Yesterday A Wonderful Day on the Motorbikes! Yes!

 Thursday - We had an open day....WAY COOL Nick...lets go for a ride...yes?

OK - good with 2 bikes! 

Off we went at 9:15 am and the Sun was out and just a perfect day for a bike ride!!! 

            

       YES... Ellen likes!

Nick & I had heard from friends about this nice drive to this mountain called Mt. Gunung Telemoyo ...and you had a beautiful view up there!

There are several mountains all around us but we decided on this one because the ride is fun up to this area that has a lot of countryside!

 

We rode and rode.going up into the hillside...oh how I love to ride through the villages and see the beautiful scenery! 

Such a treat!  

Once we got to the turn off for the mountain...we paid the gatekeeper a fee to go up it...and as we traveled upward along the mountain road....  

 

We saw a nice view and stopped to take some pictures!  All along this road local people were working the land!  Ridges of rice...laid out so neatly!

 So hard & diligent working people!

 The views were stunning!

We could not see the top of the mountain - we planned to ride up ~

 But we certainly enjoyed looking down!

 The path was REALLY rough...we had to ride with our feet out because of the broken up rocks and gravel....we went further up and then realized....this was not wise!  What if we get a flat?  What if we slip? 

 That would be no fun at all! 
So we made a turn around on the mountain - and we were both glad we did!  No need to take chances - we were at least 50 km away from Salatiga and the little town below...well just not wise!
 We went down again- waved to the gatekeeper - and off we went riding around the mountain ranges and sawa's...(rice fields!) 

                                       We stopped for a beautiful view of our surroundings!

                One of the village roads we drove along! Nice huh?

 We saw these 2 men with their cattle - hooking them up to a plow that was made of wood...that which they have done for many years - and most likely their fathers too!

We came to a hillside and saw the mosque in the background...pretty sight huh?  See the rice fields being irrigated?

 By the way most of these mountains around us are volcanic!  This is Mt Merbabu!

 Can you believe the little roads we drove through...so many like these!  Nice! 

Look at that cloud forming up there...just had to stop to show it to you!
 It was around 1:30 and we were getting hungry!  Breakfast was early this morning!  So we tried to look for a place to stop at. There was 2 hotels but both restaurants were closed - no guests.  Nick said he knew something down the road back towards Salatiga!

So off we went..riding down down down back towards Salatiga...and Mr Roadrunner Nick was enjoying his ride! And Ellen was a little slower behind him.  No hurry! It was so fun to drive down to town!  We decided

 to stop at Resto Lotus a cute place we had eaten before!  

It was good to take a break!  

Let's have early dinner today?

 Coffee, nasi goreng special, stirred fried veggies and a COLD beer...it was hot today!

We got a bit roasted on the arms and face from our ride!  When the Sun is out it can get pretty hot out there!

After we had enjoyed our lunch and surroundings - we headed into town to say Hello to David and Swanny and their daughter Joke who own the motorbike shop where we purchased the bikes!  We had been wanting to say Hello to them!  So we did and had a nice visit - and now we are invited to come to dinner at their home on Sunday...how very kind!  David & Swanny and their daughter had lived in Holland for about 13 yrs and returned back to Indonesia around 2004. So they both speak Dutch!

First News Jakarta Post ~

Eruption Volcano - Mt Kelud

Volcanic Eruption Mount Kelud

We just woke up here this Friday morning and looked outside to see what kind of a day it was and saw gray powder everywhere around the house, on the trees &

plants and driveway and village pathway.....and received two text messages - yes there was a eruption 200 kilometers from here.  We know nothing more at the moment but will keep you posted!

Last night I briefly woke up and heard a loud sound outside...but our rains here can come down really hard -and after having 3 gorgeous days of sunshine - we thought it was rain.  But that was the gray dust coming down last night! 

 A gray mass all over the trees and grass and roofs!

 As you can see that is a whole lot of volcanic dust that fell and a roof texture too!  Gosh so concerning for the people all around that area!

Oh my....I am praying for the people around Mt Kelud - please pray with us about them!!!  Looking at the dust - 

We will keep you all posted - I will try to go online and see if I can hear more!  Our friends said no news yet but that they are evacuating the area around there...that is all she heard on the news! 

