The fun and learning never ends... Hari Kartini

A few months ago a friend of mine asked if I would like to participate in a Kebaya Batik fashion show. Kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress combination that originated and is still worn in Indonesia. Batik is various colored textile fabrics from Indonesia. One thing for sure is the Indonesian women are always nicely dressed and well accessorized. Who can say no to playing dress up!!?

The fashion show took place during the Hari Kartini celebration. Raden Ayu Kartini, or sometimes known as Raden Ajeng Kartini, was a prominent Javanese and an Indonesian national heroine. Kartini was a pioneer in the area of women's rights for Indonesians (google.com). The celebration was delightful. It included traditional Papuan dancers, singers, musicians, and lots of beautiful women dressed in ornately adorned Kebayas and batiks. 

It was another successful experience where I got to appreciate more and more of this amazing and dynamic culture.

It is now only three weeks to the day that we get to fly home and see our precious family after a whole year!!!! So excited!!!

Pics from Hari Kartini...
 

Relfection and the blood that runs thick...

We are approaching our one year anniversary of moving across the world to a remote town in Indonesia. So, so, so, so crazy! What an amazing journey and life-altering experience! Looking back on the last year, it has gone by so quickly! I cannot believe the things we've done and seen -- from the Opera House in Australia to the temples in Yogyakarta to the beaches in Bali and to the elephants in Thailand!

The lessons I have learned more recently aside from day-to-day life here and traveling is the true reality of life and humanity in the jungle. From volunteering in the local village hospital I have seen starving children orphaned by AIDS, tough and relentless women providing for their family carrying tons of food on their heads while barefoot, men armed with bow and arrows and machetes and I have also seen the precious smiles and nods through a blockade of communication differences. Interesting how we all have an innate need to survive but enjoy the occasional softness of humility. These moments my children have barely seen but I hope what they have seen they hold dear and appreciate what they have and where they come from.

The people of this land can be very intimidating and aren't without their flaws as we aren't flawless either but their primal existence is humbling. They have learned to quickly adapt from only wearing penis guards to working underground operating equipment. However, I don't think they'll ever forget where they come from as their blood runs thick of jungle survival and when someone visits their villages it is like going back in time. They are very fascinating people!

There have been many fantastic memories made within this crazy year. We have all learned so much and I hope we have helped others learn and see new things as well. As we look forward to the trip home in about four weeks, no doubt, we will be bringing a little of Tembagapura back with us!


Below are pictures a friend took from the local tribes and me at the hospital...

 

Thailand: the city of smiles and this is how I was going to die...

Every trip is approached with high anticipation. The desire for food, drinks, beaches and fun is abundant. Thailand was no exception and I was packed and ready to go days before. The morning of we weren't able to catch the chopper so a long and windy road brought us to the airport. Poor Lil' Hannah was super car sick but was able to not throw up. We boarded our flight and set off to Phuket.

Three flights and two layovers later we finally set our bags down in Thailand along with two other families. It was a long process to get there but we finally got some sleep! We stayed at Club Med Phuket (which I do not recommend because it was very overcrowded -- had to pretty much fight for food, drinks, a seat to eat our meals and the excursion was not what we paid for). The next day we took Hannah and Mason to kids club and us adults walked to town. What a wonderful place -- seriously, everyone smiles there!! I think because of their Buddhist culture.

Sunday was a very special for Thailand, their New Year where the Thai people celebrate the Songkran Festival (aka the water festival). The Songkran Festival is about cleaning, purification, and fresh starts. Houses are cleaned, Buddha statues are gently washed with scented water, and elders are honored by pouring water respectfully over their hands. Although the origins of Songkran are far more religious, splashing complete strangers with water has become the main attraction of the festival. Dousing or sprinkling people with water signifies the washing away of bad thoughts and actions, and brings them good luck in the new year (http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/a/Thailand-Water-Festival.htm). We were armed with water guns, buckets, friends and new acquaintances. I have never had so much fun in my entire life. Witnessing the smiles on my hubby's, kiddos' and friends' faces was fabulous!

The next day Mike and our friend went on a private fishing boat and deep sea fished to celebrate their April birthdays. They caught yellow fin tuna that was instantly filleted and served right on the boat. They had a great time. Us ladies spent the day shopping and had a delicious lunch and drank some amazing wine while the kiddos played in kid club.

