Fruit Party 2008

We hosted the annual fruit party last weekend. We had a lot of fun introducing the new staff to the large variety of weird and yummy fruits of Indonesia. Many of our new staff have tried most of it before, but it was still a fun excuse to get together. A lot of our staff members came, new and old, and enjoyed tasting fruit and hanging out. We even brought out the infamous durian fruit (the one that smells and tastes like rotten garbage). I was brave enough to try it again but it was just as bad as I remember from last year. :) A handful of other people tried it too, but most people chose to just laugh at those brave enough to taste.

View all of the pictures at my latest Picasa Web Album here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/clauson.emily/FruitParty08

The large spread of fruit.

Everyone enjoying getting to try.

Sitting around enjoying each other's company.

Adam tries the durian fruit for the first time.

The roommates all get together and decide to try durian together.

Here we go!

Oh, no! Why did we decide to do that again?

Yucky Traffic

Last week I was riding on the back of my roommate Emma's motorbike. I was shocked at what I saw on the bike in front of us. If you look closely you might be able to see... the guy on the back of the motorbike in front of us is holding a chicken. At first I thought this was rather odd, until I realized that it was moving and still alive... even weirder. I can't say I've ever seen a man holding a live chicken on the back of a motorbike before. Can you?

There is lots of traffic around here. It feels like we are constantly stuck in it. It gets pretty crazy at times, weaving in and out trying to make your way through it.

Winter in Indonesia

Right before school started a few of us decided to get out of Kota Baru and go up to the hot springs. From where we now live it took us about an hour and a half on motor bike to get there. We stopped and ate at a fun outdoor restaurant. Then we enjoyed swimming and relaxing at the hot springs. But the whole time we were dreading the ride back because we knew it would be freezing cold (or at least freezing to us who've gotten used to it being 90 degrees everyday). So before we left we all bundled up as much as possible and decided that this was as close as we were going to get to experiencing winter in Indonesia.

A Low Key Independence Day

August 17th is Indonesian Independence Day. Last year when I first arrived we attended many Independence Day celebrations and participated in all sorts of traditional games and activities. This year we kept it low key and just walked through a large local celebration that was taking place near our old campus. We ate some sate (traditional Indonesian barbecue) and looked at some local crafts that were being sold. Here are a few pictures from the day to give you a taste of what Independence Day was like here this year:

There were booths set up where food and crafts were being sold.

Many people sit around and listen to the entertainment for the day such as different local bands.

This is the most popular Independence Day activity. Teams of men take turns trying to climb to the top of this greased pole where prizes are hanging. Unfortunately, we left before they even got started.

This is our group who was there- Molly, Jennie, Adam, and Aaron (plus me who was taking the picture).

Molly and Jennie are having lots of fun celebrating with the local people.

As we were leaving Aaron decided to join the group of angklung players and see if he couldn't try playing one.

Molly gathers them altogether for a picture. They were so excited to have their picture taken.