The Sandbergs in Indonesia

Home safe and sound

2006-08-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

We have arrived back in Appleton and all is well. Our trip back was pretty good with only one delay from Tia Pei to San Francisco. The thing I had trouble getting my head around was that we left our apartment in Jakarta at noon on Saturday the 28th, flew to Tia Pei and our flight there left for San Francisco at 1am Sunday the 29th. But then we arrived in San Francisco at 9pm on Saturday the 28th. We slept over and caught a flight back to the midwest at 10am on Sunday the 29th. Pretty weird to live two days twice. Excited as we were to get home, we felt a little sad as we drove one last time through Jakarta, Claire even got a bit misty about missing her new friends in Indonesia. Thank goodness for email.
Thanks to all of you who have followed our blog and shared in our adventures in Indonesia. We aren't going to continue the blog so this is our last post!
Selamat Malam!

Hectic FInal Days

2006-07-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

Time grows short, and, as these go, there is a lot going on. There's been two more earthquakes, a tsunami, our personal little cash crisis, and we're trying to figure out how we are going to get all the STUFF we've acquired home within our airline baggage allowance. Breaking it down:

Earthquakes, one off the southwest coast of Java near Pandangeran Beach, which created the tsunami I'm sure you've read about. We're on the northwest coast of Java, so the quake caused buildings here to sway a bit, but there was no damage in Jakarta itself. We are heaing about 5 or 6 deaths in Garut, where we were in the mountains last month, from this earthquake. The second earthquake occurred about five days later in the Sunda Strait west of Java. The people staying at the Mandarin Oriental hotel said they felt it easily, but we didn't notice it. I think that's because they are all staying on the 21st floor at the Mandarin, and we are only on the 4th floor in our building. Tall buildings tend to amplify the effect.

Cash Crisis: This one is our credit union's fault. They "upgraded" their systems last weekend, and in the process managed to disconnect our ATM card from our bank account. They've spent the last four days trying to figure out how to fix the problem. In the meantime, we've lost our only access to cash in a cash-based society. Not very comforting. The ironic thing about this whole event is that it's actually been cheaper for us to get cash here in Indonesia than it was back home, since there are no local ATM fees on cash withdrawals here.

After much thrashing about, we've managed to set up (very expensive) money transfers via Western Union until the bank gets their act together. Fortunately the credit union has agreed to pick up the money transfer fees. Lesson learned: always have PIN-based access to at least two different accounts when travelling. I have requested PINs for my American Express and Visa accounts so that I have a backup if we ever have an issue again. There are ATMs everywhere in the world today, and they are still the easiest and cheapest way to get cash.

Finally, packing. This requires an advanced degree in logistics management. We are jettisoning quite a lot of stuff we've managed to acquire while here - towels, housewares, and pillows. We're also having to go through and get rid of some of the clothes and other stuff we brought over to make room for all the souvenirs. If all else fails, we could end up paying the excess baggage fees, or a 50 lb Fedex box costs $250 to the US. I think we'll avoid that fate, but it's going to be close.

Joel

You're Invited!

2006-07-20T02:33:00.000-07:00

Selamat Datang!

Please help us welcome back Joel, Karon, Derek & Claire from their seven-month adventure to Jakarta, Indonesia!

An open house picnic will be held in their honor on SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th from 2pm to 7pm. Please join us for authentic Indonesian cuisine and a good old American cookout at Lutz Park in Appleton.

We hope you'll join us to say hello, share photos and stories, and have a little fun on the banks
of the Fox River. The Sandbergs are looking forward to seeing you!

Directions to Lutz Park:
From W. Prospect Avenue, turn south on Pierce Avenue (at the east side of Pierce Park).
Follow Pierce Avenue down the hill to the park pavilion.

Rain or Shine. Please bring a folding chair, and feel free to drop by as your schedule allows.
Hot food will begin being served at 4pm, with snacks and beverages available throughout the day.

For further information, please contact Kerry Sandberg Arndt at : kerryarndt@att.net or (920) 832-9914.
Did we forget someone? Yes, you may forward this invitation!

What I will miss...

2006-07-18T01:43:00.000-07:00

Ask us if we are glad that we came and all of us will give a resounding YES! It has been an amazing experience and southeast Asia is like no other place we have EVER been. It is almost difficult to explain. But what I will miss is...

Indonesian men actually giggle, I will miss hearing that.
The spas, the spas.....I think I may cry.
How cheap most things are in general, seriously, $5 seems like a lot of money here.
Seeing the most amazing things carried on motorbikes.
The sights and sounds of the streets, hand carts and vendors, huts and shops in the most amazing little nooks and crannies.
Our apartment, it is the perfect size, our house will seem too big.
All the time we have had together as a family here, life and activities will get in our way again.
Bali...it is truly my favorite island in the world.
Call to prayer, it is such a wonderful reminder to be mindful.
Geckos in the house.

What I won't miss.....
Public bathrooms tend to have standing water on the floor...yeeww!
Durian at the grocery stores.
Traffic and factoring in one hour to get any where.
Not being served all together at a restaurant.
Air pollution and open sewers
Feeling like a major water buffalo next to the beautiful and petite women here

Coming Home

2006-07-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

We have been given our traveling orders and will be returning home a bit sooner than expected. Multiple events have transpired that make this the best course of action. Indonesia promises to take a huge bite out of our income if we remain in country for more than 142 days and Joel's company has some very pressing needs that require his assistance in the states. So we begin the journey back. The kids are excited as they have missed friends and school, and football practice is calling Derek from across the shores. Joel's sisters want to throw us a homecoming at Lutz Park in Appleton for Saturday August 12th, I am not sure of the time yet but will post it and send emails to friends as soon as we know.

Lessons on Jamu

2006-07-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Went to a plantation the other day to learn about Jamu. Jamu is an herbal drink that most Indonesians take at least twice a day. A Jamu expert will listen to you and find out what your ailments are or what you want to improve. Then they will crush leaves, roots or nuts that have specific qualities that will help your problem and boil it in hot water. Brown sugar is usually added to make it taste better. The Jamu expert will carry her wares around on her back in a tall basket, wondering through neighborhoods in the early morning. People will stop her on their way to work and pay rp 1,000 (or 10 cents) for their morning dose and then again in the evening. We learned what can cure diabetes, rashes, acne, high blood pressure, etc. Of course the most popular drink for the men was the one that "helped with exercises in the bedroom" as our guide so delicately put it. I bought some for rashes, as I am the queen of exzema. Other women in my group bought the "thinning jamu" it is supposed to help you lose weight. I told them to let me know if it works, then I will go back and buy a case.

