The 32 years of Phonographic memory ...... The stranger who knows me well.

Town of Weleri
November, 2011

Weleri is a very small town about 50 kilometers ( approx. 30 miles) west of Semarang. With my brother in-law Jati, my husband Mitch, our driver Ageng drove us through the back road, through the teak forrest, bamboo groves, and coffee plantation... nice treat.

When we arrived in Weleri and after asking around looking for my distant relative, we finally found the small and crowded community. The road was so narrow. Unsure if we could turn back around, we decided to "borrow" somebody's front yard to park our car. A very young woman (perhaps in her early 20's) stepped out of her house and greeted us with a friendly hello. I asked her the whereabouts of the Subali family, and to my very pleasant surprise, she recognized me. I asked her apologetically how she knew me and she reminded me of a visit by me and my English teacher Prudence Ferraro from Ohio, USA in 1980.

"But that was over 30 years ago..... how old were you then?", I asked. She said she was only 10 years old. That means this young woman is over 40 years of age...... A bit confused, I asked her again: "How do you recognize that it is me?". She said: "Your voice has not changed". Still amazed at how this woman is able to store that phonographic memory of my voice for so long, I began to like this person and fell in admiration. From this moment on, I showered her with questions after questions. Ninik is her name. She has the same name as my distant cousin. She asked me a lot of questions and reminded me of a few things about that visit then, even my postcard that I sent from the United States in the early 80's. She asked me about Miss Prudence who had come along with me that day when I met young Ninik.

Prudence ..... my best friend, my English teacher in college who had come from the United States to volunteer and teach in our college, IKIP Semarang (now called UNNES, The State University of Semarang). She had lived with me then for one semester. She, who had made me famous because she was a "celebrity" in the town of Semarang then. Young, fair skin, long red hair with eyebrow like those of Brookshield's, and above all ... her kind and gentle nature. Prudence.... my long lost friend. I had tried to find her since the day I landed in San Francisco in 1982 and to this day ...... I miss her dearly.

Ninik didn't invite me in her house but I was able to see through the door behind her. Her house has a dirt floor..... just like it was, except now the wall is made of bricks and cement. Her house was made of woven bamboo then. But that floor ..... still the same as 30 years ago.... I asked her if she is married. She said 'No' with that embarrassed look on her face, a typical respond to unmarried women in the village who are already above certain age. I knew better not to ask that question. But I am so deeply interested in learning more about Ninik now.

"Our Children"

Rocklin, California.
Summer 2011.

Some people are blessed with their own children, but there are some who go out of their way to adopt children, and successfully so. At this age in our life, I've come to realize that there is no difference in loving children.... whether they are our own or not.

We are very fortunate to have so many friends who share their children with us. This summer of 2011, with the generousity of our friends Ed and Marini Ballard, we put together a weekend getaway to Lake Tahoe. Then a boating day on Folsom Lake. I've come to "adopt by heart" our friends' children, some of who are now in their 20s. Andre, Randy, Arthur, Cameron, Christopher to name a few... we love entertaining them for they are so much fun to have around. They adore my cooking. Especially Randy, who jokingly is named "the vacuum cleaner" because he really can "clean our table" with his big appetite.

I am not sure sometimes who is entertaining who... I can't say I entertain them when I am having so much fun having them.

A Young Chinese Ambassador to AIESEC - World's Largest Student-Run Organization

Indonesia, November 2011

The airport in Bali was still chaotic on the day we left the island. In fact, the flight to Semarang was delayed 5 times. Our guess is that many of the ASEAN delegations decided to extend their "vacation" in Bali. The arrival time in Semarang was supposed to be 4pm. But my husband and I didn't leave Bali till after 9pm. It's 1 hr 30 min flight from Denpasar to Semarang. During the delay, we met a college student from China who is the Chinese ambassador to AIESEC, the World's largest student-run organization. Speaks English fluently, the 20 year old female student took a leadership position on the international stage at such a young age.

She was on the way to Diponegoro University in Semarang where she will be attending a conference held by her organization. She looked lost and worried, was trying to get a wifi so she can contact her host in Semarang. I told her that I live by the university and that she can use my cell phone to contact her host. She was so grateful now that she 'has a phone' to contact her host everytime there is a delay announcement. Our flight was delayed several times....

When we finally arrived in Semarang it was around 9:30pm, someone other than her host was picking her up .... once again, I felt like playing a mom.

She sent me an email 2 days later telling us thanks for helping her. Until the day I write this blog, I have not heard from her again since......

