GOULASH

Today is - A GOOD DAY FOR GOULASH!

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary in our house. WOW - did that ever go fast. And all the cracks are back. Cement walls = cracks - yeah that's what happens. Might have to move a few pictures around again. Yesterday also marked another Sunday with-out gas. I just don't get it.

So at our house everything - hot water (laundry), showers, the stove (cooker) all work off EL-PI-GI, pronounced LPG (and I love the way they spell it). Big, big bottles of gas - and on a Sunday, the office is closed, so can not replace the gas. Ok, so GET GAS, that's moved up to number 1 on the Today TO DO list. (Seems Sunday is the only day we ever run out of gas - and here's hoping they have some up at the office too. It's not unusual to wait a day or two for that.) Oh well, life's just like that.

The Darts this weekend - not. Ended up having to cancel that. The BBQ - was absolutely great. Thanks so much guys for that. Me and the other Me, we had a great weekend. Hey, and our favorite team back home won too. Go Riders Go!

TODAY: Today is a good day for GOULASH. Hey other Me at work - I bet you're gonna like that. Good old fashioned yummy Goulash.

Well, time to head off to the pool and then the usual Monday stuff. Yeah Monday, the beginning of a brand new week. Bring it on.

Good to Go!

SATURDAY POST

The picture above - that was, the yesterday afternoon view. Just a little bit of rain. Slightly more than what we'd call a shower, but not quite a flood. The water was only about 1 foot deep on this road. And thankfully, I wasn't one of those lucky enough to be trying to ride a motorcycle through it.

And now, the weekend at last. Actually it wasn't that bad of a week. Looks like it will be a busy weekend too. Have some darts to play tonight and a BBQ tomorrow. And need to get a bit of a sleep-in too. Busy weekend.

Last night, the usual place. But missing a couple of course - at least we got to do the SMS thing back and forth. (SMS - love it) Seems KL, is a really good place and will work out just right. Can't wait to visit you guys there. Don't drink all the STARBUCKS.

Regarding yesterday's post and the election - the unofficial rumor, the guy from Kalimantan will win. Whew - that's probably a really good thing. And considering the current governor has been out of town (Jakarta prison - for the last 2 years) we'll probably see a few changes in the coming months.

TODAY: Today, well for starters. Practice a bit of darts. And find a sub. Ok - that sucks, one of our players is out of town and this morning our sub was called out (offshore). Nothing like scrambling for a sub at the last minute. Oh well, we'll see how it works out.

And .............. seems now we have a beer shortage in town. Guess that means next week the price will go up.

Happy weekend everyone.

Good to Go!

YEMENI COOKING

The Yemeni Cooking Class - Hummus, mutabal, bureck, and shistaouk. That's what I learnt to cook. And, absolutely DELICIOUS. That was great. I had no idea what to expect - and of course I ate way to much. My favorite the bureck - but wow, what a lot of work. Can't forget to mention that I brought some home with me too.

Yesterday was the Gubernatorial election day here in Balikpapan - for the Regency of East Kalimantan. Time for a new Gubernaught* spelling - no idea, but it's the same as a governor. (Probably a word left over from the Dutch). So the first round of elections was held, back in May. I believe there were about 40 parties running, and if that's an exaggeration, it's not by much. The one with the most votes - didn't get enough. So, have to have a re-election between the top two parties. The two parties - Party #1 is lead by a local from Kalimantan, Party #3 (and it really is #3) from our neighbouring island Sulawesi.

Well, I'm sure you can imagine how well this is going to work out. Not sure how long it will take to count the votes. Last time I think it was about a week. Good thing most of that action will take place in Samarinda the city north of us.

TODAY: Friday, wholly, another week has just zipped past. Pool time this morning - just got back, the sun is trying to peek out. And OMG - was that ever cold. After 4 days of rain and a non-heated pool ............ brrrrrrrrrr.

Need to see a guy at Semut Graphics today. For a project, I some how managed to get myself sucked into the black hole with .........................

Happy Friday everyone. Good to Go!

LOCKED

HELP..... I'm locked in a toilet in Balikpapan, and can't get out!