Dolphins in Batam

2006-07-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Went to the island of Batam for a long weekend. Our goal was to swim with dolphins at the nearby Dolphin Lodge. Took a long boat ride out to the island where the dolphins were and spent the day swimming and learning about August and Pluto, our first two finned friends. then we broke for lunch and got to spend the afternoon with 3 other dolphins. Their nature reminded me of playful puppies or little kids. They wanted to please us and have us play with them so much. Even though they were fairly large they were so gentle. I learned that the clicking sound they make is actually through thier blow hole. Was shown how they check their health tapping thier head and then holding your hand over thier blow hole. The dolphin then blasts air through thier hole and pushes your hand off. Kind of like blowing thier nose on your hand, yewww. This dolphin was healthy though and didn't blow a lugey on me.

Waterpark week

2006-07-05T02:18:00.000-07:00

Went to two different water parks in the last week. Having Noah's Ark (America's Largest Waterpark) practically in our back yard back home has possibly jaded my two lovely children as they felt the offerings of 4 slides seemed a bit lame. Going with friends seemed to make it more enjoyable. Waterboom had it's own Balinese style complete with a spa. How ingenious is that? While the kids ran around on the slides, I slipped away for a delicious facial (for $5) in a peaceful spa. I love this country.

Dry Season

2006-07-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

The weather has improved tremendously over the past six weeks. Days are now dry and warm, even pleasant. The temperatures haven't changed, but humidity is no longer an issue, and it hasn't rained at all for a couple of weeks. We are now in the height of the dry season, which will continue through September. It's a welcome change from last February.

One thing I do miss is the long summer days you are enjoying back home. Here at the equator, every day is the same - sunrise shortly before 6 AM, and sunset shortly after 6 PM.

Freezing Luky

2006-06-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

You'd think that we would never want to return to freezing temperatures but we couldn't help ourselves when we heard of Ice World. A warehouse with temps at 10 degrees F. filled with ice sculptures and slides. We took Luky, our driver, in to show him what weather at home can be like. I never saw some one who looked like they were in such pain! We found some snow and I placed it in his hand, he screamed! Whipping down the luge like slides brought a smile to his face though. Later he said that was the first time he had ever been so cold. Heck, 10 degrees is a warm day for a Wisconsin winter!
Then we checked out the Gotheborg, a replica of a tall ship from Sweden that used to sail the spice trade here to Jakarta. It was thrilling to see other tall blond people, I wanted to hug them. Is Claire as tall as me? Heavens, when did that happen?

2006-06-19T03:41:00.000-07:00

We ended our weekend in Garut at a traditional Ram Fight. Men from the region bring their prized rams to town on Sunday mornings. The event starts with a small group of musicians playing drums, gong and a clarinet like instrument. Then two rams are brought out. The competition is based on style. Points are given for how far back the ram steps before charging, for how squarely it hits and how well it takes the hit. The area is filled with mostly men who wager on the best while their children run around playing and teasing each other.

2006-06-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

Garut is known for the volcanoes in the area. Don't worry, although active none were dangerous. We climbed Mt. Papandawan at 6am on Father's Day morning. The higher we climbed the stronger the sulfer smell. With each step the steam holes and crystalizing sulfur grew more abundant. We were able to literally stand next to huge plumes of steam and touch streams of boiling water. Although quiet now, the last eruption took place in 2002. We threw lava rocks into the new lake formed from that eruption. It's not every Father's Day you get to spend on top of a volcano.

2006-06-19T03:19:00.000-07:00

We escaped Jakarta and went to the mountain area of West Java over the weekend. We met up with Iwan, a fabulous guide, who took us on a bamboo boat to a Hindu temple, and into a tiny shrimp cracker factory where we got to taste freshly made crackers. Then he invited us to his house for coffee in which his 70 yr. old mother served us out of coconut shells.

Go Team! or Pergi Regu!

2006-06-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

As we have traveled around the world I have always wanted to go to a soccer game in another country. You know how you see them on TV and the fans are all singing throughout the whole game? Well last night we went to watch one of best teams in town, the Jakarta Persija play. Imagine about 10,000 fans mostly 9-15 yr. old boys all dressed in the team colors of orange and black. Then place them on top of any moving vehicle that is heading towards the stadium. In side the stadium a line of drums fill the front row seats and the drummers keep up a constant beat through out the game. A designated cheer leaders climb up on the security fence surrounding the field and turns back towards the crowd, leading raucous cheers and songs all through the game. If you are from Wisconsin, imagine the 5th quarter at a Badger game, only all night long.
To the delight of the locals, we bought team hats and scarves. Crowds of kids posed and high 5'd us when we took out the camera to record the frenzy. On the streets out of the stadium more cars and buses filled up with kids climbing on top for a ride home. Being the only car without outside riders I asked Luky, our driver, if we should take on a few? He quickly responded NO! Party Pooper.

Blessings from Bali

2006-06-12T02:11:00.000-07:00

We went back to Bali last week but this time stayed in Sanur, a quiet but funky beach town and then Ubud, an artsy mountainside town surrounded by rice paddies. Enjoyed them both and had a great time celebrating Kathy's 26th birthday ("Still young!" all the Balinese claimed when asked her age) We were blessed by Hindu priests at Tanah Lot, a temple on an island that can only be reached at low tide. The Balinese believe rice to be holy, so after putting holy water on your forehead, they press a few grains of rice on you and say a blessing.
Our hotel in Sanur was very Balinese in decor, we felt like royalty lazing around the pool
Our hotel in Ubud was literally at the end of a cow path in the middle of a rice paddy. We learned how to take a short cut into town and fell in love with our remote location.

Rummy Doesn't Call

2006-06-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

So now I'm miffed. First Condi Rice blows through town without so much as a "howdy". I attributed this slight to her tight schedule and the fact that we were still fairly new in town, and she wanted to wait until we had unpacked the good china. But now, ho-ho, Donald Rumsfeld also comes through on a charm tour (first person I think of when I want to win friends and influence people), and does he pay a visit? NO! I am only comforted by the fact that by good friend Juwono Sudarsono took him to task for not calling.

The famous chocolate martini

2006-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

You may have heard that our niece Kathy and her friend Jo has arrived. They bring with them a new perspective on exploring Indo (think Rough Guide) and that bugged eyed amazement we had when we first arrived. Having been here for almost 6 months now we are jaded so it is fun to see it with new eyes. My friend Missy (left) introduced me to the chocolate martinis at the absolutely define Hotel Dharmawangsa (try saying that after a few martinis). Her friend, Jennifer, (center) is visiting as well so Missy and I introduced Kathy and Jennifer to the chocolate martini. Let's just say it was a very lonnngggg afternoon, I even got to mix them after awhile. Thank goodness for drivers. Check Derek's blog for his wild night out with Kathy and Jo, as you can see he has much more fun then being out on the town with mom and dad. The three of them left for Bali three days ago. We join them tomorrow for one last visit to the Islands of the Gods as well as to celebrate Kathy's birthday. More when we return.....