A Day with a Friend!

It was Thursday and we wanted to get a haircut.  So Beppie and I went off to run an errand and then get a needed haircut.   We decided to go back to the same place we had previously gone - Salon Lutuyn.  We were pleased with the results - the Stylist did a great job -they were both were very professional!

The best part of getting a haircut is the wash!  Yes one separate person does the hair washing and they do a grand job - it is like they have had training in school.....oh my talk about a head massage!  Oh my, close the eyes and DREAM!  It is wonderfully relaxing!  There are gals that do the washing and then the hairstylist come to do you hair.  I only have one suggestion:  maybe come and talk with you first and discuss what you want done before it is all wet and out of style sitting there?  

Just wonder how they can see it - but with a little behasa Indonesian and Beppie sitting right there next to me - we got it across!

Really cute Bep....looks good in the back too!

I suggested we go visit Linda at the Biztro restaurant and she said "sure!" so we drove up to Linda's gate of her house and said "YAHOOOOOOOO  LINDA ARE YOU HOME?"  Her front door was open so we called again from the car.....YOHOOOOOO Linda????  Yep there she was laughing at those crazy women in the car calling out to her! 

She gave a hand and said 5 minutes...and I will be there!

All Right Girl!

We had a really nice lunch and a great chat!  Beppie having been in Asia 30+ years and Linda going on 40+ well the two always have enough to share and Ellen get's a chance to listen to these precious women and it is always amazing!!!!


SATURDAY morning is Pancake Breakfast at Kawan Kitchen...and many people come to chow-down...a good ole American breakfast!  We invited our friends Frans Bambang & his beautiful wife Agnes and daughters Lisa & Marie to join us!  Frans had a 15 year career on the Holland American Cruise Line.  We thought he and his family might just enjoy a hearty good ole' American breakfast!

....and everyone did!  Especially the pancakes said Lisa & Marie!

As you can see it is t-shirt weather in Salatiga - 9 am and mild outside! 

And Kristian and Lianne (the Dutchies!) had come in too!  They were chatting with Beppie about their "first time" trip to Singapore and all that they experienced!  They were quite overwhelmed by all they saw and how modern & clean the City was!  Kris & Lianne had to leave the country to get a new visa and then re-enter into Indonesia again!

It can be a hazzle - but at least you get to see some other areas!

Do you see the brown bag between us?  It is full of groceries!  Yes...this is how we do our weekly shopping at the new Super Indo store!  The bag fits between the two of us and then the motorbike attendant hands me the bag to put on my lap!  (it is pretty heavy to lift!)

                          There you go...I am situated Nick - head home!

Nick has to balance the two of us plus the grocery bag....he does a careful job of driving us home! 

Here in Indonesia - everything is packed small...the milk is in a liter size, the sugar is a small packet, oh by the way...eggs are not in a carton but stacked into a plastic bag...yes...so you better be careful how you pack that - right on top of all the groceries and hope they make it home in one piece!  We are getting quite handy with it!

I am so enjoying my bike too!  Gosh it feels wonderful to ride that thing - buzzing through town!  I must say I am still a little careful....you have to be aware of a whole lotta things around you - but I seem to do OK just keeping my eyes in front of me - people zip around me and cars too - but just staying focus on where we are going to right in front of you - helps!  Mind you, people zip left and right and criss - cross - and remember this...they drive on the left hand side! 

When I return to the States...if you see someone riding on the left side...it most likely will be Nick & Ellen - just returning and back in town........ha!   Boy..... to think I haven't driven a car in over 8 months...WEIRD!

                           I hear you guys in Oregon have had a BIG Snow fall ~ Gosh you guys!  Pictures on FB are beautiful!!!  Thanks for uploading them!  

Let it Snow!

                                        Let it Snow! 

 Let it Snow!  

 Here's our dear friend Marilyn!  Hi Marilyn....you look so pretty out there!  That IS a lot of SNOW!

Have Fun Everyone...and also be careful out there!  No slipping and sliding - !  

Oh I bet skiing will be the BEST! 

