Yamaha Jupiter MX new

Suddenly and out of the blue I am between bikes. After a long conversation with Yovita about the house and rent and things I mentioned I would like a new bike to which she agreed would be a good idea.

We toyed with the idea and financing a new Yamaha Vixion or Bison and with days from sealing the deal I had a change of heart.

Stuck in traffic as I often am I started thinking how I would cope with a bigger faster and heavier bike than what I have now and so decided no I did not want a more powerful and bigger one. Also I considered using it for  short journeys and that sort of bike would not be practical.

So back to the drawing board and then Yovita's brother came to the house with a price list of Yamaha bikes and after a good look through I settled for another but shiny new Jupiter MX, this time a clutch bike.

The bigger plan was to sell mine direct to the dealer and then finance 2 bikes. The MX and a moped like a Mio so that we had one bike for work and the other for poodling and running around on. However what with one thing and another 2 became 1 and by the day before Good Friday we had agreed to sell my bike for 6 million and get the MX.

Good bye old MX

Good Friday morning my brother in law came to the house and took my bike to someone and came  back with money and more than 6 million so we were all happy. Then we went to the dealer and signed on the dotted line for the new bike and went home.

Because I just sold my bike I rented my brother in laws second bike a Mio J Teen until the plates for the MX are ready.

My Rented Mio 

So now I am riding about town on a 113cc moped which whilst nippy is not exactly what I saw myself riding but it is ok for a short time.

Friday afternoon the credit man came to the house and Yovita signed a finance agreement.  I can own a bike here in my name but its complicated so it will be in my wife's name. I just pay for it. The bike is 17 million and the monthly cost is less than a million so that's good. The first payment is in May and hopefully I will be riding it before then, should  the registration plates arrive in time.

I collected the bike Saturday and had to ride it home. With every new bike you get a helmet and a jacket.  Neither suits me. The helmet is too small as is the jacket. The jacket is tacky and bright blue. So we will give it to someone who will use it.

From this

To this

Luckily for me I have used a clutch bike before but it did not stop me from stalling it 3 times in the 800 meters to my house. Sunday I took it to the Shell station for fuel stalling it once. In time I hope not stall it at all.

Over the weekend I will take it out and about soon but away from the main roads but locally to get used to the gears.

Shiny New

My new MX is red and black and has disc brakes front and back and a bigger back wheel than the front.  It is a 135cc again but has a bigger fuel tank and the lights are automatically switched on which is nice. Other than that it looks and feels the same as my old MX which means I am more relaxed riding it.

When I have the plates I wilk write more but for now I will just 'put put put' about on the Mio.

The housekeeper that nearly was

So for the past few weeks we have had no house keeper due to the last one going home for a wedding ( probably hers ) and never returning which has caused stress and frustration in our happy household.

So to hear the news that we had a replacement coming came as something positive. But the thing about good news here is that there is often a twist or a sting in the tail and this ones sting was the cost of getting her to Jakarta from Lampung on the island of Sumatra. Still spending 650k seemed wothwhile.

Rya was 19, married with a 4 year old boy from somewhere around 4 hours journey to the main crossing in Sumatra and had never been out of her villqge before.

Now I wrote all that in past tense because she went home tonight saying she missed her son too much. She stayed here 2 nights. We had hardly anytime to teach her what was needed or start to know her.

Our money has been refunded and we are still no closer to finding someone to be our housekeeper and carer of Jeremy but I am closer to understanding how little people know about how or what life is like in the middle of nowhere in Indonesia and there is a lot of that here.

My senior teacher told me or rather explained that there is an opinion that we should do more to help those in poverty in remote places but actually they are probably more happy than those with everything because they lead a most simple life. Rya was not forced to come rather she agreed to but I guess the distance and modern chaotic lifestyle of Jakarta and the fact she swapped her boy for ours to care for made her realise she should be at home.

Still as annoying as anything though and we still need a housekeeper.

Changes to procedures British Embassy Jakarta

There has been some changes to the ways things are being done at the Embassy in Jakarta for British Passport holders.

You should click this link and follow the advice there

https://britembassyindonesia.clickbook.net/sub/britembassyindonesia#.U0eED3SUPao

My advice is to click the link and also contact the Embassy direct.

I have taken this straight from their website, lets hope they don't mind

"Appointments in Jakarta can be made on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 0830-1200.

Appointments in Bali can be made Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 0830-1200.
We recommend that you schedule your appointment 1 week prior your intended visit.
To avoid wasted travel, please confirm with us directly the purpose of the service you wish to obtain. Incomplete applications will be refused and you will be asked to set another appointment online."

