Take me to your leader.

It has been five weeks since sweetie and I set foot in the city of Jakarta located on the Island of Java . The first few weeks, as you may or may not have read, were pretty much a slam dunk to my physical and emotional state. I am happy to report that once I passed week four, things began to look better.

My honey bunch had to fly to a totally different continent for a business meeting at the beginning of week five. That also was the week during which my birthday was happening. At first I was a little nervous about being on the other side of the world, by myself (in a city of 13 million), where I still can't count past 10. Now, I have to say the thought of self pity over all of this was trying to rear its ugly head mingled with massive fear. However, I am proud I didn't give in to fear or pity. Instead, I went to a place where there are lots of other expat wives like me,except for the birthday part.

This outing turned into a pre-birthday lunch/jewelery fest and an all around very fun day. Thanks to all the ladies who helped me celebrate. Thanks also to those who thought of me all during that week. To my son who called and made me cry, to my family who called and sang Happy Birthday, and to my family and friends who emailed and even mailed me cards. You all helped me through and I am most appreciative.

Not to be left out, the hotel staff sent up an "Oh, my God how many calorie per slice cake" and my good friend Herwig, the pastry chef at the hotel, sent me hand made chocolates and a sampler of creme brulees (is that the correct plural?). Yes, it isn't a typo there were three kinds of creme brulee - vanilla, made with real vanilla bean, chocolate, and mango. My sweetie pie had a stunning flower arrangement delivered to me and I know that he is the one who orchestrated the things the staff did to make me feel special that day.

One of the things I discovered through those five days alone here is that you just have to keep asking questions, keep asking for help, and jump in feet first sometimes. I also learned that if I don't leave the hotel soon I will not fit in the elevator!

With that said, here is how I know that progress has been made. If honey bunch had gone on this same trip during the second or third week of being here, he would have returned to a half empty hotel room because I would have gotten Nurdin (who you met earlier) to take me and my things to the airport and stuff me on a plane bound for the US. Anywhere in the US. It would have been I love you, but I'll be waiting for you back at the ranch situation.

That is not to say that I understand the language any better, that I don't have to wander around a food court in the mall till I can find something to eat that I feel pretty darned sure of, that I still don't get a bit overwhelmed at times, and that I don't wish it was easier to figure all of the stuff out about getting settled. But I am beginning to feel like I can figure some of it out and I don't have to spend the majority of my time breathing into a Laundrette bag.

I am still learning and still exploring and still feeling like a baby trying to learn how to walk. But there are lots of incentives to bravely go where this little Tar Heel has never gone. To take steps and get back up after falling down and busting my behind.

Last week, I went to a place called Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. This translates into Beautiful Miniature Indonesia Park. It is indeed beautiful and a miniature representation of the major islands that make up the archipelago of Indonesia. My new found British friend and her sister invited me to explore it with them. We barely even scratched the surface. There are multiple museums, I would say at least 10 to 15, dedicated to many aspects of Indonesian life, culture, accomplishments, etc. There is a large lagoon near the center of the park in which the major, and many of the not so major, islands are outlined and planted with grass to help enhance the physical representation of how the chain is strung together. There are over 13,000 islands so they couldn't fit them all in or the lagoon wouldn't be a lagoon anymore. Even the volcanoes located in Indonesia are represented on these small, grass covered plots of land by life-like cement renderings. Think of Taman Mini (as everyone here calls it) as an Indonesian Epcot Center with no Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck or Goofy. However, I did photograph two young Indonesian guys in fuzzy bunny costumes taking a break. Hmmmm. I assume they wandered over from the kids area, but one never knows here.

Back on dry land, the major islands each have large areas where there are houses or buildings, temples, sculptures, and items that give you a brief introduction to what each island looks like and what one will find there upon visiting. I was completely floored. The amount of detail in the stone work, carvings in wood, colors and icons are stunning. The picture at the beginning of my blog is part of the Bali area. I can't wait to see Bali. Looks amazing in miniature can only imagine what it is like in real life. Best of all it is only a little over an hour away by plane. Whoo hoooo!

Throughout the park are large monuments and one incredibly beautiful sculpted wall that represents all the people who have come to Indonesia helping shape it into who and what it is. There are three huge aviaries, a botanical garden, churches, an aerial tram to take you above it all, places to eat, green spaces and so much to see. It is going to be a place to come and visit multiple times. It is a photo book waiting to happen.

A funny thing happened while we were at Taman Mini. The weather turned rainy and we had to take refuge in the car. Once the rain let up, we got out of the car and began walking around again. Here, when it rains, enterprising young men and sometimes young women show up with umbrellas. For a small price, they will cover you with their umbrella and walk with you to your destination. Originally enough, they are called "umbrella boys." So, here are these three bule woman out wandering around in the drizzle, just ripe for the picking.

This very wet, young boy about 8 or 9 wanders up with this bright multi-colored umbrella. He is cute and we all decide to take pictures of him under the beautiful trees in the park. We snap away and then these two little girls show up with their umbrellas. Cute as buttons and also soaking wet. More picture taking. Then an adult shows up. I'm thinking that she is probably going to ask us not to take photos of her children. Then she starts thrusting this rhinestone encrusted handphone at me. I can't figure it out. Then she runs over to my friend and stands with her arm around her. The light bulb comes on. She wants her picture taken with one of the wacky bules. So, I snap a picture with her phone. The next thing I know she rips the phone from my hand, gives it to my friend and then glues herself to my side. She in her soft pink headscarf all of 4'11" and me in droopy capri pants and a tee shirt, at about 5'7". We smile for the camera and my friend snaps away. I guess turn about is fair play. One just never imagines themselves as being overly fascinating enough that total strangers would come up and want a photo. I am not sure if that qualifies me as Mickey, Minnie, or just Goofy.

After all of this picture taking we gave our impromptu models a small amount of cash. This then becomes a scene at the beach where you give a seagull a potato chip and all of a sudden there are 30 of them wanting the whole bag. Lots of kids appear and they all want their pictures taken too. We clamber to our car and tell the kids the photo session is over. They wander off only to reappear when we stop the car a short distance down the road. Hmmmm. Will have to rethink this strategy the next time I am out photographing. I guess I will also have to do my hair and wear nicer clothes as you never know when your own close-up opportunity will come knocking.