Halloween in Jakarta, 2009

A Punk, A Pirate and a Witch!

The school had a Halloween themed day on Friday 30th, GJ's birthday.

The kids had their FIRST experience of Trick or Treating!. A few of the large Expat clubs and compounds host  organised events; we went to the Kemang Club Villas for their event on Friday night. The kids had a party at the club house with a magician before the main event of Trick and Treating! Ben was shocked that you go to the participating houses and "they just give you candy!!!!" lol.

We have a great stash of candy now that the kids and GJ are working their way through!

KidZania Jakarta a Fabulous Birthday Party

Georgia had her birthday party at KidZania this weekend. The kids had been before, but this was my first visit and I can see why this place is so popular, it is amazing. A city designed for kids, in scale, full of fun things to do and as a bonus, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Saturday mornings were not too crowded.The kids have photo drivers licenses, ATM cards and wads of cash (they earnt more kidzos, than they spent!), all which they can use on their next visit. We all had locked wrist bracelets that were programed with our details, which kept track of activities and whereabouts, no child can leave with out the adult that actually signed them in.

KIDZANIA is a unique EDUTAINMENT CENTER for children between 4 to 16 years old and their parents.

It is a kid-sized replica of a real city, with streets, buildings, retail and different vehicles going around the City.

Here, children play adult roles and they learn how to be a doctor, a pilot, a construction worker, a private detective, an archeologist, an F1 driver and over 100 other PROFESSIONS and OCCUPATIONS.

There is a replica of the most representative buildings in a city such as Hospital, Supermarket, Beauty Salon, Theatre, Industrial sites, and many more.

KIDZANIA is a SAFE, INTERACTIVE and HIGHLY EDUCATIONAL center where kids wear the uniform and perform the role they are playing. Led by our Zupervisor, they learn the complexities of the adult world, and learn the value of money, just as in real life.

In KIDZANIA, kids use our official currency KIDZOS. Here, children learn to appreciate the value of money, by performing over 100 professions and occupations and earn a salary. Their salaries earned, can then be used to buy goods and services available in KIDZANIA.

Kidzania’s history starts like all great stories do, with idealistic passion and an unwavering spirit that was stimulated by a communal desire to create something better. The kids decided to create a nation filled with abundant opportunities, where kids could assert themselves and be responsible. And this was a world where kids could think and act independently from adults.

What the kids envisioned was a real world made perfect which ultimately made it “the place” where kids wanted to be, KIDZANIA was born. Making the world a better place was a grand idea for sure, but the kids know it was also the road to self-empowering. It would free and empower them to exercise their rights.

To Be: the power to be self-determining, unique and free;

To Know: the capacity to be experimental when educating oneself

To Care: the responsibility to be supportive and proactive

To Play: the ability to be playful and participatory in life.

KIDZANIA is an indoor facility, located in 6th floor of Pacific Place Shopping Mall, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 52-53, SCBD Complex, Jakarta 12910

Georgia and friends

Making ice blocks

 

Riding the bus

 

Window cleaning

 

Wall climbing, all made it to the top, rang the bell and then abseiled down!

 

Street views

 

This is Georgia and Chelsea climbing the wall.

2 down, 2 to go!

It is October, or commonly know as party month in our house!

Georgia has turned 11, and is very VERY happy with her presents.

Ben has just turned 6, where has my baby gone ???????

We have Chelsea's and GJ's birthdays still to come.

Oktoberfest 2009, Jakarta Indonesia

We had a fantastic night at this years German Oktoberfest, the same band as last year was playing and managed the same great eclectic mix of music, very loudly (we were right next to a speaker- and an a/c machine!).

If we are still here next year I'm am getting a dirndl (traditional German dress) made!

The only down side was the smoke, everywhere public in Indonesia the air is full of cigarette smoke, but OMG, it was particularly bad in this ballroom.

TGIF

This was a TGIF moment, a week or two after the bombs. Rachael's toast was wonderful and poignant:

"here's to friends come and gone, here's to friends lost and found"

British Womens Association Fashion Show, Jakarta 2009

This was the first time we attended the annual BWA fashion ball, it won't be the last!

The German Ball, Jakarta 2009

We are now officially Ball junkies!

This was the inaugural German Ball in the newly renovated Hotel Kempinski Jakarta.
The ballroom was magnificent, in the collage there is a photo of the huge chandelier which dominated the room.

