Maya meets Indonesian Santa!!!

Santa arrived in typical Indonesian style via "bajaj", to spread Christmas cheer to all the Canadian expat boys and girls this past Sunday. Definitely not the reaction we expected, Maya's first encounter with Indonesian Santa was bitter sweet. She was so excited all day to meet the man we've been singing about and watching You Tube videos on for weeks. We certainly never expected to see the quivering lip, tight hold around Mommy's neck, big crocodile tears and the words "no, no, no" being belted out of her mouth. Things improved when Santa brought out the life size Dora doll but there were still no hugs or kisses, just a quiet "Thank You" and along she went with her doll. Oh well, maybe Canadian Santa will have better luck.

A weekend to kick off the holidays

It was a great weekend to celebrate the arrival of the holiday season. Not the easiest thing here in Jakarta, but the wonderful people we've met have certainly put us in the holiday spirit. I hosted the first Xmas cookie exchange on Friday which was delicious. Although we can't stop eating the cookies and it's only December 5th! Saturday we attended our very first Indonesian tree lighting party. Great food and great times with new friends. Now, with almost all our shopping complete (it pays off not having to work), we are anxiously awaiting spending time with our loved ones back home. With that, I say Salam Malam to all and to all a good night!

Kampeung Wisata

A Tour of a Local Village

Two weeks ago myself, Lynn and a few of my fellow Indonesian Heritage Society members visited a local village just outside Jakarta. The concept is very interesting. A while back, a well-off Indonesian women built a guesthouse on property adjacent to an existing village. She wanted to help provide the dwellers with the ability to work and live at the village. The villagers are able to seek employment at the guesthouse, farming rice and vegetables in the fields, making various handicrafts and sewing school uniforms for companies in Jakarta . It was a wonderful experience especially meeting the 350 children at the village's only elementary school. We were greeting with loud cheers and high fives. There are only 8 teachers available for all these kids! The women in the photo is 85 years old. Her and her husband weave flooring and walls out of bamboo for a living - still. Unbelievable people.

Incredible Ubud, Bali

We met up with Lynn and Anne on the last leg of their journey this past weekend at a place called Ubud, Bali. Ok, where do I start. This was the most incredible place I have ever been to in my life. Although a tourist destination, this Balinese village has a magical feel to it that takes you back to another time. It is definitely not the place you think of when you hear "Bali". The town is situated amongst terraced rice patty fields in the hills of Bali island. The people are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The main road in town is filled with amazing restaurants, artisan shops, handicraft stalls and stunning Hindu temples.

Needless to say, we had am amazing time and are definitely planning on returning. The villa we stayed in was also magnificent. Our own infinity pool, butler and a view that took your breath away.

The highlight of our trip was a bike tour we all did (including Maya), through the villages and rice fields. For anyone thinking of visiting, we put Ubud as number 1 so far on the itinerary!

Happy Halloween

Who would have thought? Maya actually got to dress up and go trick or treating in Jakarta! While all you suckers in Ottawa went out in the snow, we were out in shorts and t-shirts. An expat community close by celebrates Halloween by decorating their homes and giving candy out to all the kids. It was great! Maya really enjoyed herself and eventually gave up on the "trick or treat" part and just opened her bag at each door. Good thing she's absolutely adorable.

Oktoberfest in Jakarta

Who would have thought my first time celebrating Oktoberfest would be in Jakarta? A nearby German-owned restaurant held the festivities which included a great dinner, live German band and of course beer! The band was quite entertaining with the lead singer changing outfits in between songs and dancing on tables. The night ended much later than it should have and we paid for it the next day, but it was still a blast. We really enjoyed the fun times with our new friends. Hope to do it again next year!

Earthquake and Volcano

Just wanted to let everyone know that both the earthquake and the volcano eruptions have had no impact on us here in Jakarta. The earthquake took place on the island of Sumatra and we are on Java island. As for the volcano, it is on the opposite side of the coast and almost on the other side of Java. So no need to worry.

Puncak - Cottage Country just outside Jakarta

Finally, a breath of fresh air!

