impressed as I was. Even more actually!

At 17.00 I had to be back at Menara Rajawali. We were having another Lucia performance rehearsal at the Swedish Embassy, where we also got our Lucia dresses. It gets better, but we will have the performance today... And I’m not quite sure, whether we will be a catastrophe or not...

After the rehearsal I went back to pick up my dress from the tailor. This time it was perfect and I also found a shawl that fitted perfectly.

When I tried the dress on this time and took off my shoe, I realized that I had a staple deep up in my foot. Aha, that was why it had hurt all day long...

And when the stores started closing, I went back home to relax for the rest of the evening.

Early Saturday morning I had a post office date with Maj-Britt. I had packed four big bags again to sent back home. Now it is easier to imagine how I will ever bring back home all the stuff in my room.

All the stuff is being packed into boxes at the post office by some men who want to earn some money that way. Actually they earn quite a lot on this. And while doing that a customs officer is watching. I had brought some coffee. He smelled it and it was ok. But there was also a tampon between all my stuff. And he had apparently never seen such one before. So he wanted me to explain what it was. Since I wasn’t really up for explaining it in detail, I opened the tampon and showed it to him. He smelled it and nearly stuck it all the way up his nose... And since I didn’t want it back, he kept on playing with it the rest of the time we were there... We had a very hard time keeping the smile away...

When the boys had finished packing all my stuff the customs officer told one of the boys that I should better give him money for cigarettes. Very corrupt. And I guess that every local had just given him the money. But my immediate reaction was: “What is it that I’m not allowed to sent?”. I was quite certain that I had not been trying to send anything illegal. He had probably expected another reaction, cause he just replied that everything was ok and that way he never got money for cigarettes.

Packages and cards were sent and we went back to Casaluna. Now I just hope that everything will reach Denmark at some point of time.

I went to Ambassador Mall and ITC to fix the rest of a wedding present, before we were going to Triyono’s wedding in the evening.

I also tried to exchange the rest of the money from Thailand. But he only wanted to give me half of their value. Amazing what people think they will get through with sometimes...

Back home I was dressing up in Batik. We took a taxi to Lars’ place, where we had a gin and tonic (the absolutely most served drink in this country), before Lars’ driver took us to the wedding.





Even though we first arrived right on time, there was still plenty of time, before the others guests and the couple arrived! :)

The wedding was in a huge room underneath a mosque and the wedding was Lampung style.

Lampung is a province in the southern part of Sumatra, where Triyono’s wife comes from (http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampung).The couple came in with dancers in front of them and then a huge group of followers – the closest family.

They were seated on some thrones at the end of the room, on some kind of podium.
First there was performed a traditional dance in the middle of the room.

Afterwards we, from the Danish embassy, were called up as the first ones to congratulate the couple. Somehow the order went by rank. There were taken pictures with us and the couple and as we went down the podium again, there were two men standing with a camera and a microphone, waiting for us to give our congratulations to the camera.

Only three groups were called up. Afterwards everyone could just walk up there and give their congratulations. And there were no longer any pictures taken or cameras waiting for the guests.

The dinner had also started and people were rushing around to get some of the food.

We left the party just before 9 pm, where it was supposed to end.

We went with Lars to Cazbar in Mega Kuningan, a sports bar, where Per was sitting and waiting for us.

Andreas, Maj-Britt and I went on to fX Mall, where we met up with a lot of the other expats in Jakarta. I didn’t stay long and went home before midnight.

Sunday was spent relaxing until I had to go to a Danish Juletræsfest, which I had signed up for. It was arranged by the Danish part of Nordic Club here in Indonesia.

It was with Danish doughnuts, biscuits, glögg, hotdogs, a plastic Christmas tree, Christmas carols, bingo, Christmas presents and very interesting conversations.

I was very tired when I finally got home and went to sleep almost immediately.

Monday I was at the embassy late, went to fitness and went home to sleep again.

