Yogya people and horses

The horse carts go right in the streets with everyone else- Nevi loved this way of getting about!

We met this lovely woman when we were startled by the mouse in the alley...she had such a beautiful smile- and we communicated with laughter and smiles. She liked Devin quite a bit!

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

walking down an alley-

This man was making a guitar in his doorway as we happened to walk by~

That is a mouse in the gutter...or a small rat- no matter how you want to look at it...

A local favorite is avocado juice....and it is mixed with chocolate sauce....yum!

Another family adventure

During the week of Chinese New Year- everyone is on holiday. We decided to travel to the island of Java, Indonesia. What an incredible life we have right now- exploring SE Asia. travelling as a family is both challenging and wonderful. I have shifted gears from the travel I used to do when I was 20 years old...to travelling as a mother. At first it felt strange...uncomfortable...limiting...hard. But now, I just go with Nevi's flow. When she is rested and fed- we explore...when the heat begins to wilt her spirit we head for air con and a cold drink....when afternoon comes, we head for the hotel for down time. And boy does it help when a hotel has a pool! But when we are exploring- oh the things we see. Here are some beginning shots of us riding the different forms of transport. There are bicycles, motorbikes, taxi, horse and cart, and these carts pushed by guys riding bikes....oh how hard these beautiful people work!

Holiday

Hi. Sorry I have been not blogging recently. We went on a five day holiday to Yogjakarta, Indonesia recently so I was away from the computer. We bought a "new" used camera in Singapore before we left and downloaded pictures onto Devin's computer. I just need to get access to the photos and then I will post right away! So stay tuned for an update on our latest travel adventure!
We are off to Singapore this weekend as Devin's bosses from Wilsonville are here. We will have a nice Xerox family dinner tonight.
We are beginning to gear up for our Home Visit. Nevi and I will fly to Oregon on April 2. Devin will join us on April 17th. I can't believe now that it is only about 5 weeks away- how excited I am getting. I am looking forward to seeing my parents, who will fly from Boston to Oregon to be with us. I am excited for an infusion of family and friends! I am excited for Nevi to see her friends and cousins who she misses sooooo much. I am excited for her to ride a bike...play at the park...laugh and frolic with people she loves.....and me too for that matter. I am excited to see how I feel back in the place that is my home...as the new person I am. When you have experiences like living in another country- you never are the same person. I am excited to see how my lens is different. And then it will be glorious to come back to Asia for a few more months...having been infused with home.

So stay tuned- more post coming!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Today- Sunday February 14th is the 1st day of Chinese New Years. Wow- last night on the eve...at midnight the whole sky around JB was flashing and booming with fireworks. Of course , fireworks are illegal...but seems like to police must turn the other way- cause I mean there were huge displays every direction you could look. D and I were already asleep- but the loud noise got us out of bed and out on our balcony. Along with the fireworks, you could see lanterns being set free into the night sky. They would glow as the rose and traveled across the sky. At one point- the fireworks were coming straight toward us... and I even decided to step into our bedroom and watch behind the glass doors....not need to be hit with on coming fire! This display was so exciting to Devin- that he went up to the 7th floor to see what he could see. he bumped into a friend of ours and they decided they should get in the car and drive around to see what was going on at all of these celebrations...have no idea what time he returned home- but he was in one piece.
These celebrations bring so much joy- I love ritual. Any form of ritual. When people take the time to celebrate, reflect, hope, clear, remove obstacles, start fresh, be with family, eat special foods, share gifts, light up the sky...well, it just feels hopeful and happy. So to us all Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy Chinese New Year in Mandarin)!

***If you want to read great information on Chinese New Year, go to wikipedia...great info about the foods, celebrations, traditions, and the importance of each day celebrated. Very interesting indeed.

Blossoms

One of the things I am really loving about the Lunar New Year is the blossoms. Every where is decorated with red and pink blossoms. Cherry blossoms on branches, lotus flower blossoms representing new birth and growth, huge peony looking red and pink blossoms in huge arrangements or on apartment balconies or over door ways. Granted, they are mostly plastic...but who is looking that close up?
These blossoms represent newness, opening to possibility, growth, hope, excitement, wishes of prosperity and luck. A lovely way to bring in a new year~

Johor Bahru International Kite Festival

This weekend was the International Kite Festival. On Sunday, we took a family adventure and went over by where Nevi goes to school to check it out. It was FUN! There are not many festivals that pass through JB...we have been to ones in Singapore and we know they exist in Kuala Lumpur...but this was in our own home town of Johor Bahru! A huge field was designated for the kite fliers from around the globe. Then white tents were set up along the edge selling food, drink, stuff, and of course kites. But in perfect fashion...the diversity was grand....there were some guys selling lizard oil to help with fatigue and digestion...there were sneakers for sale cheap...sunglasses and handbags galore...Devin bought a hand sewing machine thing...endless things to see. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday together~

Genevieve

This child is such a trooper. This festival of Kites was fun and different...but it was about 100 degrees out. She took each moment as it came and had such fun even with sweat cascading down our backs!

Devin pictures

Devin took some really great photos. Thought I would share a bit of his artistry...

people

As always, it was really awesome to witness so many different people all out for the love of Kites...or a festival in general. Malaysia is diverse with Muslim, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Thai, Singaporean.....peoples all trying to live in respect and peace. These were just a few of the beautiful people we saw this day.

delectables

At the International Kite Festival, there were lots of tents set up with all kinds of interesting foods and drinks. Above is lots of friend treats: fish balls, chicken hearts, fried banana, fried sweet potato, fried fish cake and god only knows what else. The drinks are things like Milo which is a chocolate mix, lime juice, watermelon juice....and then god only knows what the fluorescent ones are...the yellow one Devin has so bravely chosen is CORN. But not sure how it gets soooo yellow. Devin tried three different ones on this day- cause he is adventurous and it was about 100 degrees out!

a few more

Fresh Lettuce, spinach, pear, beet, walnut and feta salad with a lemon balsamic dressing.

Along with the lasagna...we had a wonderful thing called a STACK: tortillas, meat, beans, tomato sauce and cheese! Oh yah.

The birthday party~

Devin blowin out a candle on his "American" brownie with vanilla ice cream. Yup- where I ordered the brownies....they call these dense fudge with nuts thingies....American Brownies. Delicious.

Devin's Birthday Party

Here is our beautiful apartment- all tidy and ready for a few friends to join us to celebrate Devin turning 36!

Pam and David~shown here and Kate, Mike and Hannah Ryan- joined us for drinks and dinner.

Hannah and Genevieve LOVE Kate's amazing chicken and spinach lasagna!

Here is Kate's now famous lasagna! Seriously the best I have ever had. And Kate was so sweet to make it...she has an oven and alas, we do not! So a special birthday comfort food treat.