Indonesia update

Well, things here have slowed down to an almost stop. Chuck, Johnny, and I have been diagnosed with an amoeba and while the rest also had symptoms...except Sheena....we are the only one positive. I believe this is an Indonesian version of Montezuma revenge?? Lots of cuddling by the grandchildren by me and also amazingly a trip to experience hospital care in Indonesia. One thing I can tell you...they use gloves to start Intravenous infusions. They have not found a way to make needles less sharp here, and Intravenous solutions help bring down fever, rehydrate, and remove some symptoms.

This week the children are off school so hopefully with some medicine under my belt I will again be the energetic and exciting MeMa they know. How Chuck ever finished his week of work, I certainly will never know. Today a short walk with the boys to watch them ride their bike exhausted me!!

At home Charlie and Rita tell me all is fine. Keep praying I stay safe and get better, especially since I have to fly back within one week. Hmmm....I wonder if they let you camp out in the occupied sign all the way back???

Wow have I been here 10 days already!!!

Wow, it is so hard to believe I have been here TEN days. Also, typing a blog, with a Japanese Keyboard, with no one home but Johnny and I. Chuck and Miyoko are at meetings, Sheena, Joey, and Charles are at school, and Johnny and I are home. Johnny has been sick with an Amoeba infection in his bowels.

We went away for the weekend last weekend on a three day trip up to the mountains. We stayed at a lovely villa called Bukit Talita Mountain Resort and Spa http://www.talitaresort.com/about.html . The car had to climb a very steep hill to get us up to the resort but the views were fabulous!!!! Especially at night overlooking the valley below. The weather was only in the 70 degree range and it was lovely to sit around outside and visit.

Chuck, Charles IV, and Joey got a guide to go on the puncak trek up to Mt. Gede and Pangrango, where they saw a volcano, hot springs, and allot of natural wildlife within the fauna.http://www.puncaktrek.com/ . If you look at the photo of Sheena and I you can see the mountain they climbed for a ten KM trail behind us. The hotel was two miles up from sea level and if you click on the link you can see all they saw!!!!

Miyoko and I went to the outlet malls to shop with their nanny (Octane), Johnny, and Sheena. Wow, the roads were really narrow and dropped off!!! Their driver Woko, was very adept at the driving, good thing because it made me nervous!
On the way home we visited the Taman Safari Indonesia. http://www.tamansafari.com/agp/ This place was really cool, you could even hold the baby animals in a special area to have your picture taken!!! Yes, these are babies, not big ones! Sheena would not do it though so only the boys, and brave little Johnny!







Johnny had been asking for a horseback ride for days as many of the people were riding them around the mountain area, I think it was a smarter way to travel than the car as the roads were so narrow. Finally, at the safari park, he was able to get one. You can tell he is really happy about it and not at all nervous. Miyoko is more nervous than he is!
Anyways the time here is going too fast!!!!!!!

Made it! Hot weather here!

It was fortunate that I decided to ride the shuttle from Albany Airport to JFK! The storm did come and while I did not appreciate the fall and slide off the runway our plane did, along with the 5 hour delay in taking off, I was grateful I had a 8 hour delay with my connecting flights to Jakarta so I could make it. Whew!!!! When I got in though on the 3rd, at 8:45 pm I was exhausted, as I could not sleep on the first plane and had only caught a catnap of 3 hours on and off while waiting to go to Jakarta.

I went to bed right after I arrived, on the 3rd, then got up the next day at 5:00 am to start my day. This was way to early so last night I tried to stay awake till 8:00 pm but only made it till 7:30 pm. I woke up, today, at 6:00 am so I am better.

So far the grandchildren have kept me busy, Sheena swam on her own with my encouragement, Johnny put his head under water, and the older boys enjoyed searching for the sonic ball I brought. I will be helping in classrooms of many of the grandchildren, have my own schedule book, and saw a Jakarta wedding ceremony enacted at their school, JIS, today. The heat is troubling me, a little, but I had no swelling of my hands, feet, or legs on this flight out as I requested a no salt diet, and I still am staying away from salt.

Today, I will be going to the mall to have lunch with some of the other mothers and their parents to meet them all. Yesterday we had breakfast with some of them. I have trouble with the computer as once in a while I hit the wrong key and it all changes to Japanese, then I have to reset it back to English. Good thing Miyoko and Chuck are patient with me as I do this. my Grandson, Charles, is also very adept at this to help me also.

I have SKYPED Charlie and Rita. I do not think my mother has SKYPE yet as I have not heard from her. I hope she will email me soon!!!
Love to all of you!
Darleena