You don't need a maid. The dangers of DIY housework.

You don't need a maid. No-one needs a maid. I don't have one. You don't need one

Hmmmm, one may hear this sort of comment from friends and family back home, who have not experienced living in Asia with home help. I have been inspired me to write this. Last week our maid informed us that she has a 'swollen heart' and needed to rest (and visit the hospital again) so she has a month off.

Being so close to the Lebaran holiday, which is not dissimilar to Chinese new year in that the entire country all go to their village homes for a week it is next to impossible to get a temporary maid.

So up to us to do it ourselves, both of us work, so Sunday was a big housework day. The Mrs mopped the floor with gusto, perhaps too much gusto, by early evening she was complaining of a sore lower back.

Not surprising really.

Yesterday, she could not get out of bed. So I took her to the local hospital thinking we'd visit the local GP and get some anti-inflammatory's and painkillers till it got better.

We got that, but we also pretty much spent the day in the hospital, her in a wheel chair she needs help walking, sitting and simple things like dressing and going to the bathroom.

She also needed some X-rays, and the specialist said yep, she's actually done some real harm, her muscles are holding her spine rigidly straight, the natural curve of the spine is gone right now.

We also had to visit a physiotherapist and needs to return each day for a week and lots of bed rest.

I took the day off yesterday and fortunately her mother is coming over to visit today to assist.

Poor old driver has been given the job of mopping today...

I pray he doesnt bladdy well do the same thing to his own back.

So, there you go, we do need a maid! Tis no laughing matter!

Istiqlal Mosque, or Masjid Istiqlal, (Independence Mosque)

Istiqlal Mosque, or Masjid Istiqlal, (Independence Mosque) in Jakarta, is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia in terms of capacity to accommodate people. size of building structure and land coverage. Apparently up to 80,000 people can worship in this mosque.

Just north of Merdeka square, in sight of Monas it is roughly in the centre of Jakarta. A small parking fee applies, and a donation is appreciated, but not compulsory.

This national mosque of Indonesia was build to commemorate Indonesian independence, as nation's gratitude for God's blessings; the independence of Indonesia. Therefore the national mosque of Indonesia was named "Istiqlal", an Arabic word for "Independence". Work started in 1960's and it was finally complete in 1978

School Trip Tragedy

2 bodies have been recovered after a flash flood. The British international School were attending an outdoor pursuits program when the flood happened.
(Antara Photo/Jafkhairi)Cameron Bates

The British International School on Wednesday confirmed that two bodies, including that of a Year 8 student, had been recovered after a flash flood during a field trip in the Puncak mountains a day earlier.

BIS admissions director Lee Bretherick said the bodies were still being formally identified.

Antara news agency reported the body of Outward Bound instructor Arpan Palindungan Ade, 30, had been recovered in the Cisadane River. It also identified the missing student as a South Korean national.

West Bogor Police Chief Hadi Tjahyono said 10 police and military personnel had assisted in the search along the riverbanks.

“The search focused on two spots in Bogor and West Bogor districts,” Hadi said, adding that the weather had been unpredictable and the rain had caused a sudden rise in the river.

Ade’s body was taken to the Indonesian Red Cross Hospital in Bogor.

West Bogor Police chief detective Budi Santoso said the victim had been found naked and with extensive bruising.

“It’s possible he sustained his head wound and other bruises after being dashed against the rocks when he was swept up by the current,” Budi said.

A statement on the school Web site from its CEO and principal, Peter Derby-Crook, said: “A group of students under the supervision of teachers and an experienced guide were caught by rising water levels while hiking through the Gunung Gede area.

All the students and teachers were able to avoid the situation except one student who ran into difficulties. The guide immediately assisted the student but both were separated from the group by the force of the water and swept downstream.”

The other students have returned home and are being offered counseling.

The BIS statement added: “The British International School regularly conducts residential trips as part of the course work for its students to different locations in Indonesia, and over many years these trips have been free from any serious incidents.

