#100HappyDays - A Premature Conclusion

I think I'm going to bring this 100 Happy Days thing to a close at 50. Mainly because I see it more as 100 Interesting Days - and not every day is interesting. That doesn't mean they are unhappy - just not worth writing about. And consequently updating this blog daily has become a bit of a chore, which is not how I want it to be. So I think what I'm going to do from now on is just post interesting things in the main blog part - sometimes short entries, maybe longer ones every now and then, and pictures where I have ones worth sharing.

How's that sound to you?

#100HappyDays - Day 50 - the Socceroos last match

Halfway through this #100HappyDays affair, and not great at keeping up with it. But I must say, I am sure that it works. Having motivation to seek out the positives from the crappiest days does make me feel overall more happy.

Stayed up to watch the Socceroos last game in the World Cup 2014, against Spain. As expected, we went down convincingly to Spain, and without the confidence that veterans Tim Cahill and especially midfielder Mark Bresciano inspire in the younger players, it was still a gutsy match. Happy to be able to support my team, even if they don't win.

#100HappyDays - Day 49 - A Birth Plan

The wife and I took a car out to Klaten, rather than riding a scooter like the previous trip, and while it was a little more expensive, it was certainly a wise decision from a comfort perspective.

We met Ibu Yesse, who seems to be pretty much exactly the kind of midwife we want. She was perhaps a little reserved with us, but maybe she doesn't work with many bule. And she has had to fight to keep doing what she does, with much resistance from people here who are still unable to consider that a hospital birth isn't the best option for some people.

Anyway, Rencana (plan) A, home birth. Rencana B, got to the clinic in Klaten if Ibu can't be at the home birth for any reason. Rencana C - Rumah Sakit (Hospital), if there is a need to seek medical help.

A big relief for Kai and I.

#100HappyDays - Day 48 - Recovery breakfast

Not much to write about here, as I ended up dreadfully sick after the wedding (and no, I don't think the alcohol was to blame). But the breakfast with friends at Mediaterranea (before they were even officially open for the day) was great.

Being this sick reminds me to appreciate health when I have it.

#100HappyDays - Day 47 - DJing at Rini's Wedding

(still playing but catch up here - but who cares)

Babun, myself and Uki - photo courtesy Uki.

Was asked by our friend Rini if I would DJ at her wedding, to complement the band. Fun was had. Though lordy it was humid.

#100HappyDays - Day 46 - Hunting, graduations, and a whole lotta bike ridin'

Went on a mission looking for replacement DJ headphones, as my 15 or so year old Technics RP DJ 1210s have finally given up the ghost. Rode to the biggest music store in town, only to find they had just one pair, a budget model that just felt cheap and flimsy to me. No deal.

Then went and met the wife who graduated from her Indonesian university course. Yay!

Jumped on a scooter together and rode 30-odd kms to Klaten, to meet the midwife we are hoping will catch our baby. She does home births and follows a "non-intervention unless necessary" model.  Too bad she wasn't there, having gone to Jakarta to catch a baby there. Still, the place was quite nice and homely and well equipped. Much nicer than a hospital, for us, anyway.

Then rode all the way back.

Despite the sore bum and no headphones, today was a good day.

#100HappyDays - Day 44 & 45 - 'Finished' a song.

I mentioned at the start of the month (days 28 and 29) that I'd been spending some time working on music here and there. I wasn't ready to share the fruits of my labour back then, but after a couple of sessions over these two days I feel a bit more relaxed about it.

It's a dubby/reggae style track, inspired somewhat by the popular reggae soundtrack of Jogja heard in many of the city's bars.

Not sure I'd call it "finished" - but what creative project ever is? I had a really good time making this, learnt a lot, and enjoyed the challenge of making something very different in style to anything I've ever made before. Now it's time to put it out there and move on.

Enjoy!

#100HappyDays - Day 43 - Funky shopping in Kasongan

Every weekday I drive through a little town called Kasongan on the way to and from Charlie's playgroup. It is known for ceramics, but also has a bunch of funky art, furniture and interesting home and garden ware stores. Today I took Amy with me so I could show her some of these shops after dropping off the wee man. She found some cool stuff, and bought a funky memento of her stay.

Here's some examples of the cool stuff on display:

And the obligatory language goof:

#100HappyDays - Day 42 - Catching up with Amy

Spent a bit of time catching up with Amy. Was really nice to speak face to face with a dear friend from back home. It's easy to forget, living in a country where you don't speak the language and spending a lot of time with a three-year-old, how important adult company really is.

#100HappyDays - Day 41 - Amy arrives, and pumpkin soup by candlelight

A dear friend from back home came to visit today - so great to see you Aims!

In the afternoon, we had a storm roll in and lost power - not unusual here - just as I started preparing dinner.  There's a certain charm to making a homely meal like pumpkin soup by the light of flickering candles.

#100HappyDays - Day 40 - Awesome party, awesome record stall.

Rockin' mini-festival on in the village we are living in over the weekend. DJs on Saturday, Bands+DJs on the Sunday. Pretty wild for usually peaceful Tembi.

There was much to like, especially the diverse mix of funk, electronica and house on the Saturday night. But one thing that surprised me was, being in the tropics, the market stalls selling vinyl records among their tapes and other merch. I was not expecting these two gems in the record collection. I regret not handing over the cash, but I don't have any means to play them over here.

#100HappyDays - Day 39 - Watchin' Soccer

Yep - I got up at 3am (Jogja time) to watch the opening match of the World Cup. Brazil vs Chile.

And my fear of commentary being in Indonesian proved unnecessary, as the very second they cut from the Jakarta studio to the match, presto - Bahasa Inggris!