A Monday - Something to do ~

We headed into town for a few errands on Monday morning.  Nick came across another guy that makes larger boats!  Well the invitation to sit down was very attractive - and so he did..the rest is history! ha! 

You can already see him reaching into his......

 Nick was buying some drill bits at this little shop and next door is a shoe stand...these little girls were giggling and looking at this 'tall blonde woman' and then one said 'good morning mister!' Awe...I said 'you can speak English'....they hid themselves again and giggled and laughed....so I walked around to them and said 'good morning to you!' One girl said 'what is your name?' I said 'my name is Ellen'....'what is your name?'  They each gave their name...Then they started feeling a little more confident, I think!  So I asked if I could take their picture...yes?  Okay they said!

How cute is that?!!!! Just look at those smiles!!!!! Oh they are so adorable & sweet..aren't they!  We were surprised to hear them speak English because they definitely look like elementary school students.
The kids & adults like to try out their English with us as we stroll through the streets - and we love to encourage them! 

The little streets are full of shops and stands - all selling often the same things.  This is different for us...but different parts of town sell different things - and they are all clustered together.  It seems odd to have to compete with one another like that - but we have seen this in Malaysia, Thailand and also Cambodia.

 I guess each customer has their own shopkeeper they go to.

 Lots of stickers for sale...seems like something people enjoy.  This guy is content to sit/squat and check them out.

 We were surprised how busy it was downtown on a Monday morning!

...and it was a very busy marketplace selling veggies, fruits and meat (don't ask about the meat department!) Ellen no like!

Most people come downtown to buy their goods at the market place and yes they are up way early...but the Diemel's ....well they are still snooooooooozing...oh my!

 Heading down Sudirman the main street.  Nick will park the bike and the attendant keeps an eye on it - we leave our helmet on the bike too.  It cost 1000 rupiah's but Nick usually gives double. We appreciate our bikes being kept an eye on!


Here is the biggest store in town Ramayana - they sell clothing, housewares, an on the third floor is the grocery store. 

 This becak driver was taking a snooze - a late morning nap...gosh he sure looks comfortable!  I just had to take a picture and hoped he would not see me!  But he just snoozed - no problem!

 Oh this is fun....we had to go to the motorbike shop to buy a part for my bike and this "very fancy" bike was getting some more accessories...just check out this Yamaha would you??????

 A 'see-through' fiberglass seat.

 So many new parts all gold-colored.

                                                                                               Look at the rim...oh my!

                                                                 Yeah sure! Will do! 

 Gosh!

Our friend behind the counter always greets us "hello Mister how are you?"

He gets an English lesson today!  Nick always takes time to chat back and forth with them!   They are really helpful!

 Another reason we went to town was - that Nick had purchased a very nice pair of slacks a few weeks ago and then accidentally snagged it on a table - it had a sharp edge - well he wanted it repaired.  He had seen a young man working with a sewing machine in town, several weeks ago. This guy was stitching/sewing 'free hand' designs on the machine and doing such a great job!  People came to him to sew their name on many items.  So Nick went to the computer and printed out his own creation of a "GECKO" and brought it to this young man.  The guy closed up the hole by stitching over the hole the gecko all with the needle and thread, maneuvering that machine like it was the easiest thing...the machine was a very old type too. (no not a computerized machine)                                                                Amazing we thought!

Shopping at the new
 Super Indo grocery store in town (yes that is the name of it and you can imagine...Nick likes the name a whole lot!!!!!) ...Nick found something VERY FAMILIAR!!!!

Would you believe it - Oregon grown Thompson Grapes in a can from Salem!



He was tickled to find it there on the shelf!  So guess who is eating grapes on their oatmeal cereal in the morning?????

English Lessons Here & There!

We were asked by a gal that is a English Instructor at the University in town to come interact with
some guys who are Tour Guides on this island outside of Semarang.  They had come to Salatiga by invitation to learn English and be better prepared for the tourists that have discovered these islands on the north coast of Java!  Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Nyamuk,Parang Genting & Bengkoang.  The main island is Karimunjawa  See these island...click here .....Karimunjawa!

Oh my goodness after hearing and seeing this link - we want to go there! 

