A Saturday ~ Ride on the motor bikes to a Waterfall Sekarlangit / School Play

 The Plan for Saturday was to go riding with Kris & Lianne, Beppie ....what fun!  Wow......cross your fingers it does not rain!  

So we met a Kris & Lian house ...(Dutchies) enjoyed a cup of coffee and a stropwafel (Dutch) and then off we went...to Kopeng!  "Yes we"ll show you a waterfall" they said.  Neither Bep, Nick & I had been there before...so it will be great to go & discover it and of course the ride itself is already a big treat!  "Gotta get on that bike!"

We came upon a lovely sawah and vegetable gardens along the way. 

Cute villages built along the mountain side. 

Love the views...kept wanting to stop!  Hey Guys,,,,gotta stop.......HONK! HONK!

Don't you love those cabbages - right here?  The farmers cut them..and drop them here on the road side...clean them for the market, and then a truck comes to pick them up...it is completed loaded down (FULL) of cabbages...FULL!

Like on overload full!

We turned of the main  Kopeng road (this road also takes you to Yogyakarta) and into the sawah's!  Up & down into small villages and around and left & right...we kept going...it seemed from one village to the next one.  How I love this kind of riding...so fun!

Stretched our legs - it took about an hour....I would think to get here!  

So much fun though following one another along these cute little roads!  

Kristian & Lianne had recently brought both sets of parents here that had come to visit them from Holland.  So they were pretty familiar by this time how to get to this waterfall!

The guy inside is taking a picture of us and I am taking one of him!  (Loket~ Dutch for ticket booth!)

See the sign?  In English...Welcome to Sekarlangit! 

We were glad to have a little walk...going down into the canyon below.  We had dropped down quite a bit already on our  bikes to get here...so our walk was really short just 20 min.. 

The pathway was very nice..going down! 

Came across the bamboo trees clustered together....so many of them!

I leaned against it so you could get an impression of the height of these trees...enormous huh???! Gerrit & Lis..you had some growing in your backyard in Modesto...did they get this big?  I  know it took a lot of work to take them out before you moved!

Hey who's that guy? My Nico!

A woman was cutting branches below for her cooking fire.  Finding scraps of wood is a common daily need.

Beppie pointed out the coffee tree to us! Not much flavor to them until they are roasted..she said!  Fun to see the beans on the trees though!  Java Coffee...GOOD!!!!

I

I hear the river!!!!!!




Oh there it is up ahead...!

We came to the river...and we asked someone to take a picture of us on the bamboo bridge?

So we crossed over and continued up the pathway again until we heard the rushing of the water from the Fall!

It was pretty but regretfully there is always debris.  Not all people know to keep their trash with them and not to liter.

It is sad to see that.  These are beautiful surrounding and we all need to do our own part...not throw our trash on the ground!

That way we can all enjoy this beauty and take pride of this beautiful country and teach our children as well  not to throw their cups, wrappers on the ground so that everyone - Yes -  so that the next person coming here to visit this waterfall....will also  enjoy this special place too!

I am very proud of Beautiful Indonesia and we must all work together to keep it beautiful!

Some school girls arrived and they started jumping rocks....and then....one fell in....brrrr cold! 

...as Darma would say...."with Expression!" Good - you got it!

It was relaxing - just enjoyed the weather and surrounding for a little while.  We were thankful that the weather was working with us

Pretty how the Sun shines on the water...

We had a snack and then head back up to the bikes again...and then decided we would go have some lunch somewhere.  "Anyone know of a place to do so?"  Beppie said she did! 

"On the road again"........ as  Willie Nelson would say! 

As we got out of the canyon we were in...climbing back up ......it began to get darker & the wind picked up too!  This is always a sign the rain is coming!!! Oh Oh!  We stopped to put on our jackets - and then....as we headed back to the main road.....well it began to rain...first just a few drops ...and then more drops....oh oh ...you guys...."I think it is going to come down!!!"

Lunch?  Well not so sure now?! We got the rain...full shower...and we have quite a ride back too down to Salatiga...lots of cars, motorbikes, the road - potholes, lots to look at all around you...we kept dropping down, through lots of over spill of water on the roads...and passing cars, on the way down.... and then,  when we got back to the signal light intersection on the outskirts of town- Salatiga...we all decided (soaking wet!) to head home...and go get changed...a much better idea huh?  

