God told Noah to build him an arkie, arkie

Otherwise known as "A Rainy Night in Georgia Indo".

Once upon a time back in 2002, we visited and it rained and poured so badly that we had to evacuate the house a few days prior to flying home.

8 years later, and it rained so hard and the water rose so quickly that the hubs and I looked at each other and said "Can you believe this is happening AGAIN?!11!?"

Thankfully, with prayers from my friends and a water pump with enough gas to last 8 hours running, the water level has subsided to the point where we're in no danger.

Check the slideshow to see how bad it was!

The sink water is water that came UP through the pipes. I won't tell you what it smelled like. Use your imagination: developing country, lousy infrastructure, lack of public trash cans...

Never Ask…

“What else could happen?”

I should know this by now. Yesterday, the children were at their father’s cousins’ home. Someone thought it was a brilliant idea to allow the middle child (6 years old) to sit ON TOP OF the billiard table while the “bookends” jumped from sofa to table and back again. Unlike her siblings, the middle child is EXTREMELY cautious and obeys “the rules” to the letter of the law. So one wouldn’t think that *she* would be the one to get hurt.

No one knows quite how it happened, but she fell off the billiard table and smacked her head on the marble tile floor. With the headache, dizziness and glassy eyes, we took her to the ER to get checked out. This hospital was different from the one I was at, but also excellent. We were triaged into the ER in UNDER 1 minute and were taken to CT within FIVE minutes of our arrival. They ran the CT and had us back in the ER in under 15 minutes. Everyone was extremely kind and gracious and EFFICIENT.

Total cost of the ER visit: 128.000.000 Rupiah (+/- $130 USD)
Having a 100% OK kiddo at the end of it all: Priceless!

Now let me just say in parting that the ER bill when broken down looked something like this:
100.000.000rupiah – CT scan
27.580rupiah – CT film
270.000rupiah – ER cost including doctor, administration, etc.

If we were back in the states, the ER copay alone would have been $150 and the total bill would have been in the thousands of dollars.

To put it in a little local perspective, the minimum wage here is 120.000.000 rupiah/month, so an ER visit for a local person making minimum wage would be a hard bill to pay. But I can GAURANTEE you that an ER visit at our local hospital back home wouldn’t cost $1300 (Florida min. wage is $7.5/hr, X40 hours, X52/12 to get monthly wage) total out the door cash price. Multiply it by 10 or 20 and you’d be close to the actual “cash price” of a “simple” ER visit. A Jakarta local could possible scrape together an ER visit cost, but I don’t know anyone who can scrape together $13000+ for an ER visit.

Now if you’ve got decent insurance in the States, you don’t have to come up with the “cash price”. You pay your copay, meet your deductible etc and you’re good. But what happens if you DON’T have insurance for whatever reason? Then what? I try to stay pretty apolitical here, but the differences in medical care and cost between the States and here are pretty striking. Something’s got to give. I don’t have the answers and even if I did, no one is asking me for them.

One more thing, health insurance isn’t available to everyone here. For most workers, they alone are covered by their employer thusly: they get sick, employer pays the bills for THEM ONLY. They have to pay out of pocket for their dependents. Or, if you work for an employer that offers health insurance, if you’re male, you are covered and your dependents if your wife doesn’t work. If you’re a woman, your insurance only covers YOU. Unless you’re a single mother in which case it covers you AND your dependents. This is to prevent “double dipping”. It looks bizarre from the outside, but I think it’s one thing that possibly helps control health care costs.

We All Shine On...

Instant Karma's gonna get you... Or why you never ever laugh at your childrens' first attempt at ice skating lessons.

Because after the lesson when the little cherubs want to "practice" some more, you get on the ice with them and "help" them, only to have one of them pull down onto the ice so hard you get an EPIC bruise on your unmentionables. Luckily, nothing is ~broken~ and the next day you have an appointment with a sports therapy doctor who hooks you up with three sets of meds to ease the discomfort.

So we all shine on... Like the moons and the stars and the sun...

Chop Suey

In other words, this one's a mish-mosh post. And like chop suey, there's a little something for everyone.
We went to Central Park today. That's Central Park FAR EAST, not Central Park East NYC. And like pretty much every other mall in Jakarta, they're doing a special event for the 487th birthday of the Capital City/Province of Jakarta. Central Park featured Dora the Annoyer Explorer's "Explorers Wanted" expo. Fokloric dancers from around the world were a featured attraction.

While at Central Park - and you must understand that going to the mall requires at least 4-6 hours of the day - we ate lunch in the food court and dinner at Sushi Tei. We'd had a previous trip to CP either yesterday or the day before and had teppanyaki - the best I'd ever had. Which brings me to the next video segment.

Yes, my children have finally mastered the art of chopsticks and food. And I've got video proof. And the oldest finally decided she likes sushi. The real stuff, not fake-o California roll, either. Which is a good thing because if you're looking for California roll here, you'd be S.O.L. Which since this is a PG-rated blog, you'll have to for yourself.