Tuesday we all packed into a van and went to find some elephants. The road our driver took had some deep curves and hills along the coastline where we got to view all the beautiful beaches, Buddhist offerings, huts, homes, and businesses. A fantastic drive. We arrived at a random place where four elephants were lined up ready to go amongst metal sided shacks with worn wooden plank stairs that housed the local Thai people. We all got on our elephants which was a little scary. They are so massive and you're so high up and when they walk they shift drastically from side to side. Mason was particularly nervous. They guided us through the hot jungle. The guide that was on the front of our elephant jumped off and asked me to sit on the elephant where he was. He instructed me to keep my hands on the top of the elephant's head. Cool! I was now guiding the elephant. All was well until we were greeted by an unwelcome wild dog. Our elephant and the elephant in front of us started to (what sounded like a) growl and the vibrations from their huge bodies was freakishly loud, deep and shook us (ah sh*t this is how I was going to die, by a elephant gone crazy in the jungle of Thailand!!). The guides shooed the dog and uneventfully we continued our walk (thank God!). We stopped at a clearing on the top of the hill to an gorgeous view of Phuket and the ocean. Truly breathtaking. Our large new friends then carried us back to the place where we began and the fun really began for me -- we got to bathe the elephants in a muddy, deep pond. It was awesome! The guides were in the water with us and cued them to spray us with their trunks. Hannah took to the baby elephant in the pond and smiled from ear to ear. It was time to go but I was half-tempted to stay!!

After our elephant ride we journeyed to the Big Buddha. Big Buddha holds true to it's name and stands 45 meters high (roughly 148 feet high). The Big Buddha construction began 10 years ago and is still underway. The best part for me was the chiming of the prayer bells. These heavy brass bells are hung everywhere. They are inscribed with prayers, hopes, dreams and wishes. We got to leave one as well and I smile knowing it's singing in the winds of Thailand.

Our greatest adventure and a favorite for all of us was taking a private boat to snorkel in the Phi Phi islands. Never have I experienced such warm, clear and salty water. It was amazing we zoomed to three different areas where we snorkeled, floated, and jumped off the front of the boat into the gorgeous water. We had a divine lunch right on the beach. It was an absolutely amazing day.

The time between our adventures was spent on the light sandy beach, swimming in the warm ocean, golfing and doing the trapeze. Our trip to Thailand was so amazing! The memory and the friendships we tightly bonded will last a lifetime! I appreciate the beautiful, gracious people of Thailand who helped deliver another great adventure for the Gines family.

Our serious countdown has begun to when we get to go home for the summer. It'll be a year almost to the day that we left our family and friends and the oh-so fantastic soil of the US. Can't wait!!!

As always, to be continued...

 

My blog has been published...

I have created my blog into a book mostly as a family keepsake but thought I would share!
Here is the link:

http://blur.by/1s5j3qI

Thanks to all for your love and support during this adventure. We couldn't have done it without you!!

It pierced my shoulder and pain seared through my body...

I was jammed under a rock hiding and my heart was pounding! Suddenly a man stood up from behind the rock above me and drew a bamboo arrow back through his man made bow. He released the arrow and it flew towards me in slow motion. I could hear it whistling through the air, I tried to duck but I was too slow, it pierced my shoulder and pain seared through my body...

BEEP BEEP BEEP "oh saved by the bell" I say to myself as my alarm wakes me up from that terrible dream. "Yikes that was scary" my heart still pounding. This morning I was going to Banti the village that is just down the road from town. I have heard several stories and not sure what to expect and apparently I am nervous.

I met one of our doctors at the hospital and away we go to the Banti hospital. The road down is bumpy and we arrive at the threshold of "job site" and real Papua -- a yellow gate divides the two. Security lets us through (in some way I feel a little more secure living in the gated confines of "job site"). Now in the area controlled by the Seven Suku (the Seven Suku is comprised of the leaders of the seven tribes within the area) the vehicle turns and there is the bridge that takes us across the river, however, a few months back the river flooded and took out the bridge. The devastation to the bridge was impressive. Since the bridge is gone and the new road isn't completed we had to drive through the river. This can only be done when the river is low and it's not raining as flash floods and landslides happen often (hence no bridge). The river was low and beautifully clear.

