Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Jakarta Earthquake 2009
All is well here with the Qld family, just another unusual experience to be filed away in our memories! Depends which news you read but yesterdays Jakarta earthquake was between 7 and 7.5 scale earthquake...this is apparently pretty big!
As per usual, there was no immediate news online or on TV, but Twitter was instantly full of updates...as with the bombing here and in Mumbai it only takes seconds for the info to start rolling out. This morning I can find out more details; villages closer to the epicentre have been flattened and there was a landslide which killed people. There are no reliable details yet on the number of people killed or injured, Aljazeera has got good coverage with images and video here. It is tragic how much Indonesia suffers from natural disasters, my heart goes out to those who are suffering.
At 2.55pm the kids were still at school, finishing their after school activities. Georgia was on the sports field running and fell over, luckily no grazing just a shock. Chelsea was in the computer lab when all the screens started to jiggle! Ben was the worry for me, he was in the only 2 story class room, one that has a rickety steel stair case bolted to the only exit. A teacher ran up and got all the kids from Mad Science and then all were assembled on the field like a fire drill; good thing we did a fire drill practise last week at school! The driver and the nanny were one block away from collecting the kids and felt nothing as they were driving!
Georgia is still a little freaked out, she is now old enough to suffer from the “what if’ syndrome. She had trouble going to sleep last night in case there were aftershocks - which there weren't:- well that we know about or felt. Georgia had her new phone in the car and was able to ring me just as I went back inside after the earthquake. Poor thing was shook up (literally and figuratively).
The feeling was really strange...like sitting in an inner tube going over irregular waves. It was definitely not a rattle type of shake. I can see a roof top and a building out of my office window, both were swaying...but in different directions! That was freaky. I had no idea what was going on at first...Once I realised it was an earthquake I waited for it to stop, but oh my gosh it did not! The eerie thing is that the quake was silent…I expected to hear loud noise with so much movement. The glass was rattling in the window, but that was all.
My study is upstairs and standing in the door way (remember the old advice always stand in a door way-bollocks) was ridiculous. It never occurred to me to get under the desk; it seemed to start to slow down so I decided to get outside...the huge window over the stairs has always been a concern. We have discussed in the past with the kids that it is the weak point...the glass falling would be super dangerous. Of course as soon as I got under the window more waves came, I ran down those last steps! I met up with the staff and guards and the next-door neighbours in the street just as it stopped. Over 1.5 minutes of rocking and rolling! I was shaking so badly...but I did manage to plan cocktail party for next week with my neighbour (I am Martha Stewart to the bone). Only a week ago we discussed earthquakes with the kids, under my bed is our upstairs safe spot...it is so solid. There are more cracks in the house, but no damage. Only a few light things fell over, and the pictures are all crooked.
I was very pleased to find that the power stayed on but after an hour the internet went very slow, probably as everyone rushed on the get info.
So all is well...what an experience to talk about when we are all old and gray and in the retirement home!
Below is my stairway of potential doom, the cracks that have been around the window for the last 2 years and the view from my office window.
As per usual, there was no immediate news online or on TV, but Twitter was instantly full of updates...as with the bombing here and in Mumbai it only takes seconds for the info to start rolling out. This morning I can find out more details; villages closer to the epicentre have been flattened and there was a landslide which killed people. There are no reliable details yet on the number of people killed or injured, Aljazeera has got good coverage with images and video here. It is tragic how much Indonesia suffers from natural disasters, my heart goes out to those who are suffering.
At 2.55pm the kids were still at school, finishing their after school activities. Georgia was on the sports field running and fell over, luckily no grazing just a shock. Chelsea was in the computer lab when all the screens started to jiggle! Ben was the worry for me, he was in the only 2 story class room, one that has a rickety steel stair case bolted to the only exit. A teacher ran up and got all the kids from Mad Science and then all were assembled on the field like a fire drill; good thing we did a fire drill practise last week at school! The driver and the nanny were one block away from collecting the kids and felt nothing as they were driving!
Georgia is still a little freaked out, she is now old enough to suffer from the “what if’ syndrome. She had trouble going to sleep last night in case there were aftershocks - which there weren't:- well that we know about or felt. Georgia had her new phone in the car and was able to ring me just as I went back inside after the earthquake. Poor thing was shook up (literally and figuratively).
The feeling was really strange...like sitting in an inner tube going over irregular waves. It was definitely not a rattle type of shake. I can see a roof top and a building out of my office window, both were swaying...but in different directions! That was freaky. I had no idea what was going on at first...Once I realised it was an earthquake I waited for it to stop, but oh my gosh it did not! The eerie thing is that the quake was silent…I expected to hear loud noise with so much movement. The glass was rattling in the window, but that was all.