"All right everyone...thanks for a great ride...and a pretty waterfall it was!  A continued safe ride home ...and YES! let's do this again OK?  Hartelijk dank - Kris & Lianne en Beppie ook"

There's no place like home ....when you are drenched....! 

************** 
We rested for a while and freshened up and then we had a nice dinner at Elisha & Beppie's and the four of us went to the Mountainview International School annual play! 

The kids did a tremendous job...amazing!  They had worked so hard - a great story too!  Angie directed it - "Great Job Angie!" and the stage was amazing too! There was even a "Coney Island" food sale! 

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU! 1938 STORY! check out this link on it!  A great story and message!

A terrific play & evening with great music - and the costumes so sharp!

Kawan Kitchen - Where we hang-out A Lot!

 Kawan Kitchen Home Fusion

Elisha & Beppie our friends run the restaurant Kawan Kitchen!

It is a great "hang-out" place for many people.  Especially for us foreigners although EVERYONE is Welcome of course!  But Elisha speaks English and Beppie too fluently - and she is a Dutchie - they give everyone such a warm welcome and reception when you arrive!

Every other Saturday - Elisha and team give us a 'good old American breakfast' which draws many of us there!  Yes, pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon...toast....syrup...the whole 'grand slam' if you want it!  We enjoy the friendships and fellowship when everyone comes on these Saturday mornings!  

But Elisha is a great Chef...and can whip up a delicious meal for any & all appetites! He cooked up "shark" fresh from the ocean - and that was a new one for Nick & I - a "meaty" taste to it!  I love their eggplant dish - yum, and Elisha specializes in Chinese, Malay and Indian food as well!  Bep is the carrot cake baker..but she makes many other kinds of cake too and all delicious!

Andreaz, Agustine, Anita is a great support to them...and are always friendly and serve us well!  Yep - Kawan Kitchen is a great place to be if you like "freshly" prepared dishes made with tender loving care!  

Lunch with My Dear Endah! / Celebration drink with Ryan, Gordon & Deborah!

 It was the "PLAN" to go out to lunch with Endah...and that came together last Wednesday!  We had the plan to go to Kafeole' but because it was voting day - they were closed!  But we had a better idea...lets go to Biztro instead?  Muhammad would find a "Fun Play Room" there and I am sure he will enjoy that as well!

Wow...look at that beautiful Lady!  What a great smile she has!  And Muhammad...well he enjoys the picture taking a lot and knows how to pose for them...huh Muhammad???!!!!

Endah & I had a good time - always a blessing to share and be together as women!  We had a very special afternoon - and little Muhammad found a friend to play with in the Play Room - it kept them both busy, while we enjoyed lunch and a nice warm day in the garden!  Perfect!  

Diva her oldest daughter was home and Karina was in school.  So it turned out to be a good afternoon to meet together! 
Thank you Endah for a lovely time this afternoon!  You are a sweetheart!

**********

Weekend is upon us~ Friday - We ran our errands this morning and then came the rain...quite a downpour - with thunder included!  Later this afternoon we will meet Gordon & Deborah for a celebration snack at Koinonia Cafe. Koinonia Coffee Shop.blogspot.com/  Gordon & Deborah will take their first exam to finish up Unit 1 on the language course they they attend daily.  

We look forward to hearing the good results! 

 You can tell what the results were right?  Yes...they passed!

 Congratulations you guys...Ryan completed his Unit 3 language class....and Gordon & Deborah Unit 1 class!  Wow...that is so good!

 So the celebrated with a milkshake, and some tortilla chips where you can order them....Koinonia Cafe

 Thumbs you guys...now for a Easter break...and a nice trip to Karimunjawa Island....have fun you guys....snorkeling, a let "the brain" soak in the warm Sun and weekend...with no studying for a whole week....yes learning a new language in 9 months is hard!

Election Day in Indoenesia ~

READ the English version of the Jakarta Post -

Today is a very important day for the Indonesian people!  We can pray for good and positive results for this nation of many islands! 

Sunday - Wow What a Great Day we had!

Sunday ~ yes we woke up to Sunday....and how wonderful to be able to go to church!

We had a great morning of worship & fellowship!

We headed home & relaxed and then went on Skype with my Jas, Milou and little Skyler in Holland - 9 am there - 2 pm here..."HI  YOU GUYS!!!"  How special that is for this mama and Oma! Skyler is growing - she is saying words now and I sure can see a 'personality' coming through ..ha! Looking forward to seeing them in a few months!

