We started our day with this for breakfast. Sweet sticky rice rolled in banana leaves, steamed, cut up and served with fresh coconut flakes and gula jawa (palm sugar) syrup. This was a treat for me as I grew up eating this almost every weekend. Even Treyton and Jeff who have never had this liked it and it was to my mother's surprise.
While we ate our breakfast, we were also entertained by this fella, Mrs. Hen. After laying her brown egg, he decided to come out of the cage and went for a drink. It was a treat to see! Mr. Rooster cock-a-doodle-do-ing in the background worried about Mrs. Hen being a free-hen and all. It was hilarious!
Unfortunately, this is the last picture of Mrs. Hen as she died after being attacked by some sort of rodent (ferret or mongoose)
Unfortunately, this is the last picture of Mrs. Hen as she died after being attacked by some sort of rodent (ferret or mongoose)
I want to also introduce you to Mr. Beo (Gracula Religiosa). Treyton absolutely loves this bird. This dude talks and talks, not those bird tweet tweet talk, the bird bloody talks Indonesian. My mother had taught these phrases (hello!, wow keren! (as in wow cool! in English) among other phrases. Treyton loves repeating wow keren!
Today's agenda involve in hiking up through rice paddies along the foot of a mountain. Let's just say my mother is notorious at keeping the little details of fatal information and there were a lot of unexpected things that we wished we had know before going to this journey. Like she failed to mention that the hike would be along a single lane human traffic, full of mud. She also said wear your sandals because we don't want to get dirty, great idea, but considering the sharp rocks and the muddy paths we should have worn our tennis shoes. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit that day that we should have equipped ourselves with sunscreen and hat. But we didn't, thus Jeff was burnt to crisp on the back of his neck. Luckily Treyton posses my Indonesian skin where when exposed to extreme rays, it gets dark not burnt.
We drove until the road became a two lane dirt road, which became one lane dirt road, which became a treacherous path of potholes and gaps that we decided to go on foot fearing that the van would either go in hole or flip over. Our van was followed by these kids looking to be our porters. They were about to offer their service to carry whatever we've got, including small kids. Yes you heard me, pictures below.
We walked through a small village, see the rock path, not flip flop friendly. Passed locals building traditional Javanese structures through this jungle village. Chickens, goats, lamb freely walk everywhere.
Some friends we met along the way. Unfortunately these kids cannot afford school so they stayed home.
Saw a bunch of these along the way. These are cages for goats and lambs, next to the farmer's house.
Chickens, goats, lambs walk everywhere, interacting with people
Apparently it's also a good parking spot
Whoa! Hello! After reaching the edge of the village we exit the jungle onto a plateau overssing the rice fields in the valley.
Yeap, my well pedicured, silver toes were completely wrecked.
By this point, Treyton was begging to come back but we were only halfway there. Fortunately the kid we hired, offer to carry him. Please don't judge and yes we paid him REALLY well.
Do you see the white spot on the upper right hand side? That's the hidden waterfalls we're trying to get to.
My favorite shot.
Oh Alvin had such a great time every time he fell in the deep mud
Our first break point. The kids went swimming.
Yeap, I fell on my butt, several times! No I did not shit my pants.
Gathering my "qi" (chi) for the next miles and miles to the waterfalls
This is the point where Jeff and I got separated from the group and got lost. One of the kids we hired came back looking for us. Oh Thank Goodness and God Bless His Soul.
WE MADE IT! Finally arrived at the waterfall
Andrew Zimmern?! Is that you? Jeff was relieved that he wasn't the only white dude there.
About the only picture I have of Treyton and I throughout this trip. Thanks to me madre
Posing in front of a small store where Jeff had to buy a new flip flop since his expensive sandal that he most loved had been completely ruined.
Okay folks, do you see the hanging green thing to your right? That's called Petai Beans (Parkia Speciosa) or stink beans. It's earned its nickname because of its super pervasive smell that lingers in the mouth and body and give strong smell to one's urine and cause strong-smelling flatulence. And a lot of Indonesian dishes include these beans so take extra precautions when dining in Indonesia.