So because people are starting to discover these islands - the tour guides (local guys!) really need to learn to speak English and they were anxious to learn!  We had lots of fun that evening and Arien the instructor who invited us to join for the evening, divided us into 4 groups.  Our Dutch friends Kris & Lianne also came to this evening class.

We each had 3 guys in our circle...and we asked them questions and they answered in English telling us about the island(s) and how gorgeous they were!  These islands are 2 hours by boat from Semarang or Jepara.  Of the 12 months of the year, January - March are the only months that there is no boats going to the islands.  Why? Because the rainy season bring with it - storms & waves that rise up to 5 meters high (15 ft) and too dangerous to travel.  Nevertheless they found a day that it was not so bad to come by boat to shore and travel to Salatiga for this class.  Quite an effort they made to come! 

We interacted with them for 1 1/2 hrs and we hope to come back again.  They will be in town for these lesson for 2 weeks.  Hey guys lets take a picture together OK?  And how about a "crazy" one yes?

We had a great time...and Kris & Lianne too so enjoyed it!  We thank Arien for inviting us to spend time with the guys and we told there WE ARE COMING TO VISIT YOU SOON! After March OK?


This morning Nick & I decided to go for another walk again - that will be the 2nd time this week we did a 4 hour walk to town and back.  We did go by our "new friends" whom we met in church last Sunday, Gordon & Deborah from Kentucky/South Carolina/Florida and said Hello! to them at their hotel. 

Their support team, a couple from Papua who have been there already 30 years, Walter & Diane - had just received their son Ryan - who had arrived from the US.  Ryan will be joining his parents in Papua in 1 year.  He will be taking Behasa Indonesian lessons here in Salatiga - then go back to America to get married with his new fiance and then they will settle in Papau together...WOW what a story!  Love to hear all these sweet stories!  

Now get this?????!!!!! The couple who lived & rented this house for 9 months (the one we are staying at!)  and who were in Salatiga learning the language at the language school, well they are now in Papua and in the very place where Walter & Diane are!  PLUS Ryan their son grew up with "Kars" the person who rented this house and is now in Papua!  Yes Kars was also with his parents in Papua and would you believe it these kids are now grown up and also coming back as adult to serve there! Is that a WOW or what???!!!!!! Yes it is a big WOW!
                                               

 Just Love all these wonderful stories! 

At the other table was a group that had just arrived from San Diego and were going to be here for 10 days.  Pretty neat ....Nick went over to say Hello and welcomed them too!  All so very special to us!

We headed into town - and then walked along the busy street

to the end and then headed back towards our area again.  We stopped at a restaurant and visited with Linda who has been so' supportive to us those first weeks in Salatiga...and we enjoyed a wonderful chat with her for a while!  Linda has been here almost 40 yrs!  We told her about our new friends and told her they come from "her neck of the wood!" 

We were also invited to join our neighbors down the street for a Saturday afternoon English conversation meeting.  Oh yes we would love to come!  Pak Wawan & Ibu Nanik and several friends open their home to come and teach them English!  So we are the fourth couple coming and we sat altogether in the house - Ibu Nanik had lots of snack out to share...so nice!  And we all sat and talked & practiced words and sentences.  The theme was Chinese New Year - so words like: symbol, destiny, family, fortune, rain, debt, clean, orange, fireworks, drum were spoken in sentences to help pronounce them and understand them.  Then they graciously helped me... Ibu Ellen speak it in Bahasa Indonesia!  Oh my, how kind they were..because this woman still struggles....Tahun Baru China simbol adanya naga.  Chinese New Year symbol is the dragon.   Nico dan saya pergi ke rumah dari Pak Wawan dan Ibu Nanik untuk behasa Inggris.  Nick & I go to house of Pak Mr Wawan and Mrs Nanik for English language.  I know I know it sounds good right?  Well it takes a whole lot of thinking...but again the people are so kind and generous and supportive!  Truly!

So of course we posed right?  They had their smart phones and I brought my camera!  We all laughed because we had the same thoughts!!!!

      Precious Smiles! 

  Oh such a sweet group!  We will be back next week OK?  We received a warm YES!

Sampai Nanti! See you Later! 

Terima Kasih! Thank you!  Sama Sama! Likewise!