A Very Happy Birthday!

2006-05-28T03:52:00.000-07:00

I had the greatest birthday ever here in Jakarta. The kids supplied candles and music to my Saturday morning massage here at the house. Then Claire, Kathy and I went off to a spa for facials and pedicures. After a lazy afternoon around the pool we went to dinner at Cafe Batavia, an institution here in Jakarta. It has this great 40's feel to it, sort of like Rick's Place in Casablanca. The walls of the bar are covered with photos of all the famous people who have been there from James Dean, Dennis Hopper, Alfred Hitchcock to Ronald Reagan. An incredible quintet sang and played music while we ate. Later we checked out the cake market at Pasar Senen. A huge football field sized market that is table after table of cakes and treats. We admired these cakes that looked as if the decorator tried to put every possible action figure/Barbie/ house and car imaginable on it. I guess it must be for the child who has everything. -Karon

Kathy's Un-Jetlagged

2006-05-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

My niece Kathy arrived on Thursday. As is typical, after three days she has just about recovered from the jetlag and is making plans for her four weeks here. So far, it looks like we will be joining her for trips to the volcanoes and hot springs outside Bandung, and a short trip to Bali. She is planning to make a trip to Yogyakarta to see Borobudur and Prambanan temples, but we need to see how things with Mt. Merapi and yesterday's earthquake impact these plans.

I've added a link to Kathy's blog to the right, so you can get her perspective on Indonesia as well!

Joel

More Seismic Activity

2006-05-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

For those who may have heard about the 6.2 earthquake in Yogyakarta this morning, please know that we are safe. Jogja is over 250 miles from Jakarta, and we were never in any danger, nor did we feel any tremors. Java is a very big island.

Highland Burning of the Boat

2006-05-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

On our way back home this weekend we stopped in on the Jakarta Highland Games which was celebrating it's 19th year. Talk about multicultural! The best bag pipe player was awarded to a Sikh from Malaysia. The winner of the caber toss was an American and a energetic troop of scarf dancers from India stole the show.
We enjoyed the traditional boat burning when kilted Scotsman ignited a mock boat with staves to signal the end of the day.

2006-05-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

Get out of town...

2006-05-24T05:59:00.000-07:00

We went to Tanjung Lesung on the west coast of Java this weekend and stayed at a charming resort. See kid's blogs for other pictures. It was great to get out of the city, it was so peaceful. Joel sailed in a few races at the resort, which was good for his soul. Met some wonderful people. The British resort owner who was delightful and called the head waiter, Manuel, ala Fawlty Towers, and the international school teachers who invited us over for drinks in which we talked for hours and yelled about the Bush administration. The resort is near Krakatau and huge volcanic rock reminders of that great explosion laid on our beach.

Sandbergs Retire from International Sports Careers

2006-05-14T21:06:00.001-07:00

We are wrapping up the season on soccer for Claire and rugby for Derek. I couldn't be prouder of them! Joining a new team is always difficult, add that it is in a foreign country can make it even harder. Claire amazed her coaches by asking to be goalie, something pretty rare among 5th grade girls. She did a great job and really improved her skills. She is much more aggressive about approaching the ball. Her team was the "Australians" and they started each game with a cheer of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" She played with girls from all over the world and made good friends with Sophie who is actually from Australia!

Derek finished up his rugby career with the Komodo Dragons last week when the team hosted the Jakarta 10's tournament. Teams came from all over Indonesia and parts of Southeast Asia. Derek played prop and second row. Derek had to really take his game up a notch as he was on a men's team (he plays on a H.S. team at home) of guys from all over the world, most of which had been playing rugby all their lives. Derek played his heart out and really learned a lot. Briggsy and Keify (fellow team mates) took Derek under their wing and kept a watchful eye on him. For both kids this experience will be something they will never forget.
-Karon

Earthquake!

2006-05-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

News Item (45 minutes ago):
Strong earthquake rocks Sumatra, no reports of damage
JAKARTA (AP): A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 hit undersea near Indonesia's Sumatra Island, officials said Friday.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The undersea earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sumatra town and western Java island. Officials said it had a preliminary 5.6 magnitude and was centered 14 kilometers (8 miles) undersea in the Sunda straits, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) west of Jakarta.
A resident in one of the nearby towns said there was no sign of significant damage, though many residents were frightened by the jolt.
The tremor could also be felt in Jakarta (**) -->

Here's my firsthand account as it happened:
Vinay: Did you feel that?
Joel: What?
Vinay (calmly): It's an earthquake. I felt it. See, the blinds are moving.
(Groundhog Episode begins. General hubbub amongst the cubicle dwellers rises, then Sean the project manager enters)
Sean: We've been told to evacuate the building.
Joel: See everyone on Monday!

Pram

2006-05-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

The big news in Indonesia last week was the passing of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia's most significant novelist. Pram's masterwork was the Buru Quartet, four historical novels written during 14 years of imprisonment followed by another 13 years of house arrest. Published between 1980 and 1990, they take place during Indonesia's emancipation from Dutch colonial rule. The story of these novels is remarkable - arrested by the Soharto regime in 1965, his notes and research were destroyed. Over the next ten years of imprisonment, Pram was denied access to writing materials of any kind. Nevertheless, he was able to compose two complete novels in his head, reconstructing his research from memory, by telling the story to his fellow inmates.

It is rare and notable when the passing of an author receives the attention that Pram's passing has this past week. The story of Pram's life, and his personalized accounts of the rise of Indonesian nationalism, provide fantastic insight into the Indonesian people.

Doctor, Doctor, give me the news.....

2006-05-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

Got to experience the medical services here in Jakarta as Joel had to take a (school) ambulance when he pulled his calf muscle while playing basketball. It was the only way they could get him off the school grounds as he couldn't walk. He's ok, took a day off to rest. We bought him a rather dapper cane and he know hobbles around reminding us all of Frazier's Dad.
Derek topped that by crashing into the underwater steps in the pool today and he required 8 stitches and a bit of haircut. He took it well and now sports a rather dapper bandage on his head. Thankfully he is fine and will be ok too. Let's hope that will be ALL we will see if the medical services in Jakarta.
A bit of news that made me laugh today. Yesterday there was a big May Day Labor protest. The city was expecting the worst and literally shut down. In today's paper they reported a peaceful protest due to the fact that the government hired 60 "rainmen" spiritualists to cause it to rain and disperse the protesters. Each man was paid $120 each. I guess it worked as it rained like crazy!
-Karon

Slow Week

2006-04-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

We've been taking it easy since we got back from Bali two weeks ago. The kids are back in their sports programs, I'm working, Karon's going to Bible study (devil's advocate?) It's been pretty slow.