Treyton, contemplating crossing this bamboo bridge. This is what Treyton said in this scenario "One by one you guys, one by one, let me go first!" NO, Ivory, don't go yet, let me get to the other side first." His scream has attracted quite an audience as you can tell. The Indonesian kids were gigling like crazy, saying "OMG check out this bule" Bule (pronounce Boo-lech) means white person in Indonesian.
Padi farmer, click on the picture for a larger view
This is rice before they were pitted from it's shell.
Today's agenda involve in hiking up through rice paddies along the foot of a mountain. Let's just say my mother is notorious at keeping the little details of fatal information and there were a lot of unexpected things that we wished we had know before going to this journey. Like she failed to mention that the hike would be along a single lane human traffic, full of mud. She also said wear your sandals because we don't want to get dirty, great idea, but considering the sharp rocks and the muddy paths we should have worn our tennis shoes. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit that day that we should have equipped ourselves with sunscreen and hat. But we didn't, thus Jeff was burnt to crisp on the back of his neck. Luckily Treyton posses my Indonesian skin where when exposed to extreme rays, it gets dark not burnt.
We drove until the road became a two lane dirt road, which became one lane dirt road, which became a treacherous path of potholes and gaps that we decided to go on foot fearing that the van would either go in hole or flip over. Our van was followed by these kids looking to be our porters. They were about to offer their service to carry whatever we've got, including small kids. Yes you heard me, pictures below.
We walked through a small village, see the rock path, not flip flop friendly. Passed locals building traditional Javanese structures through this jungle village. Chickens, goats, lamb freely walk everywhere.
Some friends we met along the way. Unfortunately these kids cannot afford school so they stayed home.
Saw a bunch of these along the way. These are cages for goats and lambs, next to the farmer's house.
Chickens, goats, lambs walk everywhere, interacting with people
Apparently it's also a good parking spot
Whoa! Hello! After reaching the edge of the village we exit the jungle onto a plateau overssing the rice fields in the valley.
Yeap, my well pedicured, silver toes were completely wrecked.
By this point, Treyton was begging to come back but we were only halfway there. Fortunately the kid we hired, offer to carry him. Please don't judge and yes we paid him REALLY well.
Do you see the white spot on the upper right hand side? That's the hidden waterfalls we're trying to get to.
My favorite shot.
Oh Alvin had such a great time every time he fell in the deep mud
Our first break point. The kids went swimming.
Yeap, I fell on my butt, several times! No I did not shit my pants.
Gathering my "qi" (chi) for the next miles and miles to the waterfalls
This is the point where Jeff and I got separated from the group and got lost. One of the kids we hired came back looking for us. Oh Thank Goodness and God Bless His Soul.
WE MADE IT! Finally arrived at the waterfall
Andrew Zimmern?! Is that you? Jeff was relieved that he wasn't the only white dude there.
About the only picture I have of Treyton and I throughout this trip. Thanks to me madre
Posing in front of a small store where Jeff had to buy a new flip flop since his expensive sandal that he most loved had been completely ruined.
Okay folks, do you see the hanging green thing to your right? That's called Petai Beans (Parkia Speciosa) or stink beans. It's earned its nickname because of its super pervasive smell that lingers in the mouth and body and give strong smell to one's urine and cause strong-smelling flatulence. And a lot of Indonesian dishes include these beans so take extra precautions when dining in Indonesia.
Treyton, contemplating crossing this bamboo bridge. This is what Treyton said in this scenario "One by one you guys, one by one, let me go first!" NO, Ivory, don't go yet, let me get to the other side first." His scream has attracted quite an audience as you can tell. The Indonesian kids were gigling like crazy, saying "OMG check out this bule" Bule (pronounce Boo-lech) means white person in Indonesian.
Padi farmer, click on the picture for a larger view
This is rice before they were pitted from it's shell.
