Kartika and Connie have been friends for a long time.
The meal was cooked on hot coals in the center of the table. It was delicious, and I even ate Kimchee (bowl bottom left), which is fermented cabbage with red chili sauce. I can't say it was my favorite thing that night! The beef was hard to beat!
Kasmin insisted that I took a picture of this bell installed on the table for calling waitresses to come and bring more food or cook the food at the table.
Thin slices of meat and mushrooms and onions and potatoes were cooked in front of us at the table.
The lady dressed in black is the mother of a potential OBU student, Theo. She invited us to have a meal with her and Connie and Kasmin Rasilim and to tell us about her son's dreams for studying in the States.
The Korean restaurant had individual rooms which could be reserved, and so our evening was undisturbed by others around us. We were able to quietly enjoy getting to know each other and talk to Kartika about OBU. She's a high-powered businesswoman - delightful, and eager to see her son settle into a good Christian school.
It is helpful to remind ourselves that they are just as valuable in God's eyes as the rest of the world! Today the Lord reminded me that sometimes all we can do is give them a "cup of cold water in His name." We can't change the situation en mass, but we can make a difference in the lives of those we are in contact with by just doing something helpful or thoughtful for even one or two of them in the Father's name. We cannot ignore these people.
These piles of garbage in the foreground are part of their everyday landscape - just mountains of trash!
Good to be on firm ground again. Drove through some poverty-stricken areas again on the way home. It's heartbreaking to see just how meagerly they live. It's a permanent shanty town.
We had a good day together and just enjoyed the fresh air and good fellowship!
The journey home was another whole story!!!!!! The waves were choppy and our trust crew of seafarers did not fare so well - the boat was not made to hold the number of passengers it carried, so about10 of us crowded onto the back loading platform. We were nearly gassed out with the fumes while the boat was going slowly, but it was better than being inside as the waves were splashing in from the wake so the windows were closed. It was stuffy, stinky and very hot, and within a while, folks looking green started venturing out to where we stood at the back. Two folks totally lost it and threw up in front of everyone - one guy right at my feet - yuck! Poor guy! He was so embarrassed, and he didn' t just barf once, it was 3 times!!!!! OOOOOOh, we were so glad to see land!
If only we knew what a long, tough ride we were about to have in this picture, I don't think we would have wanted to get onto the boat, especially Lela and Jim. They both found it tough when the water was calm...they didn't like the return journey at all!
Wish you could see how gorgeous these fish were! They came to the surface when bread was thrown to them from the balcony above.
At lunch in the open-aired restaurant we were entertained by a live band singing with karaoke words - not bad, but way too loud for anyone to enjoy conversation, especially our group of older folks!
Jamie climbing trees!
This is one of the duplex chalets - very rustic! (say no more!!)
We ladies took a walk around the island and it only took about 15 minutes. As roots and trees are in the water on the west side, walking became a little tricky and the older ladies had a few hilarious tumbles trying to climb over the roots! They're in the mid 70s - real troopers!
The pier in the harbour where the sea is aqua green and fish look like they're in an aquarium - yellows, blues and brilliant greens!
The king of relaxation!!
Our relaxation station!
Ian is really enjoying this time here and is looking well.
Sheldon and Jamie - also Oregon natives! This is their second year here in this leadership position.
These trees grow right down to the water's edge in places around the island, so beach front is scarce.
Ellen Jacobs, one of my teaching colleagues from Oregon, who came with her traveling companion, Lela, for the summer. They're such sweethearts!
Jamie Nord (Ist lady) in front of one of the nicer chalets.
One of the chalets behind us. I was told that if people get the nicer accommodation, they will return, but if they get the lower grade, they will never come back!! (I saw the lower grade, and trust me, I would not want to stay there!)
The island was rustic, but quite enchanting. There were several levels of comfort offered in chalet-type accommodation. There was also a small shop, a restuarant, and that is about it! The beach was white and clean on the east side of the island, and provided a nice, safe place for families to relax, snorkle and swim.
We made sure to beware of the "live" vests under our seats on the speed boat!