“This month’s residential trip to Pancawati, West Java, for year 8 students, was organized in conjunction with Lembur Pancawati Outbound, who the school have been using since 2002 with an excellent safety record.”

Indonesian Car Troubles

My car will not start this morning, grrrr, it was just at the bengkel (service station) yesterday. Ho hum, Mrs has to take a taxi to work. The driver called a tow truck already.

Yikes, I panic, but he explains you get a free tow to the service centre in Indonesia, thank goodness, because in Australia to would cost you hundreds of dollars.

Actually, the driver also knows the problem ? Oh yeah ? Masuk Angin. Now I've heard of masuk angin before, literally it means air has entered, more specifically it refers to any manner of non-specific ailment, such as a cold or flu or generally unwell. But I have never heard of it in relation to a motor vehicle before, perhaps my car has 'gone native' also!

haha.

Sailing Terms

This new T-shirt should help you learn your sailing terms!

Diving courses, Liveaboard in Sunda straights

http://www.kristalkleardive.com/

I want to go diving again, I havent been for a number of years, which is crazy considering that I live in one of the best diving places in the world. I just found this place, so that my better half can get her licence also.

A basic certificate is called an Open Water course, takes two half days in the swimming pool plus a weekend in the thousand islands. Not bad for $500 or so.

Then we can join on a trip on the Cecilia Ann, :)

And trips up to Manado for some of the best diving in the world

Two Dead After Plane Hits Motorcycle

Read this in the news this morning....

Two Dead After Plane Hits Motorcycle

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation launched an investigation on Monday after a training aircraft landing at the Curug Airport in Tangerang hit a motorcycle and killed its two passengers who may have been using the runway as a short-cut.

The two occupants of the Socata TB-10 Tobago training aircraft were injured and have been rushed to Siloam Hospital in Karawaci for treatment.

Darwis Amini, chairman of the Indonesian Aviation Institute (STPI) in Curug, said that the single-engine plane was landing when the motorcycle drove across the runway.

“It is illegal for motorcycles to enter the runway,” he said.

The driver and his passenger were killed instantly, he said.

Ministry of Transportation spokesman Bambang Ervan said that bikers often used the runway as a shortcut, even though it was illegal to do so.

“There are wire fences and gutters installed around the airport,” Bambang said, “but people still manage to find ways to break in.”
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/two-dead-after-plane-hits-motorcycle/370254



Of course they were and of course they did ! Bike riders hear are the pits!

The vegetable food vendor in my neighborhood

The vegetable food vendor in my neighborhood, he comes to you!

Showing sympathy to bereaved familes.

In a slightly different manner, well wishers and family, not to mention companies, send large polystyrene and flower contraptions to the house of someone who has recently passed on.

Sunset at Tanjung Lesung

Topeng monyet or performing street monkey's

You can see topeng monyet I feel sorry for them, but do not know what I can do to help them.

Once they were part of Indonesian culture, traveling around neighbourhoods performing tricks and shows for laughing children. Now they are stuck on the end of a chain, at a smoky, polluted and hot traffic intersection.

Saving videos and animation for your classes

As a teacher I love the 'net. There are thousands, more, millions of great videos, tutorials and animations to use in classes. But the problem with the internet is that nothing stays the same, pages come and go, problems happen, schools block youtube and then you loose that great 5 minute video explaining photosynthesis.

So save them, copy them, download them and then share them. But some sites do not allow you to copy them. Here's how, use firefox and add these two neat add ons.



https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006 for videos.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/201 for animations

Buchan Caves in Victoria

Are a set of caves in Eastern Victoria created by underground rivers cutting though limestone rock almost 400 million years ago. They are about 360 kms away from Melbourne. One can camp nearby in the Buchan Caves reserve.

They were discovered by Frank Moon in the earlier part of last century. (he called his daughter Fairy Cave, and she even arranged a secret wedding in Fairy Cave.)

A tour of one of the caves will cost you about $20 and takes 45 minutes.