Season 2

It's the beginning of my second year at JIS, and many of the newbies and I have set Second year resolutions or goals for ourselves. Mine are pretty personal, but I'm not much for keeping secrets, so why not tell everyone! that way I can get called out if I slip... here it goes...

#1. Fun not Sloppy! 
I am getting old, and drinking too much and getting sloppy is just sad. I have been more responsible overseas because of the new surroundings and what not, but last year, I had some moments that I wasn't proud of...This year (and forever) things are going to change. I know I'm not going to be perfect, everyone makes mistakes, but I have gotten off to a really good start this year and am going to continue on this way....I have been totally fun and in control since I've been back...definitely have drank and had some drunk conversations, but have not been sloppy...and I remember (most) everything ;) So..... Fun "not Sloppy" Jo has arrived


#2. Don't let the Fear win!!! No one likes rejection, but the fear of it can lead to the loss of an opportunity of a lifetime...
WAY WAY WAY too often I chicken out and don't do something silly, like ask for directions because I'm "scared/nervous" that the person isn't going to be nice to me...I rarely make friends traveling because I am too afraid to start a conversation out of fear that they won't want to talk to me...I don't walk into certain parts of town or buildings out of fear of someone telling me to leave...I don't ask for things because I'm afraid of 
being told no.....SO WHAT, JOANNA!?!?!? Get over it! you big scaredy cat!!!
So Now, every time that anxious feeling creeps up into my chest and starts to fill me with fear, I just say...DON'T LET THE FEAR WIN!!!



Although the year has gotten off to a good start regarding my goals, it has not gotten off to a stellar start in other departments...

 People have left, New people have shown up...
     This is the first time I have returned to an international school for a second year...I have never had to deal with people leaving and moving on to something else...I am really missing good friends from last year... but at the same time I am totally excited about all the new faces in the crowd and trying to get to know them and planning fun outings. I set out this year looking for a new "partner in crime" to replace the old...but that's freaking impossible...I think I need to change my tactics....I'm never going to find a replacement, but I can figure out a plan to help myself feel less empty and lonely here... It's my outlook that has to change. So I'm working on that...

Anyway, Here's to Season two!!! I hope to keep my resolutions and have another awesome year in Jakarta creating fun memories and loving life!!

BANGKOK!!

My first big Trip on this side of the world was to Bangkok in October to visit one of my Favorite girls, Rachel!

It was a pretty low key relaxing week, but I fell in love with this city! it's so much more modern then Jakarta, and life would be a lot easier in this town...I think I found my new top choice for my next job! 

We started the week off by going to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. It was a crazy experience....so many stalls, so many people, so much food! :)

intereting drink stall...

Fish Balls are a very popular choice of food here....saw them everywhere. they are actually pretty tasty. Not the first thing I would gravitate towards, but good.

sometimes I didn't know what things were....but the display of food was always lovely. they obviously try hard to make somethings look appealing....

The next stop was at the Grand Palace and the surrounding Temples. This one was my favorite! just so bright and shiny and GOLD! it's a cambodian temple I believe. it's just so striking!

there were so many cool pictures to take and so many beautiful spots to sit and just take it all in.

Monks were everywhere, and very cool to spot!

          The paintings on the walls were so ornate and beautiful. I enjoyed looking at them and my guide told me the stories the pictures were telling. Every country seems to have a slightly different version of the same story.       

The Grand Palace

Then I ran across this Fish Market. It stunk!! especially because this section was all dried fish product! some of it looked very interesting...

This was as Wat Pho with the VERY LARGE reclining buddah! It's had to tell just how large it is from a picture, but I would guess it's at least half a football field! so crazy! and the feet had some beautiful marble inlay design!

One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was the Bike ride I did through the city that continued into the rainforest on the other side of the river. I hadn't rode a bike in quite a while, and the nice Dutch family called me out on that pretty quickly, considering they ride daily! haha! It was quite an intimidating ride through along the city roads, but our guide was great. We went into some neighborhoods that I would have never found on my own, and saw how the locals live and work. There were shoe shops, and parts shops, and everyone eats out side. The roads were sometimes very small. This alley way was lined with lots of very small homes with little more then a tv and a mattress on the floor. They all live very simply. What is important to them is the family, not the possessions.

A very eye opening part of the tour was the market. I thought I might be sick when I saw these frogs and all the live fish. Some of the frogs were still struggling to breathe with all their little guts hanging out :( that's their killer...

Not quite sure what all these meats were...but they did not look appetizing!

