Tembagapura Days

One common question I get living here is; "So what have you been doing to keep busy?" This isn't an unjustified question. We live in a small mining town with one main shop area which is an all inclusive grocery, department store, pharmacy, post office, salon and cafe. So, basically if you need to go to all of these places in one day (which I never do) you could accomplish your shopping needs and have a coffee in less than 2 hours. Which begs the question... what does one do with the remaining 14 hours of the day if, like me, you don't have a job or kids?

Well...

I've started a garden from seeds and cuttings from friends...

...making the most of our small back porch!

OH BOY!!! The culinary adventures have been delicious!

Every Thursday I lead an after school club called Adventure Leadership for Middle School students from both the expatriate and Indonesian schools.

Sometimes, when there are interesting events like the strike of 4,000 workers that started a couple of weeks ago, I get curious...

I put on my Personal Protective Equipment and head out with my camera...

...doing my best to document the goings on of this very dynamic place.

A red band around the head indicates the decision to strike for a better compensation package.

While at home, I'm kept company by some of the local boys who like to hang out in our backyard.

So, there's a better picture of what I do to keep busy while D's at work! Some things I also enjoy but don't have pictured are taking runs around town, walking with friends, studying Indonesian, volunteering at the local Indonesian school and playing with some of the kids and moms at the hospital in the local village Banti. My days are full and fulfilling. There never seems to be a dull moment here, I am learning continuously and I hope the same is true for you wherever this may find you! 

Yayasan Pendidikan Jayawijaya (a.k.a. YPJ)

Yayasan Pendidikan Jayawijaya (a.k.a. YPJ)

This is the school where I teach!


Here are students fighting to get their snack in the canteen!

Here's a middle school English class
(one of my favorites).














Here's me with some random students in front of the school.















Here are some kids playing some marbles before school. Friday is "Sport Day" (note the sports jerseys).

And the Spinellis still consider themselves environmentalists?

Yes, we actually do.
Just a little more aware of where all our zillions of electronic components come from.

Dave's pictures from the Grasberg Mine tour:This how big the dump trucks are.


Guys taking pictures of me taking pictures of them. People love to take pictures of us.


No, they're not giant RC cars.


Such a romantic overlook.


Welcome to Grasberg.


Taking the cable tram back down the mountain.

Friends! (and our apartment)

A few weeks ago we were honored to host a birthday party for one of our new friends here! There were many who came to celebrate Ian's birthday from both the Indonesian and expat schools. We are grateful to have such a great space for hosting parties!

Mine Tour

We've lived in Tembagapura, a huge mining town, a little over one month now and until today, we had not even seen the actual mine that brings us all here, Grasberg. We woke to clear skies, it was the perfect morning for good views of the mine! Departing from 6500ft at 6:45am, we headed up the steep road toward the mine on a 4x4 bus with about 15 other tourists.

Up, up & away!

40 minutes & 4,000ft higher we were at the mill where the crushed copper-rich rock comes to be made into a slurry.

An interesting mix of big natural beauty and big industry.

From the mill we transferred from bus to cable car for another 2000+ft gain in elevation!

At the top cable car station we encountered a crew of workers apparently finishing their shift...

 at 8am!

Overlooking 70+ miles and 13,000ft of elevation we could see the ocean! 

A mineral-rich pool just below the mine.

No... I'm sorry, it's not Machu Picchu. Drum roll please... 

the world's biggest gold mine and second biggest copper mine!

Welcome to Grasberg Mine!

The overlook of the mine topped us out at about 14,000ft!

And this monster looks like a toy Tonka truck when it's down in the mine. 

This is where Mount Grasberg once stood!

We started getting a little crazy with the lower pressure.

Dave made some key connections with individuals from the mothership. ;D

Then moved on to some tractor-bucket calisthenics...

...while enjoying the breathtaking views of Puncak Jaya!

So, if you were wondering where the copper for all of those wires running through our homes and electronic devices and filling our piggy banks came from, now you know!