We left Jakarta at 8.00am on this speed boat with about another 30 passengers and headed out across the sea to Pulau Seribu for the day. The sea was not too bad, but 4 of our group of 7 were prone to sea-sickness, so they took AntiMo...thankfully! This is Sheldon, the President of UPH and his wife Jamie, who also joined the 5 of us from the US who are here for the summer.
Good to be on firm ground again. Drove through some poverty-stricken areas again on the way home. It's heartbreaking to see just how meagerly they live. It's a permanent shanty town.
We had a good day together and just enjoyed the fresh air and good fellowship!
The journey home was another whole story!!!!!! The waves were choppy and our trust crew of seafarers did not fare so well - the boat was not made to hold the number of passengers it carried, so about10 of us crowded onto the back loading platform. We were nearly gassed out with the fumes while the boat was going slowly, but it was better than being inside as the waves were splashing in from the wake so the windows were closed. It was stuffy, stinky and very hot, and within a while, folks looking green started venturing out to where we stood at the back. Two folks totally lost it and threw up in front of everyone - one guy right at my feet - yuck! Poor guy! He was so embarrassed, and he didn' t just barf once, it was 3 times!!!!! OOOOOOh, we were so glad to see land!
If only we knew what a long, tough ride we were about to have in this picture, I don't think we would have wanted to get onto the boat, especially Lela and Jim. They both found it tough when the water was calm...they didn't like the return journey at all!
Wish you could see how gorgeous these fish were! They came to the surface when bread was thrown to them from the balcony above.
At lunch in the open-aired restaurant we were entertained by a live band singing with karaoke words - not bad, but way too loud for anyone to enjoy conversation, especially our group of older folks!
Jamie climbing trees!
This is one of the duplex chalets - very rustic! (say no more!!)
We ladies took a walk around the island and it only took about 15 minutes. As roots and trees are in the water on the west side, walking became a little tricky and the older ladies had a few hilarious tumbles trying to climb over the roots! They're in the mid 70s - real troopers!
The pier in the harbour where the sea is aqua green and fish look like they're in an aquarium - yellows, blues and brilliant greens!
The king of relaxation!!
Our relaxation station!
A nice shot of the beach. This is the only stetch of beach on the island, but it is well worth the journey! Not many of the 1,000 islands have nice beaches. Pollution is a problem on the islands closer to the city of Jakarta. Here the air was clear and the sand was clean - a rarity around these parts, I'm told.
Ian is really enjoying this time here and is looking well.
Sheldon and Jamie - also Oregon natives! This is their second year here in this leadership position.
These trees grow right down to the water's edge in places around the island, so beach front is scarce.
Ellen Jacobs, one of my teaching colleagues from Oregon, who came with her traveling companion, Lela, for the summer. They're such sweethearts!
Jamie Nord (Ist lady) in front of one of the nicer chalets.
One of the chalets behind us. I was told that if people get the nicer accommodation, they will return, but if they get the lower grade, they will never come back!! (I saw the lower grade, and trust me, I would not want to stay there!)
The island was rustic, but quite enchanting. There were several levels of comfort offered in chalet-type accommodation. There was also a small shop, a restuarant, and that is about it! The beach was white and clean on the east side of the island, and provided a nice, safe place for families to relax, snorkle and swim.
We made sure to beware of the "live" vests under our seats on the speed boat!
We left Jakarta at 8.00am on this speed boat with about another 30 passengers and headed out across the sea to Pulau Seribu for the day. The sea was not too bad, but 4 of our group of 7 were prone to sea-sickness, so they took AntiMo...thankfully! This is Sheldon, the President of UPH and his wife Jamie, who also joined the 5 of us from the US who are here for the summer.
Ian and Sharon, Do you remember me? I was formerly Sara Fish, now I am a Campbell. My sister in law forwarded your blog to me (she was sent the link by Rachel Payne who is a friend of your daughter's and who is also the sister of my sis in law). She sent it because we used to live in Singapore and travel to Indo often. But what she didn't know is that I know you!!! We traveled to Taiwan together in 91. Now my husband and I (and 5 kids) are m's in Turkey. Here is my blog link..but due to where we live, I am limited in what I write. www.campbellclanblog.blogspot.com Take care, good to find you, Sara
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