Halloween in Jakarta

"Trick-a-Treat" it seems the magic words to the children's hearts at this time of the year.

Being overseas, Halloween is a popular event that is celebrated. We didn't have to travel very far at all as the housing complex we live in hosted a evening which saw many children dressing up and go trick-a-treating.

The evening started off with the children doing different activities such as decorating cup cakes, making spider web pictures and playing some games. The children also had train rides and horse and carriage rides around the complex.

With about two hundred kids as you could imagine it was madness with them all running around. Once the little monsters, devils, fairies, zombies were all feed everyone made there way to the hunted house which some of the parents had created in one of the empty houses within the complex. Paige just loved walking through the haunted house, she said it was a bit scary but lots of fun.

Then it was off to trick-a-treat which Paige joined one of her friends and her friends mum to go around the complex while I headed back to wait for all the children to knock on our door.

What can I say it was crazy, I have never experienced so many children knocking on my door before, I am so lucky that I had lots of sweets to give out. I found I had to start putting the sweets into the children's bags myself as the older chicken started to get a bit cheeky and grab a little too many sweets all at once. A couple of times I got to scare some of the children as I had some scary music playing and when they where just about at my door I open it and yelled boo.

It was a great evening. I could'nt get over how many sweets Paige came home with, she said that the sweets would last her forever. I don't know about that but I sure know we will be using a lot of tooth paste in the coming week.

Picture: Paige dressed as a devil and Bernadette dressed as a ghost

Picture: Paige, the devil child

Picture: Paige on the horse and cart

Picture: Paige making a spider web picture

Picture: Children decorating cup cakes to eat


Picture: Children playing the donut game

Picture: Paige and Leaham

Picture: The zombie boys

Picture: The endurance to the haunted house


Picture: Inside the haunted house

Picture: Inside the haunted house


Picture: Inside the haunted house

Picture: One of the rooms inside the haunted house

Picture: One of the rooms inside the haunted house

The Driver and Golden Bird

Picture: The car we rent from Golden Bird

With this blog posting I feel I need to get a bit off my chest. I am at a loss to know why somethings here in Jakarta seem to be always so hard.............

When arriving in Jakarta we had to find a company that leases out cars and also supply drivers. Having a driver is meant to make getting around Jakarta easier. Asking many other expats about what they do we decided that we would go with a major company and one of those companies was The Blue Bird Group. We wanted to make sure the company was larger enough so they could offer us a back up service for cars and drivers because we all know the unexpected can happen here so we thought "lets cover all our bases".

We have been here five months and there hasn't been a month that hasn't gone by that we have had some sort of drama either with the car or the driver.

The Car

With the car I think maybe we have been unlucky, first the drive shaft feel off the car, then the suspension went on the car, there has also been brake problems and there was another problem which I still don't know what it was but Golden Bird has fixed all in a timely fashion. Call it unlucky or just bad timing or wear and tear who knows but I think all these problems have inconvenient to our day to day travel plans.

The Driver

The biggest problem of all.......................

Keep in mind I don't have a local licence and taxis can take up to one hour to come.

When we first found our driver I didn't realise that he already worked for Golden Bird so when I offered him the job he wanted to still be employed by Golden Bird. That wasn't a problem because instead of giving the driver his salary direct then I would be invoiced by Golden Bird and if he was sick I could get a replacement driver to fill in, so you think it all be hassle free well how wrong I was ?.

Did I mention I have been living here in Jakarta for five months? well out of those five months, each month there has been a problem with our driver. Last week I sacked my driver and I requested a replacement. Easy you would think but remember we live.

Let me take a step back I don't take it too lightly when I say I sacked my driver but the history has been as followed;

Firstly he asked for time off, only half a day, I said yes and he then didn't turn up when he was meant to and instead of calling me he called a friends driver to tell me he couldn't come to work and that was in his first week.

Secondly he didn't ring to say he would be late, excuse was no credit on his phone even though he has to have a working mobile with with credit on it to have a job.