Our Birthdays at Samaya Resort, Bali.

Life has taken its own course.....

Here I am again.... in Indonesia, and my husband in America. In November 2011, we decided to meet in Bali for our birthdays. I had flown in from Semarang, a capital city of the Cenral Java province. Though warned of the busy air traffic above Ngurah Rai airport in Bali, I went ahead as planned. The day the Obama's entourage left Bali, the airport was as chaotic as it was on the day they arrived. Even more so, because the ASEAN delegations were mostly leaving on the same day as President Obama did. For 45 minutes, the plane I was on and several other airplanes were told to stay in the air above the island .....as boring as it was, I got to enjoy watching what was going on. Several airplanes were flying in circle like a coil in the air. One by one took its turn to land. I was trying to see if Thai Air was in the coil too. I looked at my watch. My husband should be in the air too. He was flying in from Bangkok. I was supposed to be arriving an hour earlier than he was, according to our itinerary. Except my flight from Semarang was delayed for an hour. I looked in the "coil of planes" and wondered which one is Thai Air .... I had been above Ngurah Rai airport for longer than 30 minutes at this time.

I was flying on Lion Air, and the plane finally landed...at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar, Bali. From the domestic terminal I walked to the international terminal and walked inside the arrival gate so I can be facing the greeters and looked for a sign that says SAMAYA RESORT.... or our name ..... The greeters were looking at me and I was looking at everyone of them for a sign. It was getting a bit awkward, and so I decided to exit completely and make a phone call to the resort. They told me that the driver was waiting and looking for me at the domestic terminal but couldn't find me........ Oh, my goodness..... my husband, again, was trying to make it so comfortable for me. I just love him. When he made the reservation he had requested that the driver pick me up first at the domestic terminal.... he must have given them my flight detail. Knowing my husband, I should have known this. When the driver finally found me, we both lined up right outside the greeters barricade and saw the outpouring passengers .... they looked so happy ....aaaahhh.... it must have been a relief, I could feel it myself.. after going around and around in circle like a coil in the air for 45 minutes it felt so good to be on the ground.

I hadn't seen my husband for 2 months ... though stayed in contact via Google Talk 24 hours . The time difference being 15 hours apart has put our Androids to stay "green" for 24 hours. Thanks to communication technology. Thanks to Google. I can see my husband talking to me via video chat ..... thanks to the government of Indonesia, who set up the system for an open communication with the world. The unlocked Google phone makes it possible for travelers to switch cellular chip in the phone when they arrive in a different country, so they can get a local number. Though half the world apart, now I "see" my husband more often than before....thanks to Android.

The famous Merapi and it's Kinahrejo village

When our flight from Singapore to Jakarta was cancelled on November 5th 2010, no other flights was allowed to take off out of Singapore airport. The eruption of Merapi carried the hot ashy clouds westward, from outside the town of Yogyakarta, where the volcano is, towards Jakarta and beyond...... My husband was determined to get to Semarang that day. We had spent 4 days on the Indonesian island of Batam, before we took the ferry back to Singapore to catch the flight to Jakarta the next morning. Upon learning about the flight cancellation, Mitch arranged a flight from Batam to Semarang and was successful, though we had to take the ferry back to Batam, we did finally made it to Semarang via Surabaya.

As soon as we got out of the airport, we began to notice some cars were covered with thick dust (pretty obvious of volcanic ash). That day and the days after, we kept our eyes on the news, following the disaster. We also learned that volunteering on disaster area is not easy and not many people are welcome to do so. All volunteers must be trained to do the job. It bothers me that being this close to the disaster area, I cannot be there on the spot to help.

Now 10 months later, I am back in the country "with vengeance". With the generousity of a couple friends whom I just met recently via Facebook, I stayed at their beautiful home at Casa Grande, Yogyakarta. Joined by another couple friends, the five of us drove up to the devastated area of Merapi. Destination: Kinahrejo village. A village that became famous after the November 2010 eruption because the "Old Man" died. The Man, namely Marijan, had the job of "guarding" the volcano under oath and devotion to the Sultan of Yogykarta. He reportedly refused to be evacuated. He wouldn't want to leave the disaster area until he made sure that everyone else in the village had been evacuated. Ironically, everyone else was younger and stronger than he was. He was found dead in his praying position. Marijan was a devoted muslim.