Slow, like driving around Jakarta. I have three choices for getting to and from work each day: Driver, taxi, and Busway. Of these, the Busway is cheapest and fastest. The buses are clean and well maintained, but crowded. The buses run every couple of minutes, so you rarely have to wait long to catch one. The busway has its own dedicated lane (that's why it's fast). There are designated stations along the route for loading and unloading. A recording announces each stop in Bahasa, then English. I travel 10 stops to the office. I can now recite it from memory: Perhatian berikutnya: Halte Bunderan Hotel Indonesia. Barang bawa Anda, dan hati-hati melanka. Terima kasih. Next stop: Bunderan Hotel Indonesia. Check your belongings, and step carefully. Thank you.

Kecak!

2006-04-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

OK, it's not authentic Balinese culture. But it's awfully cool.

Check the picture:

- Ancient Hindu temple on edge of cliff overlooking Indian Ocean

- Sunset

- Live wild monkeys

- Male Chorus (click to hear!)

- Babes in tight skirts

The dance tells the a story from the Ramayana, the longest poem in human literature. Basically, Prince loses princess, and attacks with an army of monkeys to win her back.

Beautiful Bali

2006-04-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Bali has to be the most beautiful island I have ever been to. We took full advantage of our visit by white water rafting down the Ayung River through rainforests filled with bamboo, palm trees, cliffs and waterfalls. It was a wild ride at times with class 2 and 3 rapids.

Later, Derek and I even tried parasailing, flying over the incredible sea and beaches of Bali. It was truly an unforgettable time, the natural beauty of the island mixed with mystical Hindu temples gives Bali a unique blend of relaxation and culture that I have never experienced before. We are anxious to go back again and explore more of the island before we leave Indonesia.

Hindu Cremation Ceremony

2006-04-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

We spent Easter in Bali and one of the amazing things we did was attend a cremation ceremony. We were honored to be a part of a very wealthy man's funeral. Our guide explained that he was a business leader who could afford his own bright and brilliant tower (pictured left) for his casket to be carried down the streets in. Later his body was placed into a huge paper mache bull which represented how he would be carried to heaven and then the bull was lit on fire.

The thing that really touched me was that after his body was placed in the bull, the priest blessed it and family members went up and put small offerings into the bull with the man and each person thanked him for his life and what he had given. How different from our culture where if we go up it is more to say goodbye. From now on, I will remember to say a prayer of "Thank You" when someone dies to honor their life and the difference they made in the world.

Volcano!

2006-04-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Mt. Merapi from our hotel window in Yogyakarta on April 2.

Here is the very same mountain exactly two weeks later. How cool is that?

Confessions of a spa junkie

2006-04-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

Indonesians seem to have this complete understanding that everyone needs a massage. Beautiful spas are plentiful but even the smallest village will have a sign or two nailed to a tree that says "Reflexology or Massage" with an arrow pointing down the street to some small house. If you know me at all you know I love anything spa related...pedicure, facial, peel, massage, you name it, I will do it. At home it is a treat experienced once in awhile. Here I can live like the Spa Queen I was meant to be! Typical prices for most things are less then $10. I actually have a delightful woman who comes to our apartment every Saturday to give me a one hour massage. But that is not enough for the Spa Queen, if I have any free time at all you will find me laying in some spa with fountains trickling in the back ground, jasmine scents wafting, and someone massaging my feet. Could this be paradise?? At least it makes up for the traffic and the trash.
-Karon

Happy Holidays!

2006-04-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

The office was closed today, for the second time in two weeks, and we still have Good Friday yet to come this week. Let's hear it for diversity!

We have celebrated the following holidays this month:
Nyepi (Balinese Hindu) March 30. Balinese Hindus celebrate the coming of the new year with meditation. No activities are allowed to take place. These mandatory religious prohibitions include no pleasure (amati lelangon), no traffic (amati lelungan), no fire (amati geni) and no work (amati karya). Everybody has to stay in their individual houses. No lights in the house, no sounds of radio or entertainment of any kind, just complete silence. Even the airport and ferry service is closed for 24 hours. We celebrated this holiday by visiting the Buddhist Temple at Borobudur. No sense going to Bali, since the airport was closed.
Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam) April 10. This is the celebration of the birth of the prophet Mohammed. The most noticeable effect of the holiday for us was the absence of traffic and the unusually loud early morning call to prayer at 4:30 this morning.
Good Friday (Christian) April 14. This one you know about. We will celebrate this holiday by visiting Bali, where we will have a mini-Nyepi: No work, and maybe just a little entertainment.

If we throw in a Passover seder observance on Thursday night, we can observe each of the major world religions in this two week span - Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

Indonesian Basketball

2006-04-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Big weekend for basketball at the Senayan Sports Complex next door to our apartment, so Derek and I went. It was the Indonesian Basketball League, the top level of basketball in Indonesia. Observations:
- Venue: Senayan Hall Basket (its actual name) reminds me a lot of the old Brown County Arena before the renovated it. Seats about 4,000 (they probably had 3,000 people at the game we were at. No air conditioning, but the breeze through the two open ends was very refreshing.
- Fans: I'd say 3,000 total, most of them smoking kretek clove cigarettes. They were very vociferous, screaming through the whole game. I think most of them were cheering for both teams.
- Quality of Play: strictly high school. Play is very physical, since the refs don't call most pushing, nor a lot of hacking. Didn't see a single player who could shoot with his left hand. The play is enthusiastic though, and the crowd energy keeps things fun.

Everything you wanted to know about Indonesian basketball can be found here. Try out your Bahasa!

A real MaHOOT!

2006-04-09T06:07:00.001-07:00

Got a chance to ride an elephant the other day. Talk about a HOOT! You are not even strapped in on this thing, you just have a handle bar to hold on to. I swear I was going to fall off a few times. Our mahoot, or driver, thought we were pretty amusing as I kept yelling "Wohoo!" every time we walked through a river or up a hill or through a herd of animals. Joel told me later that while he was riding with Claire, he whipered in her ear, "We are on the island of Java, riding elephants." Kinda amazing. Check Derek's blog for a picture of us riding the elephants!

Thanks to all blog responders, it has been another hoot to hear from all of you who check in regularly. Your personal emails and comments on the site have been fun to receive. Thanks for your interest.
-Karon
P.S. Sorry Joel tells all about my stomach ailments, those who know us well, know I can't control him!

