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!).