We had a great weekend up in the Puncak area, about an hour outside Jakarta. What a difference an hour makes. These pictures really don't do the scenery justice, it really was spectacular. It was great to catch up with Lynn and just "chill" like typical cottage living (with the exception of someone making your bed, doing your dishes, going for a beer run, etc.).

We tried to beat the traffic coming home by leaving early Sunday, only to find out that the ONLY road that goes in and out of the area was only open one way (not our way) for another hour and a half. So typical. So we sat on the side of the road for an hour and a half and then were on our way back to Jakarta.

Lynn and Anne were off on their 2 week journey of Indonesia first thing Monday morning.

Lynn Arrives!

Our first visitors have arrived! Lynn and Anne landed down in Jakarta on Wednesday night. We were so excited to see them and to show them our new lives. We spent Wednesday night catching up on our balcony while sipping on a few glasses of wine. Thursday was quite an adventure as Maya finally got to see Damma. It only took about 30 seconds for the two to become inseparable. After a tour of the complex, a relaxing dip in the pool, we treated ourselves to a hot stone reflexology foot massage. Needless to say, they quite enjoyed themselves. We finished the day with a yummy sushi dinner (is anyone seeing a pattern here?). A great day with two great ladies, can't wait to do it some more.

Local Plants

Just wanted to show you what a typical area that sells indoor/outdoor plants looks like. This is one I visit frequently to pick up beautiful orchids for $4 each. Sure beats Home Depot's garden center doesn't it?

Birthday in Jakarta

We celebrated our first birthday abroad this past weekend (oh yah, it was mine). Went out to eat at an awesome Japanese restaurant with some new friends on Friday and was treated to a homemade dinner by my husband on Saturday. Surprise, surprise, got a few extra massage gift certificates to use in the next little while!

Sunday was also our first holiday away from home. Strange celebrating Thanksgiving in 30C weather without family around. We did however attend a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving dinner at a non-traditional venue - the Four Seasons hotel. The turkey was actually pretty good!

Again with the rain

I know I just blogged about the daily rain we're receiving, but I just took a short video of the beginnings of a storm today and had to share. The winds, lightening, thunder and rain got a lot heavier so I had to close the door to stay dry. Almost all the plants on our balcony were blown over and the patio furniture ended up on one side of the balcony. Normally, you can see the skyline on either side of the building, but as you can see it was all a big blur. It's just crazy!

Another weekend come and gone

Weeks just seem to be flying by lately. It has now been 2 months since we left home. Some days it feels like we've been here forever and other days it's as if we just got here. Jared held his first guys poker night in Jakarta on Friday night which was a success (for Jared anyway!). We indulged in a 2 hour massage on Saturday morning and brunched with some friends on Sunday morning.

The weather in Jakarta has been crazy lately. It turns out that there really wasn't much of a dry season here this year. There are times that after only an hour of rain, streets are flooded with water past your ankles. The rain is really affecting the locals. Their homes are getting flooded every few days. Most of them use motorcycles as their means of transportation, which are close to impossible to maneuver in that kind of rain. I think that the locals discuss their rainfall just as much as we discuss our snowstorms.

I keep forgetting to bring my camera along when I go out, so for now, I have posted a photo of our typical evening at home. Maya wresting with Daddy before bath and bed!

Maya's First Performance

This past Friday, Maya's pre-school held a performance to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The little playgroup class Maya is in was asked to go up on stage and perform a little dance. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. She's a natural!

Seaworld Jakarta

A few photos from Seaworld in north Jakarta. Maya had a great time touching turtles, watching sharks and tons of other fish swim by. The best part of Seaworld was this huge aquarium that has a tunnel you can walk through and watch all the fish and stingray swim right above your head.

My Baby's Beautiful Curls

I just wanted everyone to see how adorable Maya's hair is right now. When wet, it hangs almost half way down her back, but dry, it bounces up into the cutest ringlets. I never thought I would love humidity so much!

A nice long weekend with my two favorite people

We have almost come to the end of a wonderful four day weekend. We spent our mornings playing in and by the pool, hitting the gym and taking walks while in the afternoons we checked out the local shopping malls, restaurants and frozen yogurt joints. Most nights were spent out on the balcony with a few glasses of wine, watching and listening as the locals joyously celebrated the end of Ramadan. Fireworks could be heard and seen in more than fifty different locations! I did manage to squeeze one massage in there, thankfully. Although a pretty uneventful weekend, we really enjoyed spending the time together as a family and also getting to know our home a bit better.