A Full Day's Supply of Vitamin C

2006-04-06T23:35:00.000-07:00

We get our fresh fruit from the Sogo supermarket. We shop there because the produce section smells the least like durian of any of the local supermarkets (Hero, Ranch, and Kemchicks). It also happens to be closest to us. Karon started out experimenting a lot with the different kinds of fruits - soursop, starfruit, rambutans, salak, duku, and a number of others that she didn't catch the name of. We are starting to settle on some of our favorites now, primarily papaya and watermelon (indonesians love watermelon). One of the other ex-pat wives gave Karon a trick for washing fruit that she uses on the things from the supermarket. It must be working. Karon had a three day gastronomic episode earlier this month, and Derek followed that with one of his own. Other than that, we've all been pretty healthy.

Here is a good web site if you want to check out the local produce.

Joel

Pining

2006-04-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

Three months on the road now, and I'm pining for:
Frozen Pizza - OK, I can get Pizza Hut delivered here for cheaper than a frozen pizza back home, but there's nothing as comforting as having a stack of Tombstones at the ready in the freezer.
Eggs over Easy - the yolks are always hard here.
My Name is Earl
The Daily Show
Urban Planning - Bad urban planning is better than no urban planning at all.
Microwave Popcorn - They have this here, but it's over $1.50 a bag. We've gotten very good at making old-fashioned popcorn in the wok.
Twelve Packs - Everything's sold by the can here.

Joel

More Feedback Please!

2006-04-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

We had three people send us nags last week about updating our blog. So we did. For a while there, we were wondering who was keeping tabs on us. Now we know.

So, gentle reader, please click on the Comments link at the bottom of each article and leave us a little motivational to let us know who our audience is out there. And for those of you who have left anonymous comments (you, unlike us, know who you are), we would like to thank you personally for your comments. But we can't. Because you're anonymous.

Pengamen

2006-04-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Pengamen are street musicians. We ran into this group at Borobudur. The melodies were recognizable, the style, well, consistent. The lyrics were an intriguing guess at the English words.

I helped these boys drum up some business...

Gave them a little help with the diction as the rains came in. (The band high-tailed it for cover as soon as we left. I hope they weren't standing in the rain just on my account).

Karon, of course, was quite bemused.

Borobordur

2006-04-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

Traveling around Yogajakarta

2006-04-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

Well we made our first venture outside of Jakarta and further in to the island of Java to Yogajakarta. There we went to Borbordur, an ancient Buddhist temple built in the 700's. It is amazing. Carvings line the stone walls as you travel upwards, showing the stories of Buddha. Each level represents a new level of enlightenment. As you reach the top, the carvings give way to large cones or stupas that each contain a Buddha. A larger single stupa rises from the center. This one represents total enlightenment...and it is empty. I made me think about all the things we want, or expect or work towards and how they really are meaningless or empty. To be content with nothing, to be happy with nothing, could that be perfection? I know that I am a long way from that type of enlightenment. But often as I travel through Indonesia, I am amazed at the smiles and laughter I see on the faces of the people in the street, maybe having less means having less to worry about.
As always my favorite moments as we travel around are the connections we make with the people. Running into a group of school children at the top of the temple who have an assignment to interview people in English and watching them realize they have hit the mother lode by having 4 Americans appear. Watching them ask Derek and Claire tons of questions about their lives and taking pictures of them was really a joy.
Having an old gnarled man take us around on his horse cart to other small temples in the area, having shop keepers literally chase our cart down the street offering us one more souvenir to buy. Going to a traditional wayang kulit puppet show and having a puppeteer show us how they are made and sharing all the different characters with us. Walking around in the Night Market after the show where old midway rides from the 40's still seem to provide the same smiles to it's riders, those are the moments that I love the best.

News From Biloxi

2006-03-28T16:23:00.000-08:00

Got an e-mail from my sister Mary today. She is volunteering at the Biloxi Disaster Recovery Center assisting people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Her descriptions of the scene impressed me so much I felt her words should receive a wider audience, so I am re-publishing them here.

Joel

"Biloxi DRC: first day for me today. The organization I'm volunteering for had no other representatives here, so I was the only one, and its my first day, and I have no idea what exactly it is that I'm supposed to be doing. So I have spent my day talking to the others around me and getting as much of a sense of what they do as I can. Apparently I am going to have to develop my own assistance program here. A little moxi is required on my part. So far I haven't helped anyone-just learned alot.
The center that I'm at will be closing down at the end of May, so things are slowing down. In the last couple of weeks, they've let half the people who used to be working out of this site go, and the number of people coming in for assistance today has been modest. Right now people are at the stage where they have already applied for insurance, FEMA, etc, and they are finding out what they have to work with for any rebuilding. Many of the support issues at this time are related to helping people cope with the stress and anxiety. Mental health issues, post-traumatic stress, particularly veterans seem to be feeling it. There are many issues with homeowners insurance not covering or covering very little. FEMA grants are being issued but still doesn't cover the original cost of the structure. And of course there are those who fall through the cracks...who had a house but now its gone, they're on disability or SS, insurance won't cover, and the FEMA grant is too little to rebuild, and they can't get a mortgage because their income is too low. They don't know where to go. The casinos are moving in and taking advantage of the situation to buy up coastal property cheap.
The coastline is flattened...completely gone for miles. Only signs remain where businesses used to be; the Olive Gardens, McDonald's, gas stations, huge resorts. They are gone right down to the slab, just surrounded by piles of rubble. Cemetaries have been destroyed. Signs missing is a problem. I've had some trouble finding my hotel, and travel routes as a result. It's amazing. A main bridge on the hwy running along the coast from Biloxi to gulfport is gone. They say it will take three years to rebuild. The beach is beautiful though, fully groomed and gorgeous white sand. They're empty at the moment too, so even better. And A couple blocks in the city is active, and people are cleaning up and rebuilding. Apartments are just beginning to fill up again. But six months into it, there is clearly a long road ahead. Many, many FEMA travel trailers still in front of peoples homes. There are still a lot of people in other states.
I drove around and took a few pictures with my new digital camera, but haven't figured out how to download them. I'll have to read up on my manual in my hotel tonight.
I'll try to get something out later this week.
Ciaio!
Mary