Thirdly he didn't meet me at airport for pickup when we returned to Jakarta from holiday even that we had prearranged as he didn't realise that my flight had been change both Ben, myself and our house keeper tried to contact him in advance but his phone was switched off. Even though he must keep his phone switched on at all times.

Fourthly he had time off over the holidays and then couldn't return due to death in the family this excuse I am skeptical of as it just seemed the death came at the end of the holiday and that he had already asked for extra time off before and I had said no because I had already made plans.

Fifthly I called on a Sunday and asked the driver to come in to worked and I was told he couldn't as he was to busy even though he is on call, 24 hours 7 days a week.

The last straw was when his house flooded and he arranged a replacement driver, he didn't call me as he said he had no credit on his phone even though I had placed credit on his phone. This credit should of lasted him at least one month due to only using the phone I had lent him for work which he was told was a rule.

OK so there are all the problems I have have with the driver so keeping in mind that a driver must have his own mobile phone with credit on it as well as keeping it turned on all the time, be on time for work, don't ask to borrow money and work overtime when required including public holidays.

It saddened me to know that after a number of warnings this driver still didn't listen to me and I had to let him go.

Now comes the "kicker" with the replacement driver we where sent he was late on his first day and when I asked why he was late he said it was because of the traffic, "Wrong answer to give me" we all know the traffic is bad here in Jakarta so you would think anyone needing to be somewhere on time you have to allow the extra time for the traffic to get to your job. Upon asking where this new driver lived he replied one and a half hours away and doesn't have a motor bike. "Wrong answer again" as we need someone who can come for the early morning pick ups.

So this driver lasted a couple of days as I contacted Golden Bird and told them our list of requirements of what we needed in a new driver they where;

Someone to work overtime when required, Someone to start at 7am Monday to Friday, Someone who can come every second Monday to start at 4am to take Ben to airport, Someone to be on time and have own motor bike to be able to do that, Someone to have his own mobile phone with credit on it all the time so he can be contactable, Someone who knows Jakarta well and maybe speak a little English.

Anyone who lives here would say what we needed is normal, so you wouldn't believe it we get our second replacement driver and out of all that I requested he only meets a couple of my requirements. Golden Bird is a large company who cant meet our needs when it comes to finding us a driver so I have decided that I will find a replacement driver myself and see if I can do any better.

No matter how well you plan for the unexpected it seems things pop up all the time. Back to the drawing board and hopefully I will find a new driver soon, fingers crossed.

Getting Around Jakarta

A picture cut out from the local paper about traffic

There are many ways to get around Jakarta. We hire a driver and car as most expats do here.

But there are other forms of transport that can get you around Jakarta its just a matter of knowing where you want to go and how fast you want to get there.

Taxi's

A common sight are taxis. There are many taxi companies but the most common company is called "Blue Bird". The blue bird taxi you can find really anywhere and very common, the taxis are very clean and most drivers seem to know where you want to go. The next class of taxi which is called "Silver Bird" which also belongs to the blue bird group. You will find at most upmarket shopping mails these taxis are very nice and don't cost much more then catching a blue bird taxi. I have had to catch these taxis before which I have found OK to use.

Pictures: Left a blue bird taxi, right a silver bird taxi

The Bis (Bus)

Yet to catch one, there seems to be plenty around mostly very old ones that bellow smoke out the back. There are some very new ones around which you see on the rare occasion. I did read in the newspaper that out of about two thousand buses in Jakarta only thirty four of them are road worthy. These older buses seat about forty people.

Picture: A Bis (bus)

The Ojek

Which is a motor bike taxi which you will find on most corners. Anyone can be an ojek driver, you also ask the price before jumping on the bike. Most of the times this is the quickest way to get around if you are in a hurry.

The Bajaj

Seats about two passengers, you usually find them scattered throughout Jakarta. I have caught one when I haven't had to go far. It is best to ask the price before getting in for your trip. They seem to run on a two stroke fuel mixture that also bellows smoke out of the back.