My study is upstairs and standing in the door way (remember the old advice always stand in a door way-bollocks) was ridiculous. It never occurred to me to get under the desk; it seemed to start to slow down so I decided to get outside...the huge window over the stairs has always been a concern. We have discussed in the past with the kids that it is the weak point...the glass falling would be super dangerous. Of course as soon as I got under the window more waves came, I ran down those last steps! I met up with the staff and guards and the next-door neighbours in the street just as it stopped. Over 1.5 minutes of rocking and rolling! I was shaking so badly...but I did manage to plan cocktail party for next week with my neighbour (I am Martha Stewart to the bone). Only a week ago we discussed earthquakes with the kids, under my bed is our upstairs safe spot...it is so solid. There are more cracks in the house, but no damage. Only a few light things fell over, and the pictures are all crooked.
I was very pleased to find that the power stayed on but after an hour the internet went very slow, probably as everyone rushed on the get info.
So all is well...what an experience to talk about when we are all old and gray and in the retirement home!
Below is my stairway of potential doom, the cracks that have been around the window for the last 2 years and the view from my office window.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Book Week
I've started to do some painting for book week at school.
Can you recognise these famous childrens book characters?
I'm still working on a big yellow bus and a colourful elephant for next week!
Can you recognise these famous childrens book characters?
I'm still working on a big yellow bus and a colourful elephant for next week!
Friday, August 28, 2009
My baby welcomes the tooth fairy.....
Two days after this tooth fell out the one next to it became wobbly. Unfortunately it disappeared...it is either rolling the floor at a friends house or in the septic system lol.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Kite flying, Jakarta
Georgia made this kite at school at the end of last year.
It has been up a few times before, but yesterday the wind was perfect and it soared to never before reached heights.
It has been up a few times before, but yesterday the wind was perfect and it soared to never before reached heights.
The girls had a fabulous time flying their kite.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Hester Basoeki Guest House, Bogor
We spent the day filming the Indonesian activities for the Trans 7 Homestay program at a guest house in West Bogor.
This would be a great place to take out of town guests to see what rural Indonesian life is like. The guest house arranges kampung (village) tours and other cultural things such as cooking classes, rice planting, garden tours and music recitals.
In the below collage, the girls are washing, then riding a water buffalo and playing Indonesian games with the Kampung kids
Below the girls are cooking traditional Indonesian cakes and making hot ginger drinks.
It was a long, hot day which didn't finish until nearly dark. My idea of relaxing in the car for a 2 hour trip home with the AC on full was unfortunately aborted when the driver decided to fall asleep with in 5 minutes of leaving the guest house, whilst driving the car with the kids and I inside. (This was the second time this had happened with this particular driver, it has happened to us before though, so I am extremly viligent)
I debated leaving him in Bogor, but had to take him, as I had no idea how to get home.
My head was about to explode with all the swear words you could imaging but couldn't say in front of the kids!
I can now drive all the way from west Bogor, through Bogor in peak hour traffic, on the toll way to Jakarta and through its peak hour traffic and get home.
On this Indonesian toll way, I discovered that trucks find head lights (in full dark) optional and a speed of any where between 35- 160 km/hr is acceptable.
It was a very scary drive, but adrenalin and maternal instinct can make anything possible.
Needless to say, we now have a new driver!
This would be a great place to take out of town guests to see what rural Indonesian life is like. The guest house arranges kampung (village) tours and other cultural things such as cooking classes, rice planting, garden tours and music recitals.
In the below collage, the girls are washing, then riding a water buffalo and playing Indonesian games with the Kampung kids
Below the girls are cooking traditional Indonesian cakes and making hot ginger drinks.
It was a long, hot day which didn't finish until nearly dark. My idea of relaxing in the car for a 2 hour trip home with the AC on full was unfortunately aborted when the driver decided to fall asleep with in 5 minutes of leaving the guest house, whilst driving the car with the kids and I inside. (This was the second time this had happened with this particular driver, it has happened to us before though, so I am extremly viligent)I debated leaving him in Bogor, but had to take him, as I had no idea how to get home.
My head was about to explode with all the swear words you could imaging but couldn't say in front of the kids!
I can now drive all the way from west Bogor, through Bogor in peak hour traffic, on the toll way to Jakarta and through its peak hour traffic and get home.
On this Indonesian toll way, I discovered that trucks find head lights (in full dark) optional and a speed of any where between 35- 160 km/hr is acceptable.
It was a very scary drive, but adrenalin and maternal instinct can make anything possible.
Needless to say, we now have a new driver!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Home Stay program, Trans7 TV
We spent 2 days last week filming for a local TV program. The Home Stay program is a great cross cultural show joining kids of different nationalities with Indonesian kids for a two day home stay.
Georgia and Chelsea spent two days with three lovely Indonesian girls and spent a day doing Indonesian activities and a day doing Australian things.
For the Australian part we played with our new neighbours, the puppies, played in the pool and had fun with the chocolate fountain all at our house.