We were the only non-German speaking table there and I think we were getting a few tiny frowns for whispering through some (long) speeches. We had a wonderful couple at our table who informed us of the term 'ball junkie', (hi V and O, see you at the BWA ball!).

I think that this was one of the best balls we have been to in ages, the band was great and we danced until the wee hours.We ended up at a doof, doof night club in Kemang and managed to just get home before dawn.

The British Women's Association Ball is on next month, it has a lot to live up to!

Although the ball was so much fun, I do think our friends made all the difference. We always have fun with them whether we are at a beach hut with frizzy hair, covered in sand and bug spray or all gussied up at a ball!

Our German friends are definitely getting an Australian accent and outlook!


There was a photographer following us at the club snapping innumerable photos...goodness knows what they will be like, it was after 2am and the ball started at 6pm.......

My Birthday at Sambolo 2009

Why it takes over four hours to drive 150Km (93miles)

The interesting things you see on the looooong drive.

Locals you meet at the destination.


Activities at Sambolo: combined birthday parties!

Friends!

Brunch at the Ritz Carlton, Jakarta

We don’t often tend to go out to restaurants at night, we could here in Jakarta as we have access to a driver and cheap childcare, we just prefer to have family friendly dinner parties/BBQ with our circle of friends.

We like to save up and go to the big balls (Irish Ball in March booked and paid for!!!! German ball and British Fashion Ball coming up in April and May) as well as do family groups for brunch.

Sunday Brunch is institution in Jakarta; all the big hotels offer it.

I think that the Ritz Carlton does it the best!

Brunch starts at noon and is supposed to go until 3pm (we get very politely asked to leave a lot later lol) and all have an option of free flow sparkling wine etc with a scrumptious buffet.

Last month we tried something new at the Ritz Carlton, a private room for Chinese New Year.

WOW, what a great idea it was.

There is no extra charge, as long as there is a minimum of eight adults.

The service, as usual, was superb and we had a great time.

There was no background noise and not a hint of disgusting smoke.

We were recently introduced to the Martini Brunch @ Prime , also in the Ritz Carlton.

WOW very, very nice but not suitable for kids—it is quiet, sophisticated and refined. Our usual group of co-brunchers (do you like my cool new word I just made up lol) has a minimum of 10+ kids….I can’t see the Ritz welcoming us back if we let them loose in the Martini brunch!

We are having an adults only Valentines day brunch this weekend at the Martini Brunch.

I will take photos!

Brunch in a private room at the Airlangga Restaurant, Ritz Carlton Jakarta.

What do you do when you are asked to go home from Brunch at the Ritz Carlton....you continue the party at home. This turned out to be an 11 hour brunch......I think you should be able to see that we all love to brunch; oh, and that I need to buy a slightly bigger chess set!

Latin Ball, Shangri-La Jakarta

We had a wonderful night at the 30th Latin Carnaval Ball at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta.

I was writing an email to my friend telling her all about the ball and the thing that most sprung to mind as my favourite part of the night was that the ball room was non smoking and the rule was enforced.

It was so nice to have fresh air!!!!!!

The Spanish Speaking Womens Association did some awe inspiring dances, they were fantastic. There was a professional dancer that managed to move her hips in ways that I did not think was possible. I would love to be able to dance like that!

I met a new friend from my blog: Hi James, welcome to Jakarta!

We left relatively early, we had to catch a taxi home and I did not want to be roaming the streets of Jakarta on the night they executed the Bali Bombers.

It is going to be an interesting few weeks in Indonesia now that they have been executed, there are already reports of an angry mob at the burial sites.

Jakarta Opera, The Magic Flute

The girls and I attended the opera on Saturday night, Georgie is now a huge fan. Chelsea lasted until 10 minutes before the end......luckily she had her iPod.

We went to a magnificent theater at the British International School, the theater was opened earlier this year by Prince Andrew, we half wished the Prince Charles might come, but no he didn't.

Here is a link to another attendee, with better photos, and a interesting commentary.

Halloween in Jakarta

Halloween is not such a big thing in Australia. The kids love that in Jakarta, the expat community organizes a few parties.
The kids were all allowed to wear their costumes to school on Friday and then we went to another International school for a Halloween disco.
We had Georgia as a grim reaper, Chelsea as a devil and Ben was a pirate during the day and black spider man at night.
I was a biker chick....I forgot to take photos of me...I had these cool sleeves that you can buy in Bali, that are like flesh covered stockings that are covered in tattoos. From a distance it looks like you really do have arms completely covered in tattoos.