Yesterday was also spent at the embassy, afterwards Maj-Britt and I went home, left our stuff and went back to ITC, thereafter to Starbucks to pick up Johanna and then we walked to PEPéNERO’s, where we hadn’t been for a long time. Here we met up with Heidi, Samuli and Samuli’s girlfriend.

A great evening and there is definitely a reason, why PEPéNERO’s is one of my absolute favourite restaurants here in Jakarta!

Maj-Britt and I walked home again with a small stop by Ranch Market.

Today is the day for the last Lucia rehearsal right after work and the Lucia performance tonight. More about that soon... I can imagine how horrible it will be... But I have a hope that there will be a bigger group of singers this time than at the rehearsals.

A great thing about today is definitely that I’m wearing Batik! It is very comfortable and I’m starting to think that it looks nice.

If you thought that men were looking at you because you are bule, they especially look at you, if you are bule and wear Batik! :)

And this morning I finished one of my scrape Christmas calendars. I had the chance of winning 5000 Danish kroner or 1000 Danish kroner. I couldn’t leave it. I had to see, if I had won. I hadn’t. But now there is only one calendar to go...

Tomorrow we are having a Christmas lunch at the ambassador’s residence and on Friday Heidi and I are going to Yogyakarta! :) So most likely the next update will be on Monday.

Phuket

Wednesday last week endet with a trip to Semanggi to meet up with Tanja, Citra, Tiara and Mariza to watch "New Moon". Such a great movie! And great company! And Tanja showed me some of the good shops in Semanggi! ;)

Thursday was spent at the embassy and afterwards waiting at Starbucks for Maj-Britt, Johanna and Tanja after which we went to Trattoria to have Italian food. Delicious!




Friday was the day for going to Phuket - Oeystein, Irma, Johan, Andreas and me!

At the airport Andreas and I were interviewed by some young students - the typical thing that happens when bule's go to places where Indonesians expect bule's to go - botanical gardens, the airport, Monas...

And there is a lot of choice in the questions: "Do you love Indonesia?"... They have not really learned how to let people have more than two possibilities of choice. But on the other hand they understand a "yes" and a "no", and they would probably not understand any variations from that.




Arrived on Phuket we took a taxi from the airport and to Oeystein and Irma's hotel in Patong Beach.
From here Johan, Andreas and I checked out the neighbouring hotels and found a room with three beds for 1000 Baht a night. Super cheap!

My bed in Patong Beach

After finding the hotel we went to the beach, where we later met with Irma and Oeystein.

We were swimming and having Singha and cocktails and relaxing.

We went back to the hotel, got dressed and got ready and went out to have nice thai seafood before going to Bangla Road to party all night long.

Bangla Road was amazing! There were so many Scandinavian and northern European tourists: Swedish, Norwegian, German and Danish. Especially Swedish. But our neighbours at the hotel were three Danish guys our age.

But on the other hand the sex tourism was disgusting. The were prostitutes, ladyboys and old white men everywhere - both fun to look at - hilarious and on the other hand sad.

We had som buckets - Red Bull and Coca Cola. Nam nam! And hitting you hard!

Andreas with an old man and a young thai teenage girl behind him...


I thought that I should be good at this with all the practice through me whole life. But I sucked! Instead Oeystein was quite a hero...

Having a Singha after running out of a bar that showed to be a brothel...

We met two Danish "ladies"... Drinking, dancing, getting flowers and teddybears from some Arabian guys - we were bringing it on! And we met "Princess Mary's cousin" - or at least she said that she was Princess Mary's cousin.

Andreas, magician Elvis and Johan. Magician Elvis kept our table entertained!

Me with one of the many funny hats we bought that evening!

Saturday we went to the beach again when we got up - which was not very early after Friday night. And first we got a huge English breakfast to get rid of the hangover.

We were only Johan, Andreas and me, since Oeystein had gotten up very early to take Irma to the airport for her trip back to Jakarta.

Where the beach had been quiet and relatively calm Friday late afternoon it was now packed with people and chairs! And there were sellers everywhere.

Andreas and I got a great foot massage for an hour!