If I had known I was going to be filmed I would of gone on a diet, done my hair, put more make-up on and worn flattering clothes. Luckily I did have time to remove the wine and beer from the fridge before they filmed it lol!
Georgia and Chelsea spent two days with three lovely Indonesian girls and spent a day doing Indonesian activities and a day doing Australian things.
For the Australian part we played with our new neighbours, the puppies, played in the pool and had fun with the chocolate fountain all at our house.
If I had known I was going to be filmed I would of gone on a diet, done my hair, put more make-up on and worn flattering clothes. Luckily I did have time to remove the wine and beer from the fridge before they filmed it lol!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Maintaining an Australian education
Ocean Queen Resort has an open air bar room where you can relax and socialise while listening to the waves crash onto the beach.
There is a TV with cable for sports (and cartoon) lovers as well as a billiards table.
Only here can you take your young children to the bar, get them to top up your wine from your cask and teach them to play pool!
Ben was exhausted from non stop activity, he had a few day sleeps as well as big sleep ins. In the middle photo he has just walked in and crashed on the lounge.
There is a TV with cable for sports (and cartoon) lovers as well as a billiards table.
Only here can you take your young children to the bar, get them to top up your wine from your cask and teach them to play pool!
The bungalows at Ocean queen
Ben was exhausted from non stop activity, he had a few day sleeps as well as big sleep ins. In the middle photo he has just walked in and crashed on the lounge.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Pelabuhan Ratu Beach. Indian Ocean
While we were at the Ocean Queen Resort, there was a low pressure system off the northern Australian coast which unfortunately, made the Indian Ocean flare up.
This section of coastline in Java has a very dangerous reputation, and during the week we were there, it was not safe for swimming.
The photos do not show how thunderous and heavy the waves were.
Here is GJ reliving his youth (he grew up on the surf side of an island!). Face book friends will have a real laugh at his hijinks!
This is the beach directly in front of the resort, each bungalow has it own beach hut. Chelsea actually slept out there all night our friend, her ex school teacher! It was a bit too much for Georgia, the crashing waves reminded her of the Bali trauma. She is going to have another try next time we visit.
These are the littlies frolicking on the little beach next to main resort beach. Ankle deep water was enough to knock them over so we only spent a few minutes here before heading back to the pool.
This section of coastline in Java has a very dangerous reputation, and during the week we were there, it was not safe for swimming.
The photos do not show how thunderous and heavy the waves were.
Here is GJ reliving his youth (he grew up on the surf side of an island!). Face book friends will have a real laugh at his hijinks!
This is the beach directly in front of the resort, each bungalow has it own beach hut. Chelsea actually slept out there all night our friend, her ex school teacher! It was a bit too much for Georgia, the crashing waves reminded her of the Bali trauma. She is going to have another try next time we visit.
These are the littlies frolicking on the little beach next to main resort beach. Ankle deep water was enough to knock them over so we only spent a few minutes here before heading back to the pool.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Meet our new neighbours
Marley and Ziggy have just moved in next door.
The girls are in love!
GJ is in love with the fact that they live next door and not here!
These gorgeous babies are only 11 weeks old and need lots of sleep.
They are so cute that even I pick them up and cuddle (I'm not a huge fan of critters).
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Jakarta
I am still in shock about the last 24 hours in Jakarta. Our families innocence and life has changed dramatically. How do you explain to young kids that a favourite haunt is gone and friends could be hurt?
We love living here in Indonesia; Indonesian people are kind and peaceful.
I’m sitting here trying to understand what a terrorist gains….is publicity for their cause going to make people say “wow, what a great religion, let’s convert!”, or is blowing up things going to make people think, “Yeah, western lifestyle is wrong, let’s change”.
Is it just a case of any publicity is good publicity or just bullying by bored ignorant people?
Friends have lost friends and I am left wondering if any of the staff I know at the Ritz Carlton are injured or worse. The security was excellent at the both these hotels, I took my kids there regularly.
I have friends here (in Jakarta) who have lived through the bombing in Ireland and London, and they say life goes on, do not give into the fear, but still there is a huge why stuck in my mind.
I am so sad.
We love living here in Indonesia; Indonesian people are kind and peaceful.
I’m sitting here trying to understand what a terrorist gains….is publicity for their cause going to make people say “wow, what a great religion, let’s convert!”, or is blowing up things going to make people think, “Yeah, western lifestyle is wrong, let’s change”.
Is it just a case of any publicity is good publicity or just bullying by bored ignorant people?
Friends have lost friends and I am left wondering if any of the staff I know at the Ritz Carlton are injured or worse. The security was excellent at the both these hotels, I took my kids there regularly.
I have friends here (in Jakarta) who have lived through the bombing in Ireland and London, and they say life goes on, do not give into the fear, but still there is a huge why stuck in my mind.
I am so sad.
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