In other news, I've come down with the "flu" (or as we know it in America - the common cold) not to be confused with the influenza virus. I've not got a fever, just coughing, sneezing, stuffy head, gee I could use some Nyquil about now so I can rest blargh. I've been dosed with anti-nausea meds, antibiotics (because EVERYTHING gets treated with antibiotics) and a combination cold/pain reliever. I'm on day 3 of medication I think. And I'm slowly getting better. And with that I'll leave you with the following...

Eastern Journeys

What I’m listening to: “Semarang” by Daniel Sahuleka



Indonesia is a land of extreme contradiction. While there are mansions and malls that have shops that the average American could only dream of being able to afford the wares, there is also extreme poverty. It’s hard to describe adequately. I’ve been pondering what I’ve observed over the last couple of weeks and just trying to absorb it all. It’s difficult at best to even attempt to assimilate all the sights, sounds and experiences that make up Jakarta and it’s environs and put it into any kind of neat little package. Jakarta defies being put in a box, really.


One could almost call this “A Tale of Two Cities”, really. And I never realized just how well off my husband’s family are. Compared to the average American family, they would be considered “wealthy”. Compared to other family members here in Indonesia, they would be considered solidly middle class. I finally realized why our little family from America is looked on – not necessarily with pity – but with the good ol’ phrase “bless their hearts”. And because of my upbringing as a child of itinerate ministers who barely made ends meet and relied on church pantries and so on for a period of time, I still feel a little out of place in the more “upscale” areas. Like an interloper. I keep wondering when I’ll be told “you don’t really belong here”. I guess it’s no surprise that I feel more comfortable in the less affluent areas which abound.


We made a visit to the shore at Ancol and the beach was less than 2 metres wide and was littered with plastic bottles, bags and other refuse. But local children played in the sand as though it were the most amazing thing ever. Tour boats were moored along the sea wall that separated the Hotel Mercure from the shore and the Java Sea. In that few minutes of observation, I realized how grateful I am that our beaches in Florida are clean. The elder daughter became extremely distressed over the state of the beach at Ancol.

On July 4th after our outing to Ancol and Sea World, we dropped in at the wedding of one of the office workers in my family’s factory. I was warned by my mother-in-law that they were not very well off and not to be surprised that the wedding wasn’t very elaborate. I was not prepared to see a wedding that was on par with almost every single wedding I’ve ever attended in the US. Gorgeous wedding gown, faboo cake, nice decorations (silk flowers), buffet of appetizers, party favors and ice cream? Check. In fact, I think that compared to a lot of the weddings I went to in college, it was a step up. Comparing that wedding to the wedding of my brother-in-law blew my mind. That’s what really drove home just how well off my husband’s family is.


Our home-away-from home is located in a very industrial area compared to some of the really nice homes. The house is situated between the injection molding plant and the metal-stamping plant – both of which run around the clock except on national holidays and Sundays. To get to the house from the main road, you have to cross a bridge – Jembatan Genit* - over a river that is a sludgy brownish grey and littered with Styrofoam and other sampah**. The river is cleaner now than when I first visited in 2002, though. In 2002, the river was so full of trash that rats the size of Boston Terriers would run from shore to shore on mountains of crap. You couldn’t even SEE the water. The eldest daughter was even more distressed about the state of the rivers and canals in Jakarta than the beach. She’s decided to make cleaning up her home town her life’s work. She has always been concerned for the environment – it’s just her nature to care about God’s creation – but seeing the way the environment is treated here has really driven home for her the necessity of taking care of nature and the consequences of NOT being a good steward of the Earth’s resources.


The first time I visited my in-laws was in January of 2002. My father-in-law had passed away and my husband and I came home for the funeral. My mother-in-law was embarrassed by the location of her home. Once upon a time, her father had owned all the surrounding farmland but it had been sold off piecemeal for factories, so the family complex was surrounded on all sides by industry. What was once Mama’s garden is now a factory and office. To add “insult to injury”, the last few days of our stay were rained on to point of banjir***. We had to be floated out the back gate to the road on a getak****. Mama was very distraught that my first impression of her home/Jakarta would be tarnished by the experience. Far from it, however. What’s a few feet of water among family? I had the time of my life. It was like being at Disney World only without the “Disney-fication Factor”. It was real and unsanitary and amazing. I’d never experienced anything like it before and I still haven’t. But I fell in love with Jakarta. I’m almost more at home here than I am at home in the US.


Roundtrip tickets for 5 people from Florida to Jakarta: $8000
Seeing for yourself the reality of protecting the environment: Priceless

*Genit - Crooked
**Sampah - Trash
***Banjir - Flood
****Getak - a type of bamboo raft

Photo Op

To Amerika with Love

Dear American Expats and Tourists,

We know that sometimes you get lonely for home. So to honor your 4th Juli celebration, we offer you (overpriced) American magazines and "homemade American treats". You can stuff yourselves with tortilla chips, oatmeal raisin cookies, bread, cookies on sticks, cinnamon rolls and yes, even apple pie.