Oktoberfest 2008, Jakarta

We went to the 20th annual German Oktoberfest in Jakarta last night.

Boy, do the Germans know how to have a good party!

This is my good friend M and I.
I actually managed to drink that stein of beer...It took me nearly five hours but I did. I totally horrified the young men next to me by tipping ice cubes and sprite in my mug all night long. (I had to, half a glass of cask wine cost 106 000rp.... around AU$16, but beer was free flowing all night!
M had a great time and enjoyed showing us how the Germans party, on the table.......no not really, just on the benches.

M is starting to get an Aussie accent so it was great for us to have a chance of getting a German twang!

We stuck around to win the grand raffle prize of flights to Berlin......we wanted to win and visit our lovely American friend on her new posting in Germany (hi Shannon, we thought of you and Dave last night, hi to the boys!), unfortunately we did not win........

There was the most amazing om-pa-loom-pa (I have no idea if this is the right word- a traditional Bavarian band) band playing all night long.

They were fantastic!

There was German drinking songs, conga lines- although they have a different name, as well as old favorites.

We danced to Status Que, inserted swear words into the classic 'livin next door to Alice' and by the end of the night I was singing in German!

The funniest party of the night was when the MC asked everybody to reminisce about what they were doing twenty years ago in 1988 (this was the 20th anniversary of the inaugural Oktoberfest in Jakarta), I realized that twenty years ago I was actually in Germany!

GJ pointed out that most of the other people in the room probably were too, lol.
But I chose to be special as I am Australian!

Georgias 10th Birthday

Georgia has made it into the double digits!
We have managed a few celebrations so far...
The first was a party at Ultimos Italian restaurant in Seminyak, Bali last Saturday night.
The next was at Hard Rock cafe in Kuta, Bali while we waited for our flight home.
Today was cup cakes at school.
The party is in the planning stage still...I will combine all the birthdays into one big party later on in the month.

Anza Ball, Jakarta 2008

The annual Anza ball was held last Saturday at the Ritz Carlton (20.09.08). We all had a wonderful night! It was a credit to the organizing committee.
These kids were from the New Zealand school and kicked of the show with an amazing Haka performance.

The entertainment was very diverse; Dr Harry Darsono performed and showcased his Haute Couture collection, the Batavia Dance Group were wonderful, as were the Salsa and Flamenco dancers. Opera singer, Christine Tambunan voice was breath taking, truly wonderful.

DJ Kate was wonderful, she played music that was perfect for the majority of guests...mostly over 30+ lol.

It was nice to be able to walk and dance at this ball, last year I was in a wheel chair with a broken ankle....We just made it home by 3am.

A boy centric party.....

We had a wonderful stress busting party on Sunday night. It was to be my last chance to catch up with our bloggy friends , Shannon, Dave and Co before they head off on their next posting to Germany.
As it was a school might for all the kids (and me!!!) we started and finished early.
It is a great feeling to go to bed and feel like you have had a long fun filled evening and find it is only 7.15pm.


The girls were in for a shock though....for the first time they were outnumbered!
There was 9 fun filled exuberant boys running around

And only 4 girls. This is the girls after too much exposure to boys...they locked themselves in the toy room for some time out. Look at the grumpy faces,
The girls have coined a new phrase for ALL boys-"Jack-Jack". This is from the Pixar movie The Incredibles. Jack Jack is the angelic looking baby that turns into a flaming demon.....the girls view on All boys.
I wonder how long they will think that for???????

St Patricks Day Ball 15th March 2008, Jakarta

I can't believe I never got around to posting about the Ball........
It seems so long ago. LOL.
In summary; it was a wonderful, fun night!
We arranged to meet up with a lovely blogger, Shannon from Cyberbones and her equally nice husband David. What a lovely couple!!!!!!!
We have already managed to get together again!

I am now 32+++

This was my surprise birthday presents.
I have long admired these over-sized goblet ice bucket and now have my very own!
I was asked if it was for a very large greedy serve of champagne.... I have been to a few parties and seen these filled with ice with a few select bottles!
The picture frame was also a nice surprise. I was fascinated when I first saw these months ago and set about folding paper to achieve the same look at a fraction of the cost...to no avail.
I can not make my hands do what my brain wants them to do, they are craft challenged fingers!

The ++++ in my title refers to the practice of adding a ++ after the price on just about everything in Indonesia.

In Australia we are used to the advertised price being all inclusive. Here the final price can be over 21% more than the advertised price......sales tax as well as service charge need to be added.