Wedding ceremony

2006-03-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

An Indonesian Wedding

2006-03-21T23:04:00.000-08:00

I have joined the Indonesian Heritage Society, a group of Indonesians and expats who are interested in the learning more about the culture of Indonesia. Today was my first outing with the Explorer's Group. It is a wondeful mix of women from all over the world. I met some new friends from South Africa, Denmark and Japan. Our outing today was at a salon that catered to brides. Not only did they explain the customs of Indonesian weddings but they also had actors act out a typical ceremony in full dress. The customs and ceremony were beautiful. On the day before the wedding parents of both the bride and groom pour scented water over them to make them clean and pure for the upcoming wedding and the parents hand feed their children rice for the last time before they leave them.
On the wedding day tradition holds that the bride and groom may not be who they really are, maybe a spirit has taken over their appearence. To frighten or unmask the possible intruder the couple throws rolled up betel leaves at each other while chanting "for the rest of my life you are my only love and my wife/husband". The groom then steps on an egg to show his acceptance of the resposibility of being a father and husband and then wife washes his foot to demonstrate her faithfulness. The future husband must give all his income to his wife and he symbolizes this by pouring beans into a pocket, he is not supposed to spill the beans as that would be bad luck, then they give the beans to the bride's mother out of respect. Lastly the couple literally crawls on their knees over to each of their set of parents, this is called Sungkeman and they bow and kiss the hand of their parents to show respect and love.
I reflected on how much of the ceremony was spent showing respect to the parents. How different from our own culture where often the parents walk the child down the aisle and that is the last we see of them in the ceremony. The real treat in seeing all this is that even if we were invited to a real Indonesian wedding, we would not see this part of the ceremony, we would only see the more public prayers and then reception, as most of what I saw today is done privately with the family. It was a wonderful and respectful view into the importance of family in Indonesia

Jeepney transportation

2006-03-12T01:03:00.000-08:00

Makati City

2006-03-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

Manila

2006-03-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Manila in the Philipines! We are in Makati City which is an upscale business district of Manila. Manila is similar to Jakarta, with extremes of poverty and wealth but I must confess it is a little cleaner than Jakarta, even the poor parts. There is a much stronger Spanish and American influence here, due to the long periods of rule by both countries. We went to Interamuros which is Old Manila, where the first original Spanish fort was built centuries ago. Learned a lot about their history sensed a bit of animosity towards Spain and the Catholic Church for all the years of torment they caused the Fillipinos.
Enjoy the Jeepneys, kind of "pimp my ride" like buses that owners fix up in their own expressive ways. They are every where and are usually jammed with riders.
They remind me of Herman Munster's car with flair.

Out and About in Singapore

2006-03-09T02:30:00.000-08:00

Staying in Singapore

2006-03-09T02:05:00.000-08:00

Spent a few quick days in Singapore and found it to be a beautiful, clean and multicultural city. People from all over the world live there so you feel like you are in more of a global community. We arrived and went on the Night Safari in which we took a tram through the night going past different animals, it was very nicely done, a bit Disney-esque even. The next day we went to Sentosa Island, a major site in World War II. We went through the fort there and enjoyed all the other tourist attractions in the area as well. Took a river boat tour through the city and met friends of ours for dinner on the river. Singapore is only an hour from Jakarta and flights are cheap so I am sure we will get back, there were a few things we would like to go back and do.
But a cab ride back to the hotel, shared with an embassy employee from Bejing summed it up for both of us. Singapore is lovely, clean and cosmopolitan, but after a couple of weeks there, I would be bored, it is too much like home. Jakarta, although dirty and crazy and out of control is still interesting to me and I look forward to going back.

The Land of the Motor Bike

2006-03-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Having now spent a month in Jakarta, I can say with some authority that the single most striking aspect of life in Indonesia is the dominance of the motor bike as a mode of transportation. That's Motor bike, not motorcycle. Motorbikes swarm like gnats through the streets of Jakarta, filling every available open space between cars. This simultaneously aggravates the already gridlocked traffic, while providing the rider with the best means of overcoming it. Some specifications:
Most popular model: Honda Supra Fit
Size: 110-125 cc
Seating Capacity: Seats a family of four comfortably. Children as young as two perched atop the driver's lap and clutching the handlebars for dear life are not an uncommon sight.

Road restrictions: You must be joking. I have seen them on freeways, trying to maintain 40 mph as cars whiz past at twice that. Sidewalks, when not filled with street peddlers, make a great way to travel against the flow of Satuh Arah (one way) traffic.

Cargo capacity: varies considerably based on the ingenuity of the rider. I have seen bikes with with what must be at least 600 lb. of material lashed saddlebag-style across the rear of the bike.

Fuel: regular gasoline (leaded). Pertamina, the state controlled oil monopoly, has fairly modern, though dirty and care-worn, stations located throughout the city. Or, if you are a desperate or trusting soul, you can buy your bensin from a street peddler in unmarked plastic one-liter bottles.

Mountains of Tea

2006-03-03T05:13:00.000-08:00

Took a trip to a place called Tamin Safari, I am sure the kids will blog about this as it was really fun, so watch for their reports. It was located at the base of a mountain and our driver, Haysim, asked if he could take us up over the mountain. So off we went. These mountains should be viewable from our apartment but the smog in Jakarta is so thick that I hear they only appear maybe three times a year.
We began to wind up this incredibly lush and green mountain with zig zagging lines of some sort of crop growing all up the side of the mountain. Trails wound through the crops as workers in traditional straw hats walked through checking the crops. I asked Haysim what they were growing and he said "Tea". As we ascended the mountain a thick cloud enveloped us and as we reached the top Haysim brought us to a private resort that apparently Chevron uses a lot for different functions. We went in and had coffee and listened to two gentlemen in traditional dress play a flute and a strange looking harp that looked like a small boat to me. It was a little windy at the top of the mountain and the door of the lobby was opened, literally clouds were blowing in the door, we got quite a kick out of that. Coming down from the mountain it felt like we were leaving a mystical, magical place.

Better than Epcot

2006-02-26T01:20:00.000-08:00

Spent a wonderful day at Taman Mini Indonesia. It's a lot like Epcot in that it has these architectural replications of buildings or temples from all the different islands of Indonesia. You can wander around in them and see examples of traditional clothing or handicrafts of those islands. I was really surprised at how different each island was, some were almost Native American like and others were very Polynesian. Now I want to go off and see the actual islands! Around all this they have a museums with different themes like transportation, science, animals, etc. We saw an albino turtle at the Aquarium and at a reptile house Derek got to hold a big python. Apparently holding enormous snakes is a pretty common experience. Ask Derek about his alligator bite!
Joel is out of town for 4 days as he went to Balikpapan, a nearby island where Chevron has offices. We will be here in Jakarta, missing him but busy with school, swimming, soccer and rugby. Derek started playing basketball this week on a team with another guy his age that we have met. He also premieres and possibly starts as the Komodo Dragons take on the Singapore Bucks on Saturday. We also leave for Singapore the next day for three days and then the rest of the week in Manila, unless of course there is a coup, cross your fingers for no coup, at least not this week.

Someone said we made the news

2006-02-21T06:41:00.000-08:00

We are hearing from our sources that Jakarta was in the news this week back home. Apparently a "demo" outside the Embassy here got rowdy and broke some windows on a guard shack. We are here to report that it was no big deal.