Picture: A Bajaj

The Becak

You will usually find in the local areas where the larger buses usually don't go. These becaks are usually used by children going to school, bringing people from the markets and just anyone who doesn't feel like walking in their local area. The price is always agreed on before you hop in for the ride.

Picture: Two men waiting with their becaks

Picture: A becak rider on the road

The Angkot

They are every where you go. The vain of my existence. The Angkot is a mini van that picks people up anywhere on the road if you signal them to stop. There are different coloured angkots that have different locations which they travel too. They block the traffic and the drivers all seemed to live in their own little world and think they own the roads.

Picture: An Angkot

Aussie Rules Grand Final Day In Jakarta

An event which is held ever year here in Jakarta by the Jakarta Bintangs gets a number of Aussie rules football supporters together to watch the AFL grand final and also support Aussie rules here in Jakarta.

The Jakarta Bintangs (Stars) Australian Football Club was formed in 1995 with the objective to provide a football outlet to many Australians living in Jakarta. The club has recently begun to promote and develop Australian football to Indonesians and apart of the AFL day is to raise funds to support this promotion for the youth of Indonesia.

With the time difference between Melbourne and Jakarta the day started early with a hot break and soaking up the atmosphere with people arriving in high spirits. There was a mixture of supporters who wanted to witness the yearly Grand final as well as support the Bintags in their fund raising.

I thought the function room at the Four Seasons looked amazing from the table decorations to the way the big screens were set up around the large room. No matter where you sat you had a great view of the action that was being televised on the Australian Network. With pre-match entertainment, interviews with some rising stars from Port Adelaide and even a video send up of the local players was all well done.

The atmosphere in the room became electric as the game got underway. As Collingwood and StKilda battled on the field the supporters voices in the room got louder and louder.

I don't think anyone could believe the game would finish in a DRAW.

Most people in the room sat in shock with the out come of the game as you could hear people saying "What happens now?", "I cant believe it", not supporting either teams I thought the out come of the game was such a let down but I am sure that I will always remember where I was and what I was doing in 2010 for the AFL Grand Final.

I think the Jakarta Bintangs put on a great day and should be very happy in their effort.

Picture: Tables centre piece

Picture: Ben and Bernadette enjoying the AFL Jakarta Grand Final Day

Picture: Great picture on the big screens around the room

Picture: Marina, Mick and Tom all smiles before their teams go to war

Picture: Bernadette, Thalia and Marina enjoying the day

Picture: Members from the Bintangs Football Club wearing the team jackets

Picture: Some rising stars all the way from Port Adelaide, Australia

Picture: Tom supporting St Kilda and Ben offering some support

Picture: Mick supporting Collingwood

Picture: The pie a little bit hot for Bruce

Picture: Ben crazy for his meat pie

Picture: "I love my pie", Tom enjoying his meat pie with sauce

It's Crazy Over The Local Holidays

Picture: Traffic converging onto one road, no where to go

At the best of times the traffic in Jakarta is what I would call crazy. Too many cars, buses and motor bikes and a not a very good road system. Traffic plays a big role in our daily life here, you always have to take into account the travelling time of where you need to get to because otherwise you wont make it on time.

Last week saw the end of Ramadan which is the fasting for Muslims. In the month of Ramadan Muslims are meant to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking , marital relations or getting angry during the day light hours. It is believed that fasting heightens spirituality and develops self control. Being the end of Ramadan there is a celebration call "Idul Fitri". The Arabic meaning of Idul fitri is "becoming holy again". The holiday is just like what we would celebrate Christmas. Indonesians like to spend the holiday with family and so many Jakartans travel back to their family homes.The traffic problems only gets worse during this time and seeing the pictures on the news of the traffic jams going out of the city just amazed me. It seems it may take up to 24 hours to get somewhere only 200 kilometers away and the road toll seems to go up over this time as well. Its hard to understand why each year people put them selves through this process of travelling, the holiday should only last three days but people here leave many days before to avoid the traffic.