I have decided to adopt this practice for my age, every year is just another +

Jakarta Java Kini club launch, aka a BiiiiiiiiiG weekend in Jakarta

We had another wonderful social weekend in Jakarta.

Friday night was the annual school parents BBQ, which was great fun. After it ended we (some of the teachers and partners) moved on to a local club/pub place called the Star Deli.
The music was too loud and the wine horrible but we still had a great time.
I vaguely remember sending a text message stating that I need white, patent leather knee high boots to really fit in!

It was really hard to wake up early for our massage...yes you heard right, we had a masseuse come to the house for one hour body massages !

We tried something new on Saturday night. We live in an exciting place, we have the opportunity to try new things, so we are exploring new places hence Saturday nights outing.

I subscribe to a great magazine called Jakarta Java Kini.

It is a life style magazine written in English published monthly. You can buy it at the shops or subscribe and have it delivered (I did mention to the owner how difficult it is to subscribe and he is so aware of this and is working on making it easier). They also publish Hello Bali which I want to subscribe to as well.

Jakarta Java Kini is starting up a club for Jakartan residents. ( I will explain more later about why I have no details......LOL).
There was a day of fun at Club Azur

One of the main reasons we went was out of curiosity for seeing the inside of Club Azur. I drive past it at least 3 times a day and had no idea what was inside. I have since found out it is a private club for paying members and their guests.

We also thought we would mingle and meet some new people. We all have such a great time with our circle of friends that we never get around to chatting to others.
Unfortunately Sat night was no exception, J had spent a very interesting week in China, T was excited about her new job and I always have lots to talk about as does GJ.

We arrived at 6.30 for some pre-dinner wine tasting. The wines were very nice, served in large glasses which were constantly refreshed.......
The staff from the magazine had been at the club all day for the variety of tastings, demonstrations and talks. Some had helped the long day pass by tasting some of the wines and were hilariously hammered.

We met Alister the Owner and editor in chief, although I doubt he will remember us.
We listened to a wonderful recital from classical guitarist , John Paul.
We drooled over Melanie Wood's posture, she would put a yoga master to shame!
We marveled over Andrew Whitmarsh's bravery, he just wrote a great story on free train travel...on the roof of the carriages (this means your head is REALLY close to power cables which kill instantly on contact). We also quizzed him on his private life and asked for some kid orientated travel/adventure features.
John Aglionby gave a great talk, he talked about measuring the 14m snake in this link. I would love to hear more of his stories....
A gentleman in a black shirt with a nice wife gave a great tipsy talk on Feng Shui , it was hysterically funny. I might add that every one was tipsy by this time too.

We literally stumbled out of the club at I have no idea of the time. I deliberately did not wear my watch so I would not notice my usual 8pm bedtime come and go. Truly.....I go to bed early...
I left behind my information pack with all the details on the new club.....so sorry no details.

GJ and I managed to sleep in to 7am (a huge feat in our house) poor old T and J were up at 5.45am for a family mini marathon.....and yes they all finished!

We started the next round of fun at midday on Sunday, yes a great lunch with a group of friends. An old bloggy friend (although un-met in the flesh) couldn't make it; an always starving Ace took this lunch home in a bag.
We met C's fiancée, an American doing aid work in Ache and washed away tiredness with a glass of bubbles or two. GJ was in heaven as B was a scotch lover and he even opened his best bottle of scotchy goodness for a quick tipple.

I think it would be obvious that we did not make our Sunday night dancing lesson............

Face bar, Jakarta

On my second venture out at night in Jakarta I started at the Face bar.
A lady that has been a very active volunteer at the Anza club was having a birthday and a Bon Voyage party as she is leaving Indonesia.
At least 50 women, all in their compulsory tiaras filled this place. We had a great time mixing, mingling and eating yummy snacks.

By 10pm I was feeling the effects of first week back at school.....and we decided to leave.
Which is how we ended up at the second spot of the night.
GJ was having a late night snack with a friend at Citos, Cilandak town square. We swung by to pick him up and just ended up staying for another bottle of champagne..as you do LOL

GJ loves going to D'place and meeting up with Ace where they can solve the problems of the world.
D'Place has a great jazz playing every night. On Mon, Tue and Wed nights you get the best bands as they are not booked for the big city night spots.
So there you have it, 3 nights spots in 3 days. Probably another six months before I go to another one LOL.
This is why I like the Ritz...you can go for brunch and still be in bed by 8pm.