I really enjoyed riding through the city and the Dutch family I was with, even though the boys spoke little english, were very friendly and we had a great time together. When we were trying some different foods from the market the boys were being very picky and not wanting to taste anything, so I told them that I always try anything once. They were surprised at some of the things I have tried, especially since I am a girl! haha! so then they decided to try the food our guide bought in the market...they were so funny!

The ride through the rainforest was....RAINY!! man! I thought I was going to fall off my bike it was raining so hard! It was the most fun though!! I had such a great time in my little yellow condom rain jacket! I could barley keep my eyes open to see, but I can't remember a time I felt so adventurous! haha! I am so lame! The forest was beautiful, even through the rain, and it actually stopped about half way through so we got to stop and take some pics.

At the end we stopped a little local house restaurant and I got to fry up some pad thai! YUM! it was delicious! I really want to try and remember how to do it, because I love me some pad thai! What a fun day!!

Last day of the trip I went to Lumpini Park, with a new friend from NewZealand, and saw the big lizards. Once again I got caught in a massive rain storm. We were actually on a yellow ducky paddle boat in the middle of the lake when it started to rain, and all the locals under their shelters were staring at us like we were crazy people. It was great. Once we got off the boat we were already soaked but we tried to find a shelter and wait it out....useless....eventually we just got under my small umbrella and ran for the metro. It was still a nice afternoon, and he told me everything I should do in New Zealand when I go! :)

Over all, I LOVED Bangkok! so much easier then Jakarta. I don't realize how hard Jakarta is to live in until I go somewhere else and remember how easy life can be! I think The States is going to be a real shock to the system come June...

PS. I am obviously not very good at this whole web page layout thing....sorry for the mis-mash weirdness of this all! haha! hopefully I'll get better!

The JIS cabins...

JIS has 2 cabins here that we can use throughout the year. Well, Actually, in August you are allowed to request one weekend at either of the 2 cabins. I've been to both now, and I'm pretty sure the choice will always be Puncak and here's why...

The Puncak Mountain Cabin is only and hour and a half drive, maybe a little more if there is traffic. It is a huge house in the Mountians and you can fit up to 14 people in it. When we go we divide up meals and always bring WAY too much food, but sometimes not enough drinks! haha! There is nothing to do, which is fabulous, so what we do is take nature walks, play cards, bring other games, sit around and talk, or just enjoy the silence and the fresh air. It's been fun to go with new people and get to know them this way...out side of the city.

 Hanging on the porch...







Enjoying big family style dinners

hiking in the woods

The Beach Cabin is a cute little place on the water in a sailing club. The beach is alright, but you can take a boat for pretty cheap to a little island off the coast and it's much prettier! You can also snokle and see some decent coral and fish. It's at a sailing club, so there are other people around and there is a restaurant that you can eat at all weekend. The big problem is, that with traffic and bad road conditions it can take up to 6 hours to get there! it's such a tedious drive that most of the group I went with said they would not go again....yuck. I would go again, if it was with the right people, because that is what is most important to me, but it would have to be a pretty good group of people, since it only sleeps up to 6 people. If it wasn't for the long drive, this would actually be a cool place to go again.

my very first time snorkeling! haha!on the boat ride out to the island!

No matter what, these are two cool places I'm glad I could go, for free, and enjoy with good company. Looking forward to doing it again next year ;)

My new second home

Bali!!

I think Random, monthly trips to this location are in my future!

My first trip there was a 5 day weekend, and it just wasn't enough time. It was lovely to be close to the beach again and to see Blue skies and breathe easily....things that can't happen in Jakarta. I spent hours in the sun on the beach, saw beautiful sunsets, ate amazing meals, partied on the beach, stayed in a huge villa, relaxed in the midst of the rice feilds and missed many other experiences that I will have to return for.

I think it is completely mind blowing that at any moment I could buy a ticket and be in Bali in less then 4 hours! Most people will never make it to this beautiful island. And others will save for months/years to come for a week or two, never to return. And then there is me....I used to dream about taking a trip to Bali, and now....now I can go this weekend if I want....it's like hopping over to Chicago when I lived in South Bend, or Columbia when I live in Pawleys Island....Amazing!

I am Blessed, and I encourage everyone to meet me in Bali so you can see what I am talking about....
I think I'll be in Indonesia for awhile, so plan a couple years out and start saving!! ;)

Here are some sights....

Traditional balinese Fire Dance....(can't remember real name)

 no instruments...the men did all the singing and created all the music vocally

 The Dancers

 The Rice field behind our Villa in Ubud...so quiet and serene!

 Bali Sunset @ Potato Head's...