Little creatures we find in Jakarta

Well, apart from various species of rats, cats and dogs we also get other animals sometimes, for instance the other day I received an emergency call from the g/f, come home quick, there's a snake in the window, what she neglected to mention to me was that they had almost killed the poor thing by accidentally crushing it in the window jam.....


I managed to get it out of the window jam....despite the yelling and screaming...

and freed it on the grass outside (well outside...)

and then, the other day we rescued this little critter out of the swimming pool....


I think its a shrew or mongoose, not sure actually but he seemed a little tired and worn out, i'm not sure how long he had been swimming/drowning for...

Puffing Billy Train

K and I were visiting my brother in the Dandenongs in Melbourne, very picturesque. Anyway Rara was with us so I promised to take him to see Puffing Billy, but of course he fell asleep and I didnt want to wake him.

Unfortunately, I should have realised that was a mistake because as soon as he woke afterwards he wanted to know why I hadn't woken him :( - ah well, next time Dad!

Grumbling about the lack of service one recieves outside of Asia

In Australia, first of all you have to fill the gas in your car yourself.tonight i get out put the bowser pump into the car and wait for it to be turned on, after a minute or so an attendent comes out and says i'll have to wait a minute becuase he's changing the price, up 10 cents, hang on I was already here, nope sorry you have to pay new price.OK, i left and refused. next station, attendent waves me to come inside, how much gas do you want? I dunno, its not my car, but you have to prepay, can i leave my credit card, nope, tell me an amount, but if i'm wrong do i get a refund? nope.needless to say I drove off away from that dickhead too! gimmi thai and indo gas stations anyday!

Hanging Rock New Years Racing Day!

Well, not exactly Asia, but Australia. Visited Hanging Rock for the new years day races. A picnic, in beltingly warm weather (over 40 degrees).

But still good fun, we won on two of the horses, (a good Aussie tradition) and afterwards wander around the rock as well.

I'd explained the story of "picnic at hanging rock" already to K, so she was a little nervous.... ;)

The climb to the summit was hot and exhausting, but the views from the top were worth it!

Internet frustrations

get a call from the internet mob today.

caller:"blah blah blah, you have bill for 417,000 rupiah ?"

me"yes, i know, it's a promotional price for unlimited usage, so it's always that price."

caller"for december bill?"

me"yes i know, it's an automatic debit from my bank account"

caller"yes, but its 417,000rupiah"

me"yes i know but the bill is not due until the 20th, and its a set amount, same every other month, and its automatic debit."


Hmmm, so what was that all about? A sudden out-of-the-blue reminder to make sure I pay my bill? Which I've been doing every month for the last year and a half on the same set price? And actually they collect my bill each and every month anyway....