So have a happy 4th of July and enjoy!

Summer + Vacation = TOURISTS!

Most of the time, when we visit Indonesia, we don't do the "tourist" thing. Especially since Mommy is bule*. I tend to stick out like a sore thumb OR get confused with being Australian expat. Until I open my mouth. Confusion abounds since I don't talk like an Aussie. When it's revealed that I'm an American "on holiday", eyebrows reach for the hairline. Until I explain that I'm visiting family.

"Expat?"

Ngga**. My husband is a local.

Then wreaths of smiles and questions about how I like the food, "what's your favorite [thing/place/dish]?", "have you been to [place]?" More smiles when I say "Oh yes, I love [place] and I'm going back there this trip. Bali is nice and we're going there again this time also. When I retire I'm going to expat to Indo..." Which I fully intend to do. I LOVE IT HERE. It's my home away from home. And sometimes, when I'm not expecting it, it feels MORE like home than home.

Especially when home has Sea World and here has Sea World. See?

Parking at Ancol: 10.000Rp ($1.10)
Admission to Sea World Indonesia: 36.000Rp/person ($3.75USD x 6 = $22.50)
Souvenir plate with the kids' picture on it: 55.000Rp ($5.56)
Spending the day with Ama**** and Kuku***** and making memories that will last? PRICELESS

*Bule: Foreigner

**Ngga: No
***Ama: Nana
****Kuku: Daddy's Sister

Mal Taman Anggrek

or "Orchid Garden Mall" as it would be known in English, is home to a variety of shops and department stores, hair & makeup salons (at least 6), luxury textile stores, bridal salons, children's play areas, Starbucks AND The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, McDonald's, Wendy's, Popyes, A&W, KFC and a couple other US Imports as well as a fitness center, full size skating rink and 21 screen movie theatre (currently showing Toy Story 3, Knight and Day, Eclipse and who knows whatall else) AND 8 towers worth of condo/apartments. But the main attraction is generally what's happening in the main lobby area (Ground Level). During Christmas holidays, it snows and Santa Claus and his elves/reindeer are there. Barbie has been there and during the time leading up to Chinese New Year, the area has been decorated to celebrate, complete with exhibitions and whatnot. You just never know quite what to expect from T-A (tay-ahh as it's called here). Did I mention that the mall is 6 stories tall? That's roughly 3 times the size of our local mall back in Sunny FLA.

Anyways, today when the mall opened, the back-to-school partay was in full swing. School resumes for the new term in just a couple of weeks, so EVERYTHING is on sale with "back-to-school specials". Between that and the Jakarta Great Sale (22 Juni-25 Juli 2010) to celebrate 487 years since the city's founding, there is MASSIVE shopping to be done.

The Body Shop has the entire lobby arena area set up with their new line of products and their wares are being sold by a most energetic group of young adults. What they lack in trained skill, they more than make up for with enthusiasm! Perhaps if the shopkeepers in the US had choreography to go along with their product, the recession might move along?

Photo Op

The former housekeeper's live-in quarters

Pantai Indah Kapuk

Or more literally "Beautiful Kapuk Beach". Which is ironic considering that the beaches of Jakarta are - to quote the family - NASTY and SMELLY. However since we're not referring to the ~actual~ beach, but rather the grandiose (think Jan Crouch on crack) Mediterranean-inspired complex that includes a well-known golf course, Waterbom Jakarta water park, town houses that are incredibly gorgeous on the outside but - according to family - pretty ordinary on the inside and mahal* to boot and the Clubhouse Acasia where the kids are taking their swimming lessons this summer.

One month family membership to PIKFit: 670.000Rp. ($67+/-USD)

EIGHT Private swimming lessons with English-speaking teacher for three kids: 560.000Rp x 3 ($56USD x 3)

Seeing your oldest child learn to swim on the first lesson: PRICELESS

*Mahal: Expensive

Since we’ve arrived, our sleep schedule has been really odd. We’re sleeping earlier – much earlier – and as a result, waking EXTREMELY earlier than usual. To give you an idea, I’m usually awake by 3 AM. The children have woken up anywhere from 2AM to 4:30 AM – when the Masjid broadcasts the call to prayer. This morning was no exception. Since the “bookends” were awakened by the call to prayer, I popped “Ponyo” in the other laptop for them to watch and I took advantage of a little computer time for myself on my laptop. Towards the end of Ponyo, the sun started to rise and it was so beautiful that I had to capture it.

The time is approximately 5:45AM – 6AM but has been compressed to under 5 minutes. The video was taken from the roof of our house looking East. You can see the top of the Masjid in the right side of the frame. The song is “Jakarta” by Daniel Sahuleka from the 2008 compilation album “Eastern Journeys”.