At late lunch we met Oeystein at his hotel and I had a wonderful green curry.

We walked around Patong after lunch and went shopping and bargaining. Great fun! I was really up for buying thai silk.

And then we went to the beach again to relax a bit, then home to change and for the boys part to have a nap, while I went to the hairdresser to have a hair mask.

Oeystein had remembered this place where it was possible to get a real good steak. He had seen it while we walk through Patong earlier Saturday. But we never found it again. Instead we went to a place with a huge buffet - seafood, pork, beef, salads - everything.

Afterwards we went back to Bangla Road. But almost everything was closed, since it was the kings birthday.

We bought some more hats and had fun with those, but then the boys went down to the beach and I went home to sleep.

Sunday morning the boys and I went to the airport at 6.00 am. They already had to leave for Jakarta that day, while I still had another day in Thailand.

I met a German woman living in Thailand outside the airport and she told me to take a bus from there into Phuket Town.

Phuket Town was not that amazing. Mostly everything was still closed because of the kings birthday on Saturday.

And every motorbike driver or taxi driver was trying to take you somewhere - especially to shops, since they would get money from them for bringing tourists.

I walked through most of the old town, had lunch at a German restaurant, visited an internet cafe, visited a few shops and tried to find some exiting things. But there was mostly nothing. Therefore in the end I said yes when a taxi driver offered to take me outside the city to a mountain from where I could look down on the city, to a giant Buddha and to Phuket Butterfly Garden (http://www.phuketbutterfly.com/home.htm).

The mountain was nice and Phuket Town was nice from up there. There were also some monkeys. But my guide was very protective, since apparently they were aggressive and had already bit a lot of people

The Buddha was big - but not that amazing again.

The Butterfly Garden was disapppointing. It was nice, but nothing you couldn't have seen at another place.

And afterwards it started. First my driver took me to the worlds biggest jewelry store which was not big at all, then another shop and then another shop - before he finally took me to the weekend market a bit outside Phuket Town, where again there were a lot of tourists, nice shopping and great food warungs.

I think he had a bad conscience for taking me around to all the shops, cause in the end he had bought me a bottle of water.

I walked back into the city after the market. It was quite far and I was still carying all my luggage. So I made a stop at another internet cafe on the way. It was also the only place to make a stop.

I found the same street where the driver been standing earlier. And at exactly the same spot I found another driver who was willing to take me to the airport.

Arrived at the airport I still had twelve hours to do pretty much nothing...

I wrote some cards, had dinner, looked around and tried to sleep. When I woke up after more or less only half an hour, there was no one left at the airport. I was totally on my own - scary. So I walked around and I found another tourist. He was trying to get a flight back to Australia because of an emergency in his family, so we talked for the rest of the night, until people finally started to return and life came back to the airport.

The flight back to Jakarta went fast, since I was sleeping through the whole time.

I was back at Casaluna around 12.00 and had time to unpack my stuff, look at the present I had gotten by post from Henrik - a Kinder Überraschung Christmas calendar and Danish candy :) and have a short nap before I went to Ambassador Mall and afterwards to the embassy.

At 16.30 I had to be at the Swedish embassy, where we had another rehearsal for our Lucia performance. This time with gloegg, apple pie and other Swedish Christmas specialties.

Afterwards trying on my dress and the tailor again, buying some pearls and then home to relax and sleep.

Today I have been at the embassy, had lunch with Oeystein, Johan and Andreas, seen the Norwegian embassy, have done some practical things for sick Heidi at ITC, and I'm now at Heidi's room watching television with her and eating banana cake and chips and dried fruit.

I have also found the most amazing stone-jewelry-designer-shop at ITC! I have to be careful about that one - it could eat up all the money for travelling! I loved it! I'm still smiling big!

Soon I'll be going back to Casaluna and having a nice night of sleep!

Fire in Jakarta

Today the view from the embassy has not been as good as the other days. It has been very cloudy, grey and now there is even a fire in the horizon...