A week without staff ... what will I do?

Maya enjoying her first putting range.

Our staff are officially off for a week starting today and I know it sounds spoiled but I already miss them. It means we don't have a vehicle, so the only means of getting around is taxi. It also means I have no help with Maya until Jared comes home. My shopping days have been put to a stop for awhile. It also means cooking and cleaning ... urgh! It will definitely be an interesting experience living through Idul Fitri first hand. From what we hear, more than 30% of the locals leave Jakarta during the holiday. Ramadan itself has been a huge eye opener. Fasting all day followed by fireworks and chanting all over the city at night. Pretty amazing.

The Perfect Afternoon

1. Find out that our air shipment will be here tomorrow.
2. Eat a delicious sushi lunch .
3. Eat a yummy frozen yogurt and fresh fruit dessert.
4. Find out the sale of our home has finally gone through.
5. Enjoy a 1 hour foot massage followed by a short back, hand, arm and neck massage.

Do this all for $25! There are definitely a lot of perks living here.

Kuta, Bali - unfortunately cut short :(

Our little vacation was unfortunately cut quite short by a little sick baby. We were only able to spend one full day in Kuta, Bali before re booking a flight back to Jakarta. The one day we were there was quite nice. We started the day with a yummy buffet breakfast at the hotel, then explored some of the beautiful nearby beaches. After Maya's nap, we walked the main street of Kuta and checked out some of the restaurants and shops. Had a great BBQ fish dinner and spent the evening sipping on a few Bintang's (local beer) on our balcony. On Sunday morning (after very little sleep) we awoke to a sick baby. That was pretty much the end of our holiday. We scrambled to find a flight home and were back in Jakarta by 5:30pm. We did however take a few things away from this weekend 1) never forget the baby Tylenol 2) always book a hotel room with two bedrooms and 3) definitely go back to Bali!

PS - We took Maya to the doctor when we got back to Jakarta, and, the good news is that she should be just fine in a couple of days. Tropical bugs are new to all of us !!

Maya's 2nd day at school

Maya has started what everyone around here calls "school". She is attending Kinderland preschool with me (and soon her nanny too) twice a week. She enjoys most of it with the exception of sitting down and actually listening. She's made some new friends, both Indonesian and Australian, and is learning to paint, sing, dance, discover shapes, colors and share toys, amongst other things. Best of all, it keeps her busy for an hour and a half.

"Lollipops" Haven for Kids

On Sunday, we took Maya to the Senayan City Mall (8 floors of shopping!). On the top floor, is where the kid crazed "Lollipops", an indoor playland, is situated. Needless to say she loved it, all you have to do is look at the photos. We spent the rest of our Sunday hanging out by the pool, sipping on fresh strawberry and avocado juices. Overall, a pretty fun-filled weekend.

BTW - I'm looking forward to heading back to the mall and checking out the actual shopping. Did I mention it's 8 floors!

Ragunan Zoo

Today we spent the day exploring the vast Ragunan Zoo. Maya had her first encounter with a gorilla, some elephants, zebras, kimodos and a number of monkeys. Unfortunately these were all the animals we got to see in the 2 1/2 hours we were there. The zoo is so big and so poorly marked that we spent more time trying to figure out where we were than actually seeing the animals. That's what you get for a 50c entry fee. We will however return in a few weeks to attempt to see what we missed. Maya once again was a huge hit and attracted a LOT of attention from the locals.

PS - We booked a long weekend in Bali next weekend - sooo excited!

A few firsts

Our first Indonesian noodle dinner and mommy's first big purchase.

I went to the Indian Women's Association bazaar this afternoon at the fancy Four Season's Hotel. I had the opportunity to sample some tasty Indian fare, shop at local and international booths that sold anything from ethnic clothes, decorations, jewelery, etc. I quite enjoyed myself especially when I found a German lady who sells pork sausages ... YEY!!!

Maya in her new surroundings

Just as we suspected, Maya was the first one to adjust to her new lifestyle. What's not to love I supposed? Out at the park twice a day, swimming, trampoline, playgroups ... what a hard life.