Demonstrating in Jakarta is an organized profession. Most demonstrations in Jakarta less about democratic expression than political theatre. One of the by-products of a cheap labor force is that an angry rabble can be procured for a very reasonable sum. Hired demonstrators can be had for $3 a head. At Kalipasir in Central Jakarta, 100 demonstrators can usually be rounded up at a moment's notice.

Judging by the estimates of the crowd size from the Jakarta Post (around 400) the organization which staged the demo can't be taken too seriously.

According to the Jakarta Post the US Ambassador called the violence "premeditated thuggery". I have to agree with the premeditated part, although thuggery seems a bit harsh. After all, no one was hurt. My theory is that the demo was staged at the US Embassy to maximize press coverage. They were, after all, protesting the Danish cartoons - why weren't they at the Danish Embassy? Perhaps because we have more TV's, and because the American press does righteous indignation so much better than the Danes. The violence was a result of the pathetic turnout - how else were they going to get attention with only 400 protesters in a city of 12 million Muslims?

Anyway, we only heard about the incident when we read about it in the Jakarta Post the next day. By the most important measure in this city, the demonstration was a complete failure - traffic flow (such as it is) was not affected, and I got back to the apartment on time. None of the English language satellite stations in SE Asia carried the story. Interesting, since we get Asian editions of Fox News, CNBC, and BBC World News. Hmmm. Maybe yellow journalism doesn't sell so well outside the good ol' US of A.

Road Trip

2006-02-21T06:25:00.000-08:00

Monday I make my first foray from Jakarta out to the "sites". The project team is going to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan to solicit feedback on the software from Project Engineers and cost accountants (yes, accounting can be an adventure!) working the drilling rigs on the island of Borneo.

Let me quote to you from the Lonely Planet guide to Indonesia: "Balikpapan (population 440,000) is an air-con, oil boomtown with little to recommend it to the average traveller. Accommodation is expensive, and there is not much to do around town...Balikpapan has an air of easy, yet oddly artifical, affluence that you won't find elsewhere in Kalimantan...Balikpapan is an R&R center for oil workers and other ex-pats working in mining and logging camps upriver. Consequently, there's a large number of bars and discos in town."

Sounds like California, circa 1849.

Jakarta Street Scenes

2006-02-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

These roadside stands are common all over town. They sell everything imaginable.

My Turn

2006-02-19T07:14:00.000-08:00

Since some of your are beginning to notice my silence, I thought I would take advantage of a quiet Sunday evening to share some observations about life in Jakarta.
- NOTHING can prepare you for traffic in Jakarta. We were going from our Apartment to the Embassy Club Friday afternoon. We gave ourselves an hour and a half to cover a distance of approximately 1 mile. After getting halfway there, we began to wonder whether we gave ourselves enough time. Walking might be the quickest way from place to place, but absolutely nobody walks in Jakarta. Maybe it's the heat. Or the pollution. Or the vendor carts blocking the sidewalks. Or the inevitable rain.
- Motorbikes are very popular (see picture).
- Every kilometer or so, there is a mall complex that can put Water Tower Place in Chicago to shame. Between those malls is an endless string of vendor carts and roadside stands.

Joel

A night of rugby

2006-02-19T02:16:00.000-08:00

A good weekend

2006-02-19T02:15:00.000-08:00

The Sandbergs in Indonesia
We all had a great weekend as Claire began playing with the Jakarta Girls Soccer Club and she is starting to hang out with other girls at the American Club.
Derek has somehow been made offical (dispite the fact that he is underage) for the Komodo Dragons and they are grooming him for a game against Singapore playing "post" what ever that means. The team plays their away games in other countries, Joel and Derek may be traveling to a few.
I have to descibe what it is like watching rugby. The team plays at about 5pm so the locals around the club are starting open fires for their dinners, a smokey haze kind of hangs over the rugby pitch after awhile. As the sun sets, the sky literally turns purple and orange against the out lines of palm trees that line the field. At about 6:30 the evening call for prayer goes out so a mystical wailing plays in the backgound of this scene as the players crash into each other in the weird dance of rugby that I have yet to understand. Every time we are there I feel this same other worldly-ness about the whole scene.

Yeah, that is a real snake

2006-02-17T01:45:00.000-08:00

A day at the zoo

2006-02-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

The Sandbergs in Indonesia

Claire and I just got back from the most amazing day at the Ragunan Zoo. We stopped by a snake house where the man who ran the place spoke very good English. He showed us an enormous boa constrictor and then got out a smaller (but still big) one and offered to put it around us for a picture! Had to take that opportunity! They even had a cobra in a bag that they took out and just had slithering around on the floor a few feet from us. The same man offered to take us around the rest of the zoo and it was wonderful. He knew all the animal names and would call to them and they would come over. He showed us how to feed the elephants straight from our hands, did you know that the trunk sucks up just like a vacuum? We hand fed giraffes too. We went into the primate area and got all the monkeys howling and screeching, it was hilarious! Then he showed us where some of the monkeys are kept and we feed a huge orangutan and Claire got to hold a baby orangutan. It was unbelievable! The zoo was practically empty so we almost had the place to ourselves with our very knowledgeable guide. Watch for pictures to come!
Today begins 2 weeks of having our own driver, Hasyim. He is very sweet. Some friends are gone for 2 weeks so they loaned him to us. We thought we would be getting one too but it turns out the "driver" for us was the shuttle Joel is offered to get to work each day. I have a feeling I may get used to this.

Your questions answered!

2006-02-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

The Sandbergs in Indonesia
We have all been asked a lot of questions about life over here. Obviously we are not experts but the differences are ones you may find interesting. Traffic is a major issue in Jakarta, going anywhere takes an hour if not more. The lines on the road are only suggestions as cars, motorcycles and vans honk and jockey for space. I have learned just to look out the window and watch the world go by or take a nap. It's rainy season here, the temps. generally are in the mid 80's and it rains hard at least once a day. Sewers are open an can be smelly, in our neighborhood they are hidden by lovely landscaping but in other areas they are very obvious and kind of gross. Food is very unusual, not really Thai which I like, it is kind of a cross between Thai and Japanese, with some rather jelly like textures I struggle with and can be VERY spicey. We all like the mee goreng or fried noodles. There are a zillion American places to eat though so we survive. The odd part of eating out is that they don't bring your food all together, two or three of your group may get served and then 5- 10 minutes later the others get served. We have learned to just eat or your food gets cold. There are a billion sales people in every store. I swear they have a sales person for each aisle. Then you have to have that person bring it up to the cashier where that person rings it up and the other one packages it up. At least there is lots of work. There is tons of security every where. Guards and even soliders. People still talk about the Bali bombing. Six of the Komodo Dragons rugby players (the team Derek has been playing with) were killed there. I think the whole country was spooked by that and are very cautious now, to the extreme. It makes me feel safe but it also makes me wonder how unrealistic we may be on our own country, having seen much heavier security in other countries as well. As Americans I think we feel we are invinceable, in other countries I think maybe they know they are not. Indonesians are very kind and very polite. I am never sure if I am being a total bozo or not as they would never say. Many people have gone out of their way for us and it has very sweet.
I can't get used to all the zeros dealing with the Indonesain rupiah is about 10,000 to 1 US dollar. I take out a million all the time. Derek can't believe how dumb I am trying to figure out what bills to use, the coins are actually aluminum so obviously just token, and value wise about the same.
The grocery store we go to most has a beautiful area for displaying wine, but lots of time they hardly have any and choose to put Pringle cans in the wine racks. We feel they look very classey that way. Well enough of my ramblings, hope this answers a few questions. I want to try and get out and take more authentic photos this week, our neighborhood, although lovely and like many others, seems more American to me then Indonesian.