Happy boy.

(no picture - nobody looks pretty at this time of morning)

#100HappyDays - Day 38 - World Cup viewing sorted.

My many requests regarding where to watch the World Cup (soccer) had so far only yielded non-specific results - if any result at all.  "There will be lots of places showing it" was about as good as I got. No idea where specifically, or which matches, or with commentary in what language.

Eventually one of the staff here suggested buying a TV tuner and antenna. I knew from my earlier raspberry pi experiments that our host's TV/PC monitor had a tuner built in. Just needed an antenna. Our friendly electrician heard my plea, and went off to the shop to buy one.

Expecting a small "bunny-ears" antenna, imagine my surprise to see him rigging up a massive bamboo pole to mount a much larger external antenna on!

Now have two free-to-air channels showing the games in the comfort of my own (borrowed) living room.

Price - 150,000 rupiah, or a bit under $AUD15.

#100HappyDays - Day 37 - Cute kid and cute critters

Seriously - is my son cute, or is my son cute?
Here he is all dressed in red, about to jump on the sepeda motor (motor bike) to go to playgroup.

Once we got there we met this cute little squirrel-ish creature. Not sure exactly what it is, but the cat had dragged it in. It was very young, still eyes closed, and clearly somehow lost its mother. But the playgroup took it in and have been doing their best to keep it alive.

#100HappyDays - Day 36 - Language LOL

Every other day over here there's some lost-in-translation experience or other. Here was today's.

#100HappyDays - Day 35 - Proud Dad, and photo fun

The son continues to amaze us every day with his rapidly advancing mind. He's three years, and about four and a half years old. And can count to over 100 in two languages (over a thousand in English!), sing songs in Indonesian, and is already showing an ability to read and write. I've never been a parent before - perhaps this normal, I don;t know. But he certainly amazes me.

Only 9 (or maybe 10) of the letters on this page were written by his mum. The rest - all Charlie.

I accidentally took this photo in our bathroom, playing around with depth-of-field. I like how this turned out (without any editing at all).











When I corrected the camera settings, here is actually what I was trying to shoot.

#100HappyDays - Day 34 - Final breakfast with the Gramps, welcome home beer

We had a final breakfast together with the grandparents. Charlie amazes everyone by perusing the menu, and confidently requesting poached eggs and juice.









On returning to Jogja, the can of Beer-That-Is-Not-Bintang someone left in the fridge was certainly a nice welcome home present.

#100HappyDays - Day 33 - More Ubud: cute kid, retail therapy, and farewell dinner at a sensational restaurant.

(Evidently I am not great at catching up on these posts!)

Again, many happy things to choose from on a busy but lovely day in Ubud.

Charlie building a "bucket princess"



















Shopping in Ubud market - in some ways an unpleasant experience, with the harassment from taxi drivers and market peddlers - but I did purchase a very nice Balinese sarong. (Sadly don't have a photo handy)

After a much needed sleep, the adorable son told us he was calling his Cousin Leo in Germany on the hotel room phone.








Our last night together before parting ways, so we wanted to do something special. Sadly, Poppy's tummy was still not good so he stayed home and slept. The wife, the son, the mother-in-law and I went for a sensational dinner at Bridges Restaurant. Very expensive by Indonesian standards - but very fancy, and thoroughly delicious. With beautiful ambience - and white wine!

And capped it all off by finding a tailor/clothes hop open late at night selling some cool clothes, including red thai fisherman pants, dark blue thai fisherman shorts, and a nice shirt to match - all for about $13 and coming home with me. I'll find a photo later.

#100HappyDays - Day 32 - Holiday in Ubud, and visit to the Birthing Centre

Flew to Bali for a 'farewell Nanna and Poppy' holiday. Sad to be saying goodbye after having them around for two weeks. But nice to have a holiday with them, especially somewhere other than Jogja as it gives a bit of perspective.

Ubud is nice, but like much of Bali it is hugely impacted by tourism in a way that makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable. The all-too-frequent harassment from private taxi drivers and souvenir merchants - "no, I do not want to buy a carved wooden phallus keyring, thank you - and I don't care how much good luck my buying it will bring you - kind of made me appreciate the absence of the same in Jogja, at least in the areas I frequent. And wow, everything - especially food - is SO much more expensive in Bali compared to Jogja! Definitely finding happiness in the reminder of how much I like my current home.

Poolside sculpture, D'Omah Hotel, Ubud.

One reason for choosing Ubud is the existence of Bumi Sehat, a fantastic birthing centre focussed on natural birth and an absolute inspiration for my wife, in the early stages of her midwifery career. It clearly meant a great deal to her to visit Ibu Robin Lim and see this place that models my wife's ideals. With our new addition due in early September, this place is certainly an option for us, and having visited and like the place is a huge relief for my wife and for me. Of course, due to restrictions on flying late in pregnancy we'd need to move to Ubud for a month or so. I just don't know if I'd cope!

#100HappyDays - Day 31 - Morning views and student chews (and motorbike safety lose)

Woke in the bungalow to a beautiful Tembi morning. Sunlight streaming into the courtyard, a gorgeous view out over the sawah, a spider basking in the warm rays while the light glints off its glorious web.

Rather at odds with the hustle and bustle of the University Gadjah Mada food court where I joined my wife for lunch. But yay for different experiences. And delicious food plus a fresh blended fruit juice for about $1.40 AUD - what's not to be happy about?






(Perhaps not so much happy days material, but this guy, riding his scooter bare of foot, noggin protected only by a toy helmet, and wearing a girdle of massive saw blades.... ummm... yeah, I'm in freakin' Indonesia, baby!)