Visiting the Swedish Residence

Happenings since Sunday:

After updating my blog at Starbucks, which cost me a loft of annoyance (It seems that I can’t make paragraphs/distances in the last part of the text nor between text and pictures. And I have almost tried everything! I have even tried to be smart with some HTLM-codes... And I hate how the layout looks of my last update! So if anyone has any suggestions: PLEASE BRING THEM ON!), I went to Sushi Tei to have dinner, then bought some snacks for the evening and went home.

Monday I was having a “Sankta Lucia” rehearsal after work at the Swedish Residence (and before that sushi at Ranch Market, cake at Starbucks with Heidi and ice cream at Oakwoods with Heidi).

This has been the biggest experience of this week so far!

The Swedish Residence is amazing! Like a palace.

We were only the Swedish ambassador, Hanna, Heidi, another Swedish married woman (her husband works for IKEA) and me for the rehearsal. But compared to how I had imagined that my first experience would turn out with learning new Swedish songs – it actually went quite well!

So far I have learned “Sankta Lucia”, “Staffan”, “Goder Afton” and a few others. I hope that I’ll manage to remember the texts for our performance on the 16th of December. (More about that one after the performance...)

After the singing part we had dinner at the Swedish Residence. The table was set like for a ball. And it was so nice finally to have homemade food again!

“Aspargestærte, en tærte med løg og tomat og gedeost, en salat, lækkert brød og nogle dejlige forskellige oste. Og hvidvin. Og et kæmpe frugtfad.”

Delicious! And a lot of regrets about the cake and ice cream at Oakwoods.

Yesterday I have bought tickets to Bali from the 16th of January until the 22nd of January! Relaxation just before I go back home to Denmark!

And I went to the tailor with Maj-Britt directly after work to try on my dress and the jacket that they made for me. They had chosen the wrong fabric for my dress. It looked mostly like the one that I wanted, but it had a slightly different brownish colour. But it was nice anyway. So I didn’t complain. They had enough to do with another bule-woman who was definitely not satisfied with their work. I do not hope that I give the same impression to others, when I talk to locals. Cause she was definitely rude!

They are now changing a few things at the dress and at the jacket. The dress has to be made smaller. They had made it way to big.

And then they will also make me some nice pants. So I’ll go there again on Monday and try the clothes on again.

Afterwards we went to Ranch Market to shop and then I have had a nice relaxing evening the rest of the day.

Today will be work and then we/I are/am planning a trip to the movies – watching “New Moon”. But I think that I have lost the overview of who will be joining.

Well, we’ll see tonight.

The most beautiful day in Jakarta - the sea, islands and mountains!

This has been the most beautiful day in Jakarta!

We have had clear sky, been able to see the sun and we have been able to see the sea and islands (Pulau Siribu) and mountains (Puncak) on the other side! Unfortunately the pictures are not clear and big enough to clearly see the sea, the islands and the mountains. But it gives an impression of the city!

WOW

Satisfied at Starbucks - the proud owner of 100 small batik bags!!! :)

Now sitting here again! It is - again - the third time in one day... It is Starbucks!
(I only have six spots left on my bonus card that I need to fill, before I can get a Starbucks calendar 2010!!!)

Thursday I went to ITC after work - and now the tailor is making me a batik dress. I'm excited and very much looking forward to see how it is going to be!

In the evening I had a sushi-date with Peter and afterwards Peter, Cornelius, Johan, Andreas and I went to see "Ninja Assassin" - the worst movie ever! Blood blood blood!!!
(But since it seems that I already have seen ALL the movies that run in the cinema or that are available on fake dvd right now, there were not that many other possibilities...)

Friday was Idul Adha.

Mariza picked me up early in the morning (early is first 6.30 - and that means not early enough to watch morning prayer) and then we drove to Deedee's place, where I had been invited to join the family for Idul Adha.

Many many many people sitting on a field in front of a school - praying!

Deedee's family had just come back from the prayer, when we arrived. And apparently the sacrifice was postponed until Saturday, since there was also Friday prayer later that day.

