Attending A Scuba Course Part Two - Kotok Island

As part of our scuba diving course we had to complete four open water dives. So after the two days in the pool and learning all about scuba diving we headed out to Kotok Island which is located about a one and a half hour speed boat trip from Jakarta and a part of the Thousand Islands (Pulau Seribu).

It was a rough trip out, due to being a bit choppy. We found Kotok Island very nice and quiet. The huts were basic but that's all we needed. On the Saturday we did two dives and on the Sunday we did another two dives and passed our course with flying colours. We met some wonderful people who all had been diving for a while.

Seeing the underwater world in a new light was very interesting we where really glad we were able to complete our first scuba coarse in time before we left Jakarta.

The boat taking us out to Kotok Island

Travelling in the bay

On the boat coming up to Kotok island

Our room

The open bathroom in our room

One of the scuba divers coming in from their dive

Looking out from the jetty

Bernadette and Ben standing on the jetty

Bernadette and Ben doing some snorkeling

Below are some photos taken while snorkeling

The below pictures are from our third dive

Ben entering the water going off the boat

Bernadette entering the water going off the boat

Ben and Bernadette scuba diving

Turtle we saw while scuba diving

We met Nemo while scuba diving

Bernadette waiting to head back on the boat to Jakarta

Attending a Scuba Diving Course - Part One

The dive office at the Kristel Hotel

Last week Ben and I attended a scuba diving course at the Kristel Hotel here in Jakarta. The dive coarse was a four day course which is made up of two days doing practical confined classes in the pool and then two days in the open water.

The two days in the pool was interesting as we where putting everything we had studied into practice for the first time. A part of the two days was also made up of tests which both Ben and I past.

We where glad we had done all the required reading before attending the course as it all came in handy and we where able to only spend two days in the pool.

Ben entering the water Bernadette entering the water

Bernadette & Ben all OK

Ben replacing his scuba mask under water

Ben all ok after replacing his scuba mask

Bernadette taking off her mask under water

Bernadette all OK after replacing her mask underwater

Paige's Last Day At BIS

As the school holidays are starting for the Easter break Paige's last day at BIS was the last day of term two. It was really nice for the class to have their photo taken together so Paige can keep and remember all her friends she made while in grade 2 at BIS in Jakarta.

Ben Sister Lucy's Visit

Over the past five days we have had Ben's sister Lucy visiting us. With a rocky start to her visit due to her bags getting lost Lucy's stay only got better as the the bag finally arrived.

We wanted to show Lucy around as much as possible with the traffic permitting so we took her to a number of different locations to show her the different types of shopping experiences to be had in Jakarta.

From Town Square, Poins Square, Pasar Raya Mall, Pondok Indha Mall and Mangga Dua shopping Malls she could experience all levels of shopping.

Having enjoyed our trip to Sunda Kelapa in the past we headed down there to see the long boats and to see an older part to Jakarta. Both Paige and Lucy were impressed with the boats. We even had the same tour guild Ben and I had last time.

It is interesting to see Jakarta through someone elses eyes, Lucy's impressions of Jakarta is very similar to how most people see it. "When you first arrive it can be an over load on your senses from large amounts of traffic, so many people, the smells, the lack of infrastructure and to see the lack of pride in their heritage due to funding put into the museums".

We all had a wonderful time during Lucy's visit. Paige loved having her Aunt Lucy around it was a wonderful time.

Lucy, Ben & Bernadette out to lunch at local cafe

Man cooking chicken sates

Lady making "gado gado"

Gado Gado

Lucy, Paige & Ben next to one of the boats

Ben & Lucy on one of the boats

Paige on one of the boats

Captain Lucy

Cafe Batavia we had morning tea

Paige with Auntie Lucy

Paige & Ben

Two school boys in the main square

Super stars Ben & Lucy asked for photographs

Ben & Lucy have their photo taken by the locals

The local council worker

Shopping at Mangga Dua

Paige had a busy day

Water Bom Park

On the week end we decided to go and have some fun at one of the water parks here in Jakarta called "Water Bom Park". On a weekend it opens at 8am so we wanted to get an early start as in the afternoons the park can be quite busy.

Before we even left the housing complex we got a flat tyre. Not a good start to the day.

With the tyre changed it was off to Water Bom Park. If you have ever been to the water park in Bali it is just like that one, maybe a little smaller.

We all had a fun time as the weather was nice and there no lines due to our early start. There are lots of water slides to keep any child busy and many stairs to climb to wear them out. No matter if you a small kid or a big kid a bit of fun which is enjoyed by all.

Yamin and Ben changing the tyre

Paige and Isha waiting for the tyre change

Paige on one of the water slides

Bernadette and Isha on the parks man made river

Ben and Paige on one of the water slides

Paige after riding one of the slides





Paige splashing Isha in one of the pools


Children's slide play area