Tax Dollars at Work

This weekend I went up to Puncuk to stay at the American Ambassador's house (I have connections). I went with Lindsey and her parents who are in town for a couple of weeks. We went to Taman Safari and then to the house to stay the night. After being stuck in traffic for a while we finally made it up to Taman Safari. We bought 18 bunches of carrots and were on our way to feed some animals. We received a special guided tour of the crocodiles because we were from America. We had really wanted to see the Komodo Dragon but they were working on the exhibit. I had told the man that was there, and he gave us a tour of the crocs instead. I guess he thought that was as close as it was going to get to the Komodo. We also saw the Wild West Show which is my favorite part of Taman Safari. We thought that we had planned it perfectly to head up the hill to head to the Villa but we did not. We waited in a parking lot for about 2 hours before the police opened up the road to let us go up the hill. They were going to make us wait for another hour but I think that my smooth talking skills made a difference. We were on our way through tea fields up to the American Embasssy weekend home. There we had dinner, sat but the fire, and snuggled under the covers to sleep in the clean mountain air. It was a little piece of America in the middle of Indonesia. We woke up bright and early to watch the sunrise over the mountain. We had some pumpkin muffins and coffee for breakfast and went on a walk through the woods. We found the place where the measure the siesmic activity from the volcano Genung Gede. From there we got back into the car and headed back down the mountain through rice patties, banana trees, and bumpy roads. It ended up taking 4 hours to get back home because we took the scenic tour through Puncuk and Cibubor. It was great because our visitors got to see a lot of Indonesia. The whole drive I was thinking that God makes beautiful things. The landscape is phenomenal. All of the terraced rice paddies and as many palm trees as you can imagine. Beginning our trip in front of my house.

Carrots, Carrots, and more Carrots.

Waiting to go up the mountain.

My BFFL's the Police.

As I was getting ready for bed I consciously turned out all of the lights because I thought of my parents and their hard earned tax payer dollars. I did not want them to have to pay more money because I left the lights on over night in the Ambassadors guest house in Indonesia.

A little slice of heaven at the Villa.

Outside the gate of the villa before we begin our walk.

Lindsey and I on our walk. I would like to thank all of the loyal tax payers of America, because of your faithful giving, you helped to make my weekend a weekend to remember.

Cookies with Grade 6

I had three of my grade 6 girls over to bake cookies. I am their mentor for their final junior school project. They are learning about poverty and are doing service work to raise money to buy school supplies for a school in a village close to one of the girls houses. They wanted to come over to my house really badly, and I was not going to just let them just come over, they had to have a good reason. They came up with baking cookies to sell to raise money for the school supplies. Baking is right up my ally so I said that would be a great idea. They came over on a Wednesday after school around 2 and did not leave until 5. We made 2 batches of brownie, 2 batches of no bake cookies, 2 batches of easy peanut butter cookies, and they decorated many many sugar cookies. I think that they raised around $80 which was not bad since we only spent $15 on supplies. They need to raise a lot more money to buy school supplies but we are going to think of a different way to do it.
They often said, "Wow this tastes really good." or "Oh my gosh this is so yummy." I told them that they could taste one of everything that we made. I think that there was more tasting going on then that, but that is what baking is all about. They wanted to know where I learned my mad baking skills from, I told them my mom and grandma taught me everything I know.

How To: Save a Chichuck

This chichuck (baby lizard) has been in my sink since I woke up. They usually crawl out on their own that is why I left him there all day. He was still there this afternoon. I put on my big girl panties and saved him. This is a how to guide to saving a Chichuck from dying in your sink.

Step 1: Get a spatula.

Step 2: Scoop the chichuck into a dustpan with the spatula.

Step 3: Carry the dustpan outside and shake it until the chichuck has come off.

Step 4: Wash your spatula.

Freak Accident

I had a freak accident today as I was getting ready for school. As I was putting on my underwear I cut my finger on one of my toe nails. I thought to myself, ouch that kind of hurt but went about getting ready. Then as I was putting on my makeup I realized that I was bleeding. I realized that it was from cutting my finger on my toe nail while trying to put on my underwear. How bizarre?

Grocery Run

I thought that I would show you what it is like to go to the grocery store in Indonesia. There was another bag that I had over my shoulder that was also full of stuff. It is like going to a regular grocery store except when it is time to bring everything home. You cannot just throw everything into your trunk and head home.




Something else to point out- it is a beautiful sunny day.