Deedee's mom had made Beef Rendang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendang) and other traditional dishes! Delicious!

And a picture of the result below:

And after the "breakfast" Deedee and her mom helped me getting dressed like a real Muslim with a veil.

Deedee's mom doing the traditional version.

Deedee doing the modern version.

And off we went, Deedee, Mariza and I, to find a place in the neighbourhood, where they did the slaughtering already on Friday.

And we found a place.

And I fitted in very well! The children had been standing very long and watched me. And according to Deedee, they had been discussion if I was a bule or not. Deedee confirmed that I was a bule and then there was picture time! :)

We also tried out another mosque, but here they were also waiting with the sacrifice until Saturday. Instead there were a lot of living animals. And Deedee had big fun tacking pictures of especially the animals!


We went back to Deedee's place, Deedee had another friend coming over, we eat again and then apparently Deedee and Mariza had some kind of nap - which I think that I ruined for them. No wonder Indonesians can get up that early in the morning and stay up so long every night, if they sleep during the whole day! (I hope you two lovely ones read this!)

After nap-time we went to Coffee War in Kemang, where Tiara and Citra also joint us! A great place! And most of all a great street! So many souvenirs. And I have seen some small wooden Tuk Tuk's that I definitely need to find again and buy!

And we had Banana Fritters (Pisang Goreng)! Saya suga Banana Fritters! (http://indonesianfoodrecipe.com/banana-fritters/banana-fritters/)

Oneng and Onah with Pisang Goreng!

From here it went home in a taxi and on the way I saw a lot of other animals that hadn't been slaughtered yet.

Out of the back window of the taxi: Cows and goats along the street.

At home I got a short short nap, before I had to get ready again and go to Plaza Indonesia. Here I met with Johanna, Heidi and Samuli. We had sushi and ice cream.

Three bule's crazy about sushi! :)

They went home and I met shortly with Mariza, Tiara & Co. to watch a movie. But "New Moon" was totally booked in all the cinemas.

So home to sleep instead.

Saturday I got up very early again. I wanted to be at the post office as soon as they opened - which they apparently first do around 9.00 on Saturdays.

I had a horrible trip there. My taxi driver kept on telling me "I love you!", "I need you!", "Kamu cantik!" and other stuff. I even think that he drove me around for longer than nessesary, without my notice, since I only focused on his annoying flirt!

When we finally reached the post office I was in such a hurry to get out of the taxi that I smashed my head against the door, which resulted in a headache the rest of the day.

But at the post office everything seemed to work out just fine! No one speaking English, but people were very helpful - of course with the intention of being payed tips. But I payed gladly, a lot, as long as someone told me how to ship out all the stuff I had brought there!

And I went home happy in a taxi smelling of petroleum, but with two receipes and two tracking numbers, so I can follow my packages on the internet! :)

The rest of the day was relaxing in my room at Casaluna, cleaning up and being practical.

In the evening I tried to go to Sarinah Mall to watch a movie and have dinner. But I was very disappointed. Again ALL the seats where sold out. So I had a pedicure instead and went home early again.

Today I have been to Mangga Dua with Heidi from early morning on. With the intention of bying scarfs.

Mangga Dua is the worst copy place ever! But they actually also have nice copies! I found some lovely watches and a lot of nice smelling perfumes, where you can't smell the difference and the bottle and the wrapping look 100% real!

(http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/indonesia/jakarta/jakarta_districts/info-123-mangga_dua_jakarta_district_guide.php)

But even though Mangga Dua is THE place for copy products, what I bought is not such a thing at all! I have bought 100 small batik purses, for an amazingly low price! How low - I won't tell - since most of you at home can look forward to getting one! ;)

After Mangga Dua Heidi let me off the taxi at Plaza Indonesia, where I have been hanging out with Johanna until now - in the order: Starbucks, Thailand restaurant, practical stuff, Starbucks, practical stuff, Starbucks.

And this was it! The rest of the day is not totally planned yet. I'll see what it brings.

And to everyone: A nice new week!