The address for the British Embassy Jakarta is:

"British Embassy Jakarta Consular Section, British Embassy Building, Ground Floor, British Embassy Jakarta 12950 Jakarta, Indonesia Tel: +62 (21) 2356 5200 Fax: +62(21)3160858"

The consulate office has gone.

For Bali:

Well I clicked the link, there seems to be no information it just redirects you to the main page. 

The new website looks great and very simple to follow.

When I get to use it I will let you know.

Weekend Break Carita

I have just returned from a one night stay in Carita on the annual works outing which was fun and a change of scenery.
Basically all the staff and teachers and most of the administration staff based at Puri got a on a bus, went to the coastal resort town of Carita on the west coast of Java for the night. We sat and ate food, told stories, drank a few beers and enjoyed the evening.
Sunday morning was breakfast, group and team building games followed by 'throwing people into the sea time' and then time to chill before lunch, packing and going back to Jakarta.

It took us around 4 hours to get the Lippo Condominium place we were staying at. My review for this place can be found here.

The rooms were big and were allocated 3 or 4 people per room ( there was 40 of us). Luckily for me, I was sharing with one other teacher and we had our own private bathroom, however just one bed so I opted for the sofa and that was kind of comfy for the time I slept there.

Each room had a balcony and a view of trees and in front of them, the beach.

The view from the balcony

Getting there at night and in the driving rain did not dampen our spirits and as soon as we had eaten the catering food of chicken, rice and spicy satay sauce, we headed to the beach and sat on benches under a tree watching the storm and lightning, singing a few songs and chatting. It was rather warm despite the rain and the storm rumbled on for a good few hours, ending somewhere near midnight.

The place at night

Lightning over the sea

All lit up by the lightning

How the sea looks at night at Carita. The lights are from Ships

In the morning, by 6am the beach was already becoming full of people walking or swimming and with the sun burning the clouds away it was going to be a hot morning.

6am on a Sunday morning at the beach

Breakfast was rice, noodles, chicken and watermelon and then after that we headed down to the beach area for the team games. Once they were out of the way and prizes awarded, time really was our own and so swimming and using boogie boards seemed to be the order of the day, although I was more than content sat on the balcony enjoying the view and serenity of it all.
The best thing about the morning was the sight of Krakatoa Volcano which was very clear to see for a change, which was great.

With some sun

Thats the volcano

The worst thing had to be the constant procession of sellers trying to sell you their wares even though you don't want them, they would hang about until you became annoyed and then they would move on.

One guy was wandering around trying to sell me prawns, lobsters and squid which he carried about in his hands and looked terribly upset I did not want them.

Once lunch of more rice and chicken with, this time, very spicy prawns, sambal and sour soup was over it was a case of packing and waiting for the group photo before getting on the bus.

A motley lot.

The bus trip was as eventful as the trip there. We left around 2pm and got to EF Puri at 6.

All in all it was a great trip away and a chance to relax and enjoy some time at the beach and chill out with those I work with every day. 

Kondominium Lippo Carita

I have just spent the weekend in Carita on the annual works outing and we stayed in Carita, which is a resort area town place on the west coast of Java with views of Krakatoa Volcano, the Sunda Straits and the sea. And with the sun shining it was a nice place to be.
40 of us went from work and we stayed at a place called Kondominium Lippo at Carita about 3.5 hours from Jakarta.























The place is on the beach and is a long 4 storey building with access to rooms being through a designated staircase.
The rooms were 3 bedroom, with 1 room ensuite and a separate shared shower. A seating area and dining area, small kitchen and a balcony facing the ocean. 4 rooms booked soon had us all hidden away and so there was plenty of space.
Food was provided by someone and brought to one of the rooms for all to eat.

Between the building and the beach was a small patch of ground and gardens and then a wall and once through the wall, hawkers and sellers annoying you with offers of massage, bananas, boogie boards, banana boat rides and the like which was not so nice.
There were also men wandering around offering you fresh Squid or lobster and prawn (in their hands) to buy should you want it. Clearly I never.

Looking at the place from the beach

The condition of the room I stayed in was clean and tidy. It had a broken cabinet, the bed looked as old as the buildings and the pillows far too used for my liking so I slept on the sofa. I think the mosquitoes got me there, a lot.

The shower and bathroom was functional and clean. Plenty of water but not hot.






















Overall the place was run down and needed some repairs but it was OK for a night away and the beach and the view from the balcony of the ocean made it worth while.