We continued down the rocky road. The further we got the villagers began to come into view and sure as sh*t there were three guys walking up the road carrying their bow and arrows. I instantly panicked what did I get myself into? "Breathe, breathe, Kristen" (thank God for yoga). As we drove by them they just looked at us seriously but kept on their way. Phew. I took the opportunity to tell the doctor that I was nervous and he explained that they will not hurt or harm us in any way because they know we are here to help them. The white vehicles and the red cross represent that. Ok, a little relief but my guard is still going to be up. The road widened and flattened and the doctor pulled over so he could show me where the tailings from the mill from the mine enter the river. (I was a little weak getting out of the car.) I stepped up onto the edge of the road and wow, it was crazy! The thick gray sludge rushed down the river splashing over huge boulders. I couldn't believe how the crystal clear water I had just seen was now like gray chocolate milk. But that wasn't all, I was looking over a massive operation. Ropes and pipes were strewn from boulder to boulder. The ropes held up man made bridges and the pipes run clear water to several stations in the river where men stood by their sluice boxes panning for gold alongside their sludge dams made out of sticks. In addition to the configurations of pipes and ropes there were huts and houses built on stilts. It was awe-inspiring. The tailings from the mine carry 10-20% concentrate of gold. These operations line the river all the way to port site and this is how they earn a living.

We got back in the car and continued down towards the hospital. Soon we were confronted by two little piglets. Oh they were so cute. They clumsily crossed the road and then a huge, fat pig meandered across. Awesome! We continued on and shops, huts, pigs, roosters and villagers bordered the road. It was amazing. We finally arrived at the hospital.

The doctor who runs the hospital gave me a personal tour. The hospital is small but is very functional. Today there are only 15 patients which is very unusually quiet. The doctor thought it was quiet as, he predicts, a lot of the villagers have gone down to Timika to fight a war against another tribe. (The war has caused 8 deaths and hundreds of injuries). The common illnesses that are treated at the hospital are TB, pneumonia, malaria, gastrointestinal diseases and domestic abuse cases. In severe cases the patient is sent up to the hospital in Tembagapura for treatment. The employees at the hospital also teach the locals about good hygiene like washing their hands etc.

After the doctor finished his rounds we journeyed back to Tembagapura. I was thrilled to be able to see and experience what I had. Truly, truly blessed. And relieved I wasn't shot with an arrow. Resuming next week a group of ladies and I will head down to the hospital to play with the children. I say resume because they used to go down every week but haven't since the bridge was washed out. (I hope that I can also help them with a little yoga stretching).

As always, to be continued....

In the 1st picture, it's hard to see, but there is a man running a sluice box to the left of the huge boulder...

 More men (on the right) panning...

A little perspective...

As time creeps on and going home to visit gets closer everything seems to be like a festering splinter. All the little things are getting bigger and bigger and more annoying. It's not bad here it's just the isolation that gets to me every once and a while (probably the times I mostly post)! I was thinking this as I was walking from the school to the store in hopes to buy block or shredded cheese after three weeks of the store being out (yep, annoying, right? Just as annoying as my phone telling me every five seconds that my internet connection is unstable.). As I was walking two Papuan women were crossing the rocky unpaved road and there was my perspective. These women, one who had no shoes and the other shoddy flip flops, were carrying their heavy nokens on their heads and their hands were full (pictured below). They emanated such strength and devotion. They do whatever they have to do to survive (some stories are worse than others) and I had some self-reflecting perspective. Life always has a way of working out and at times we have to do what we have to do to survive and my selfish anger for needed cheese didn't seem that important anymore.

Hannah had to go to the doctor today as she hurt her arm. All checked out well and the convenience of the hospital again soothed my festering splinter. I spoke with the doctor and he mentioned going to the local village next week and I asked to tag along. So very excited to see and experience the local Papuan village but so very nervous about it.

My countdown mental note: exactly three weeks from today we will be on our way to Phuket, Thailand and six more after that we will be headed to the States where Hannah says she is going to cry in the grocery store isles and I will be crying over my chile rellano. The anticipated weird looks won't faze us -- we're plenty used to it here.

As always, to be continued!....