For me living here all I can say is I am glad Ramadan and Idul fitri is over. During Ramadan I think most nights I was awake at 2am by the sound of the extra call to prayer that echoed through the large amount of loud speakers in the neighbourhood. I seemed to be waking up my driver up during the day all the time as it seemed the lack of food made him sleepy. There where times I even thought my driver may fall asleep behind the wheel. Just dealing with the locals in the day time seemed to be a lot harder as no one had the energy to function. Not being a Muslim person I find it hard to understand why anyone would not choose to eat.

As the celebrations got underway for Idul Fitri my lack of sleep continued with the sound of fireworks and firecrackers going off during the night at all times, unscheduled. Our staff had time off which meant Isha our house keeper was away for eight days and our driver Herman was away firstly for three days and an then an extra three days due to a death in his family.

I just felt my life was on hold for at least a week being held captive to being home, taxis are not always easy to get because like everyone the drivers are away on holidays.

I think next year if we are still living in Jakarta I will try and go on holidays somewhere so I am somewhere else I can get a good night sleep.

Picture: One the roads of Jakarta

A Broken Foot, A Flight And An Operation

With what started out as simple as tennis game turned into Ben having an operation on his foot.

While we where having a hit of tennis on the tennis court here Ben misjudged where the fence was and rolled his foot on the metal bar at the bottom of the fence resulting in breaking and dislocating three of the bones in is foot.

With Ben being in a whole lot of pain we headed to one of the expat medical clinics to find out Ben needed to be referred to a specialist here in Jakarta because the break wasn't straight across the foot. That same night we went off to see the foot specialist who consults from one of the hospitals here. This is where we found out that Ben would need an operation so we then spoke to the medical insurance company and arranged to go to Singapore as there was no way we where going to the operation here. There is not one expat person I had spoken to that would have the operation here in Jakarta even the well off Indonesians headed out of country for major medical needs so we decided that we wanted to do the same.

After all the arrangements had been made it took three days to get Ben operated on in Singapore. I cant stress enough that when being overseas it sure pays to have medical insurance. The medical staff at the hospital where all very nice and Ben stayed in hospital for four days until we returned to Indonesia. Ben will have to return to Singapore to have the wire taken out of his foot in about eight weeks time until he has to wear a air cast boot which he is able to take off for showering.

Picture: x-ray of both feet, left foot in picture broken bones

Picture: The broken toes before operation

Picture: Ben waiting to catch flight to Singapore


Picture: Ben's feet, left foot normal, right foot before the operation

Picture: Ben's foot after the operation


Picture: Bruising under Ben's foot


Picture: Ben showing the nurse he can use the crutches

Picture: After the operation Ben with air cast on his foot

The "I" Factor

It is all very exciting when you get the chance to live overseas and having lived in a couple of different countries before it doesn't matter where in the world I have lived there are things that have me asking "Why", "I don't understand" or "I just cant believe it" all comes down to one thing which I like to call the " _ factor". It is just a matter of filling in the blank with an "I" as we are living in Indonesia.

The "I factor" seems to cover things like;

• When the washing machine is repaired then you are told "It all OK Mrs" and a day later the same problem occurs, you put it down to the "I factor".


• Your stuck in traffic and you start to think "There must be an accident" , so when you pass the policeman directing traffic he seems to be not helping the traffic flow at all you put it down to the "I factor"


• When your driver first started working for you, you made sure you told him that you do not lend money and then he asks to borrow money and as well seems not to be able to work a full month without there being some sort of problem, you put it down to the "I factor".


• You make an appointment for the maintenance man or sales person to meet you at your house at 1pm but they do not show up until 3pm, you put it down to the "I factor".


• You finally find your favorite box of breakfast cereal in a supermarket and then you look at the price which is $15 and you refuse to buy it, you put it down to the "I factor"


• You catch the same flight every two weeks and the flight never arrives on time, you put it down to the "I factor".


• You give simple instructions to be followed and you ask "Do you understand what needs to be done" the person answers "Yes Mrs" and you find out the wrong thing has been done, you put it down to the "I factor".

Living in Jakarta I think there hasn't been a day that has gone by I don't hear myself saying "Oh the "I" factor. The joys of living in a different place other then Australia.