Tomorrow is Indonesian Independence Day. We look forward to celebrating with our new neighbours. The apartment complex is putting on some shows and games for it's tenants and Jared is off work!

PS - I found a bakery really close by and can't stop eating their croissants, soooo good. Thankfully there's also a gym here that will help me work it off.

Oh Jakarta Life...

We are 4 days into our new life. Where to begin? Our apartment is amazing, the facilities are amazing, the staff is amazing. The traffic is horrendous, the city is always busy, time means nothing. Everyone is very friendly, the customer service is impeccable. I know those are very general statements but 4 days in, I can't really comment any more.

I decided to venture out to a nearby shopping mall yesterday afternoon. WOW!!! Who ever says Jakarta doesn't have money is wrong. I felt like a shmuck amongst stores like Bvlgari, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada just to name a few. I was however extremely pleased to find a local Starbucks for a Grande Mild.

Maya is settling in beautifully. Her and Ibu Watini (housekeeper/nanny) are getting along well. She is enjoying her new indoor and outdoor play areas with all the other expat kids. She even gets to bounce bounce on a trampoline! Next week, we are starting a few mommy and me playgroups to keep her entertained.

As for mom and dad, we are also adjusting. We have been invited to our first dinner party this Saturday as well as a brunch on Sunday. It's great that the other expats are very open and inviting.

That is all for today ... off shopping again! Above are some views from our apartment.

Doha, Qatar

Finally, we're here. Let me rewind a bit and tell you about Doha first.

After a 12 hr flight (of which Maya only slept 4hrs), we arrived in Doha only to find out that one of our bags and the carseat were missing. 2 hours later, one damaged bag was found and we were off to our hotel. Stepping outside was a shock as the temperature at 8:30pm was still around 40C. Even at night, we could still see what an incredible city Doha was. A tiny little speck in the middle of a huge desert. We awoke in the morning, had hummus and pita for breakfast and chilled out by the pool in the sweltering 45C. That evening we decided to venture out to the largest outdoor market in Doha for dinner. The Doha locals were extremely friendly especially to Maya. It is always so interesting to see how other cultures live. We discovered some amazing facts about Doha, like only 30% of the dwellers are actually locals. There is such an array of people in the streets. Unfortunately our Doha experience was short lived as the very next morning we were on another 9 hr flight to Jakarta.

Last few hours in Canada

The time is finally here. We've shed a few tears in the last week. Said goodbye to amazing family friends, to a house that truly became a home when Maya blessed it with her presence, and a ton of great memories in a neighborhood that we will not be coming back to.

Now the BIIIIG (as Maya would put it) journey begins! Thanks for all the well wishes everyone.

Eek ... 1 week to go!

The good-byes have began and I am soooo not looking forward to this next week. I just wish we were already there (skip the flights!).

Earthquake

OK, so never did I expect to write about my first earthquake experience before we even left for Indonesia. That was crazy! Thankfully we have a child that can sleep through a 5.0 earthquake. Thank goodness no damages were done and all are safe and sound. I hope that if we have to experience any more earthquakes, they're as seamless as this one was.

Stopover in Doha, Quatar

On our way to Jakarta, we are spending a few days in Doha. Check out the hotel:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/overview/dohha

The average temperature there in August is 41C!

Home Sold!

It is official, our home is now sold. Bitter sweet I suppose. So many memories we're leaving behind. On to the next step.

It seems like only a few weeks ago that I received the call from Jared telling me in a very serious tone, that he had been selected for the Jakarta posting. That was in December.

We always wanted to take the chance and live abroad while Maya was young. But when that call came in, the shock of where are lives were heading really sunk in. What were we doing? Why were we leaving our amazing families, our incredible friends, our "as perfect as it gets" little life?

The decision to get to that point was a long and tedious process but how could we pass up an opportunity of a lifetime? We knew that if we had turned this down, we would definitely regret it the for the rest of our lives. So here we are, less than 2 months before our big plunge. Life is pretty hectic while we sell a house, shop, shop, shop and spend an insane amount of money, prepare inventories and try to squeeze in 2 years worth of memories with family and friends.