Signs of devastation started to appear before us, about 20 miles away from the mountain village as we drove up. Some houses are still left damaged and abandoned, some are in the middle of repair work. New houses have been built. As we approached the mountain we saw the burnt forest ...... burnt by the hot volcanic ash. We got out of the car to get some fresh air and hiked up towards the village, while the car was being driven up slowly following us. The group had spread at this time. Kinahrejo village is still about two miles up. Alongside the road, there are people selling food... hot steamy cocktail soup called 'ronde', barbeque corn on the cob, fresh pumpkins and bananas ...

Arriving at Kinahrejo village, we were swarmed by tour guides on their motorcycles, offering a ride to the Old Man's pad, where his house used to be. Laras and I each took a motorcycle with the guide, and rode with him about 10 minutes up to the higher elevation. He pointed to an area where there used to be a valley with a river, but now it's all gone, the area is now covered with sand and rocks from the volcanic eruption 10 months ago, as though the valley was never there. The guide introduced us to the sister of Marijan the Old Man, who is there selling goodies... then to Marijan's wife, who is also looking like she is in the 70's. She tells her stories as people approach her and ask her questions about what happened to her and her husband when Merapi was about to erupt, and receives tips...... which is the only 'retirement plan' that her husband left behind.

References: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/sky-high-indonesias-merapi-eruption-the-worst-since-1872/405014

Wedding from Another World

The Wedding was announced (to family and relatives)around mid July, to take place at Serrata Hotel, in the city of Semarang, Indonesia, on September 17th, 2011. 500 invitations were printed around the beginning of September, and the last delivery (courier service) was the day before the wedding ! On the wedding day, there were about 700 people attending. Incredible !

There was live music and many selections of traditional food as well as 'imported' creation. Buffet tables and barbeque were set up inside the hall and outside by the swimming pool. Guest register was attended by at least 4 students from Diponegoro University. Greeters in traditional costumes lined up along either side of the red carpet which stretched from the guest register all the way to the 'throne' where the bride and groom are sitting or standing to receive handshakes from guests.

So, how was it done without hiring a wedding planner?

Around mid July (2 months prior to the wedding), the bride's mom gathered some family members and close friends (around 50 adults) and asked them to be in the wedding committee. Each person is given a task, such as negotiating with catering service, costumes coordination and finding a dress maker, transportation arrangement, getting ceremonial nick nacks, attending guest books, coordinating a team of beauticians for the bride and the bride's maids, finding a team of decorators for the ceremonies at the bride's house and the wedding venue at Serrata's. I am assuming that the venue was already picked and reserved at this time....

Everyone works as a volunteer and is happy to do the job. So, is it the Mom who has such tremendous social power? Is it the bride? Or ..... is it the culture?

SACRAMENTO TO JAKARTA, AND POINTS IN BETWEEN

Sacramento is still my favorite airport in the United States. At least while it's still small enough to make my check in easier and more accomodating to fly out of the United States. And .... while I still live nearby ..... Eventhough there is a price that I had to pay this time. Transit in SFO was 7 hours, for my flight (Singapore Air) was not till 01:20am Sunday morning, and the Red Carpet Lounge (United Airlines) was closed at 10:30pm Saturday. Grrrr ! The internet connectivity was bad, the snack choices were pitiful. Hours of operation is not useful for late night travellers. They should change the color of the carpet ..... maybe instead of "RED" call it "BLUE CARPET LOUNGE" ?

The one shot flight to Hong Kong was the longest segment of this journey. Duration: 13.5 hours. After 3 movies, 2 meals, 3 Singapore Slings, and snacks in between, plus some sleep we finally arrived in Hong Kong with only 2 hours of transit time before continuing to Singapore. Next segment, Hong Kong - Singapore was only 3.5 hours. Easy trip. One meal, one movie, and one more Singapore sling. Monday at noon, we arrived at Changi Airport, Singapore. My favorite airport in the world. See my previous article about Changi Airport......

Five hours transit in Singapore Airport went fast, as always. I easily found Lufthansa's desk at Transit Lounge E ...... and got my boarding pass to Jakarta. The plane that was going to carry us to Jkt arrived an hour late because of the unexpected storm in Germany that caused delay. And then after we boarded and the door was closed, fifteen minutes later, the plane still didn't move. Soon the captain announced that the ground crew were having difficulties pushing the plane out of the gate. ...... greatt! More time to kill !

I didn't know what happened, I suddenly heard an announcement that we have just landed in Jakarta. ..... hmmmm.... I've been asleep ? I know that the flight is only 1 hr 20 minutes, but how long was the plane on the ground in Singapore ? I wonder if my friend, Ianty, is going to be there at the arrival gate to greet me.