At 4:30 pm - we were invited to have dinner at bu Dewi & her husband. Darma's home - and Wawan & his wife Nanik had made a wonderful meal for us!  The English conversation group that meets Saturday afternoon at Wawan & Nanik house here in the kampung - (which is growing every week!)  We were all invited to their home - and we were blessed to come & enjoy a lovely evening of fellowship and friendship!

[{ Ibu Professionals ~ This is a women's group that meets once a week and gathers together to talk about issues of being a woman of integrity, a good wife, a good mother, a good business women (handling the finances at home) caring for the family in regards to health issues awareness to make a woman wise, and a blessing in the position she holds!  I really enjoyed hearing about this group (the English conversation meeting we have on Saturday's is also one part - to better yourself in communicating with your community! Their desire is for others to learn the speak better English - so many have learned the grammar part of English in school BUT not conversation!  There are many foreigners living in Kampung Dukuh and the women expressed focussing on Dukuh and start here in our kampung/village to reach out to bring "community" to the local people and the foreigners that live here! WOW ALL THIS JUST BLESSED ME TO HEAR IT!!!  )Women are welcome to join from all backgrounds and faith's.  Nanik had participated in writing an essay and hers was accepted and used in a book that was being prepared for print so others too could start up this group Ibu Professional elsewhere!  Wow - Nanik - congratulations...we are proud of you & your accomplishments! SEE Website Ibu Professional }]

Oh my Nanik had worked ALL day to fix this meal...bringing everything that she prepared at home  on motorbike to where bu Dewi lives! Such effort!

We felt so blessed! And the children guests were all presented with a cute "stuffed little duck" that quacked!  How thoughtful and how generous!  Our hearts are full of gratitude for our new friends and their hospitality and kindness!

The invitation was at 5:00 pm at Dewi & Darma's home.  Gordon & Deborah walked to our house at 4:30 pm....but it began to rain!!!!! Yes RAIN...I mean RAIN!!! They got stuck - and had to take cover on their walk to us!  Bless their hearts they were pretty wet...thankfully though you do dry pretty quickly here...with the humidity we have.  Luke & Joy also were wondering if they should go over on the motorbike or?...so we sent a "text message" to Wawan and he was able to find a "Angkot" - a little blue bus to pick us up right at the house!  Yeah Wawan!  Thank you!

Caleb & Reagan gave me a BIG smile!

So we all piled into the little bus...not made for big Americans... but nevertheless we all got in - the bench in the bus are amazingly small!- I always forget to bend way down when entering in and out of these tiny buses (size of a VW bus maybe?)...my back always seems to hit the entrance door!  Anyway...we arrived at their home...and we were welcomed by Dewi & Darma,

Our hostess bu Dewi explains to us the different snacks on the table.

 their daughter Chelsea. We also met Dewi's mother - a gracious & sweet mama!  Novia & Lulu, Herlin, Aaron & Sarah & kids, Jeremy & Mindy & kids, Luke & Joy and Caleb & Reagan, Gordon & Deborah...Wow a FULL HOUSE!

And the table was dressed with many many delicious dishes.........that......... ..... Nick & Ellen all recognized...YUMMY!!!!! Nanik  had prepared all this day starting early this morning she said!

Oh such kindness!!!!! 

Warm Smiles - every week we have fun speaking Conversational English with these ladies and many others!

Herlin is enjoying playing with Sarah's little girl!  All the children received a stuffed little duck too!

It was a wonderful evening and we all so appreciated their hospitality!  We enjoy making so many friends!  Our hearts are full with thanksgiving!  

We all appreciated it so much!

Darma & Dewi's  Wedding picture!

OK - let's take some pictures of the group together alright?

-say....... "cheese"

Can we all get together?  Darma asked?  Let's take some good pictures....

...he said..."with Expression" OK!

There we go...! We thanked our host & hostess, and also Wawan & Nanik!  It was a wonderful evening and we all enjoyed ourselves! 

Darma left on his motorbike and to flag down a Angkot bus again...to get us home! So we all ...piled in again!  Thank you Darma!

Thank you bu Nanik for all your hard work...we so' appreciate your kindness!  You must be tired..yes?You are a great cook!  

Delicious! Enak Sekali!

 Heading home...what a great evening we all had ~ a real blessing it was! 

Gracious Indonesian hospitality....

....as always!