Between a Hard Rock and a Birthday

2006-02-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

Claire celebrated her 11th birthday this week! I was choked up by the sweet emails and on line cards her friends back home sent. We celebrated for days as we couldn't decide if her real birthday was the 9th in Indonesia or the 9th in Wisconsin. We covered both days just to be sure.
I feel like we are getting things together a bit with more organized activities for the kids. Derek has been practicing with the Komodo Dragons, the Indonesian semi professional rugby team. I just thought they were a bunch of guys but no...they are semi famous! Derek can only practice as you have to be 18 to be on the team, but they like him and he really has fun playing with them. Derek is also joining a basketball team at the International School.
Claire starts soccer this week and we found a swim team for her too. We have made friends with one of Joel's co-workers and they have shown us the ropes around here so to speak.
So what about me? Well I am making it a goal of mine to get a 2 hour massage each week as they are only $14. (I find this to be proof that there is a real God) and I vow to get more organized with Claire's schooling. If she gets bad grades I swear it will be all my fault as I feel like I don't know what I am doing sometimes. I keep telling myself that this is my chance to redo those math lessons I never really got back when I was in 5th grade. But the on line school will come in handy as we have heard that in the next month or so we will be heading off to Manila and Singepore. We are looking at some weekend trips to Borobordur and Bali, in fact I have to venture out and find a travel agent this week along with calling Mr. Freddy the driver.

Jakarta: Amazing and wild!

2006-02-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

We are settled into our apartment now and have internet secured. Yahoo! Our apartment is very nice and fairly roomy. The pool is wonderful and we spend at least an hour a day down there. This is the view of the pool from our patio. We live in a neighborhood called Senayan. Right across the street is a big mall with designer stores, Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo. (I confess, it is a bit rich for my taste. ) We also have 3 fairly good grocery stores close by too. Just found the best one today with a great bakery! OINK! We have been trying new fruits, you would not beleive the variety, fruits that you have never even heard of. We have enjoyed many of them but not the national fruit- durian. Durian is a large spiky fruit that stinks like rotting garbage. People love the soft creamy fruit inside. We tried it, we didn't agree. The smell of durian greets you as you enter every super market, THAT takes getting used to!
Obviously we live in a very comfortable part of Jakarta. It has many neighborhoods like this but in between you see a lot of poverty too. The cab takes us through crowed streets teaming with ojeks which are small motorcycles that are really the fastest way to travel through the city. We explored Blok M, a shopping district teaming with everything you could imagine. Little closet like stores where tailors sew and work.
Yesterday we went out to a club where Derek played rugby with guys from Australia, England, Scotland, Japan, etc. He held his own and looked pretty good doing it. Joel even joined in and tried his best. Claire and I played in the pool, ruggers we're not. It is a country club that sponsors a big rugby team/program. We have a month's free membership to decide if we will join.
So far we are pleased with Jakarta. Some of the things that people had warned us about have not proven to be true. We obviously have lots to more to learn and explore.
Salamat jalan (goodbye!)

Jellyfish in Monterey

2006-01-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

It was our last weekend in California so we took off to Monterey and checked out the Aquarium there as well as Steinbeck's Cannery district. The coast around Monterey was gorgeous. The aquarium has an incrediable jelly fish display and we also got to pet the sting rays!

Saturday we took a tour of UCBerekley. Although a little early for Derek to start picking a college, we thought it would be fun to check it out. We really had fun on the tour and learned a lot about the Golden Bears. Did you know that freshman have a tradition of rolling down 4.0 hill on the first day of school in hopes of receiving a 4.0?

We ended the evening with a night time tour of Alcatraz. Got to hear some fasinating stories about the history of this one time fortress and memorable prison. Seemed even creepier at night. Didn't see any ghosts though.

Now we get ready for the big move, we are more than ready and even anxious to get there. We don't know what to expect and are trying hard NOT to have expectations but to be open to adventure and the challenge. As soon as we are settled we will write you from Jakarta!

California is so ....not Wisconsin!

2006-01-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful weekend, California is so ....not Wisconsin! We waded in the Pacific, walked among the amazing redwoods in Muir forest, watched the sunset from the top of Mount Tamalpais over looking the bay and city of San Fransisco. Spent another day hopping on and off the trolley car in the city. Wondered around Fisherman's Wharf. Chinatown was abuzz with shoppers getting their evening meal in open air markets. Made me think I would be shopping in a similar fashion once we reach Indonesia.

It is working out well to have this time away from home first before leaving the country. The E-school takes getting used to. I am really Claire's teacher, not just a "coach". We get all the help we need and do have to send in some work to her teacher back in Appleton, but I do the bulk of the instruction. I am glad I can get used to it first before we are in another country and we are having to to get used to that too.

Speaking of which, our address in Indonesia has changed. We are not staying at the Ascott but now at another place. It is supposed to be even more fabulous but I will believe it when I see it. If any one wants to mail us anything I would recommend just sending it to our PO box as it will then get forwarded on to us where ever we happen to be.
Sandbergs
2700 W. College Ave #9
PMB 201
Appleton, WI 54914

Bye for now!

Que Sera Sera

2006-01-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

The corporate gods have changed our departure dates. Being the uber organized wunderwoman that I am we were more then ready to go and decided that we would just go anyway. So we are now heading off to San Francisco for two weeks as Joel finishes up some assignments for Chevron out there and then we head to Indonesia. For any of you you have been in Appleton the last month, the sun has vanisished, never to be seen again, so we figure how horrible can two weeks in California be at this time of year?

Remember the old Doris Day show? It opened with her skipping around San Francisco while she sung "Que Sera Sera"? Well, what will be will be....at least it's warm and there is always Ghirardelli chocolate.

2005-11-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,
We are "sailing" off to Jakarta Indonesia as of Jan. 7th 2006. Stop in at this site to see photos, hear about our adventures and respond back. We would love to hear from you!