First - a bit of background.
1. Toilets are called toilets here, not bathrooms, a bathroom is where you go to wash.
2. Most locks here involve keys and are deadbolts.
3. Indonesians are generally rather superstitious and they do believe in ghosts.

So last night we went out for burgers with a few other expats at one of our favorite spots. And after about 20-30 minutes we realized one of the guys was missing (we actually thought he was outside on the phone so finished his game of pool for him). Anyways turns out - after the three local girls that work there were completely freaked out (thought it was a ghost banging on the door) we realized our Canadian friend - had turned the key in the lock and couldn't get out.

Ok, talk about funny. So, with the help of a screwdriver, a hammer, and a 1.5 meter long pry bar (God only knows where he got that from - at a restaurant?), Herri, the owners brother, finally managed to get him out. Interesting note - that tiny little toilet turned into a real sweat box and yes he needed an ICE COLD BEER when he finally got out.

I know, the picture above (a little traveling local shop) .............. has absolutely nothing to do with today's post. Sorry but I didn't have the camera with me last night. Or yesterday afternoon when a truck loaded with styrofoam coolers (iceboxes) full of live crabs - lost half the load on the road near the airport. Broken bits of styrofoam everywhere. Not to mention all the crabs running about. Only in Balikpapan.

TODAY: Today I'm on my way to Lubna's house. She's giving us a lesson in Yemen cooking. ............ gotta go.

Good to Go!

LUNAR LAUNCH

LUNAR LAUNCH. I had no idea India was sending a satellite to the moon this morning. What a refreshing start this morning - instead of MORE election (US) and MORE financial crisis stuff.

Well, I figured out the hardest part of doing these posts - is finding the perfect picture. The perfect shot. Sorry but no, I have no pic of the Lunar Launch. Yesterday I was asked to put together a CD with some of my photos of Indonesia for a calendar that's coming up. I think this is one of my favorites. It was taken in April - from the ferry looking towards Lombok.

TODAY: Maybe a good day to just hang out in the rain and get WET. Yes, it's raining again. I think it's official - RAINY SEASON. Too bad we missed the dry. Almost all of Indonesia experienced a drought this year - except for us.

Today is a good day for deliveries ............. all that stuff I picked up yesterday at the printer's shop.

Good to Go!

JALAN

No ... this is not my street. This is the street (Jalan) I take to get to the other side of town. Somewhat of a connecting road I guess. Believe it or not, it is actually a main street. And it is very skinny. And it really, really sucks when too many people park their cars on the side of it. Especially when it's big truck. Note: there seems to be no rules here for big trucks.

Another rainy day in Balikpapan. Yes I am, getting a little tired of that. Maybe the rainy season has really begun. Back again to the power on, power off thing again too. Seems lately there's a bit of a correlation with that. Rain vers. electricity. (And the Internet)

TODAY: Well for starters - this post, is late. Today we had KFC for lunch. All 4 of us. Me, the other Me, Semmi and the driver. No fries today though - instead only rice. I was once told that KFC was the first western world restaurant to open in Indonesia. That's amazing - cause they are everywhere here. They are like the Gods of CHICKEN & RICE.

Today I need to get to the printers and pick up all my stuff. That means a trip down that skinny little connecting road. And later tonight, me and the other Me are going for a massage. A one hour full body traditional massage. Yes! One hour for 110,000 Rupiah - that's like $11. So looking forward to that. And to celebrate after our trip down that skinny little road again for the second time in one day - Chef Boyardee Ravioli tonight. And sad to say, but one can of that stuff, cost me almost 4 bucks.

Good to Go!

SLAMET?

SLAMET? Slam what? E.T.? I have no idea what this means. But ..........................

I wonder if they ran out of paint? Or maybe just using it up? I checked for Slamet in my Bahasa Indo book - nothing. Maybe they missed a letter or got them a little mixed up? SELAMAT - means Safe and Sound. It could be that.

Saturday night - We had a great time at the Birthday Party on the beach. You guys are such good hosts. ........... and talk about food. No shortage of that.

TODAY: Woke up to a really, really dark sky. And it's raining of course.

So - no pool this morning. Good day to get on to some other things that have piled up on the corner of the desk. I have a newsletter to get started this week and a new Menu for a little Cafe down the street. Better get at it.

Good to Go!