Adventures in Java

Last month we spent 10 days traveling in East and Central Java. This was my first time to East Java, Dave's 2nd. 

Hotel Majapahit in Surabaya is named after the Majapahit empire that ruled from about 1300-1500.

Our first stop was Surabaya, Indonesia's 2nd largest city! Surabaya gets its name from "sura" meaning shark and "buaya" meaning crocodile. Local legend claims that these two battled it out for the title of "most powerful animal". We spent 2 nights in Surabaya and successfully found one of Dave's old friends, Pak Supri, from 12 years ago!

Dave with Pak Supri at the site of the man made Sidoarjo mud flow, active since May 2006.

It was pretty amazing how we found D's old friends with only an address from 12 years ago and their names to go by. Here we are on a motorbike with this nice man who helped us find D's friends! 

Ibu Yudha in her combined home and work space. She supports her two sons as a tailor. Such a beautiful smile!

    From Surabaya we travelled a few hours South to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Bromo and Semeru are two of Java's tallest active volcanoes. 

Getting there was the biggest adventure of all! A 3 hour taxi ride, 1 hour 4x4 ride, 5 minute motorbike ride, 3km by foot and finally an 8 minute motorbike ride was how we transported from Surabaya to the village of Ranu Pani 2,200meters. 

The beautiful surrounding landscape! It is so nice to find fresh, clean air here in Indonesia!

First stop on our hike, Ranu Kumbolo.

Jambangan, our high point and turn around for this day hike of over 20km.

Our home stay in the village of Ranu Pani.

The dusty and busy street in front of our home stay. ;D

    After 2 nights in Ranu Pani we travelled down to the city of Malang for one night where we had dinner with one of our previous students from Tembagapura.

From Malang we took the Malioboro Express train 7 hours west to Yogjakarta in Central Java. Once in Yogja we met up with our friend Rustam from the island of Sumba who is studying at a University in Yogja. 

Rustam left and his friend Adi right.

Rustam & Adi posing in front of our home stay in Selo village which is located in the saddle of Mt. Merbabu and Mt. Merapi. 

Sunrise on Merapi!

Yeah! We all made the summit of Mt. Merapi, 2930m! Rustam and Adi's first mountain climb ever!

Sambisari Temple in Yogjakarta is a Hindu temple from the 9th century.

Bike ride to and from Sambisari Temple!

Henny at the ancient bathes! 

Our last full day in Yogjakarta was with our friend Henny. She took us to this beautiful old Hindu palace just outside of the city.

It was a journey of extremes with elevations from sea level to 2900+ meters, temperatures from >90 to <45 F, modern and ancient and much in-between. It was also full of sweet reunions with old and new friends in each place we visited. Thank you for sharing our journey with us through these photos and short stories. Salam.

Our World (according to Yosip)

I love this picture.  This is where we live.

This is the world according to Yosip.  He's in 2nd grade at the school where I work.  He's from a village that's about a day's walk from here.
The little houses in the middle, that's his village, his home.  The bridge to the left goes over to his family's garden.  He labeled that big brown area "Landslide area".  You can see the various tunnels built by the mining company, a couple of the big rivers and the dock at the portsite.
And what's that in the top right corner?  It looks like a little city in the rain.  Yep.  It is.  That's where we live.  That's Tembagapura.  :-\  Right on the money, Yosip.  Well done.  It's perfect.  :-)   :-/

Sound the alarm!!!

Every Wednesay at 11:30AM...

This is what happens.  Please watch.

It's a weekly siren test, and some of us take it more seriously than others.  :-)

Turkey... and I'm not talking about Thanksgiving

Last month D and I had the unbelievable opportunity to fulfill one of our travel destination dreams! On 24 June we traveled via Bali and Bangkok to Turkey!

Standing on top of the Galata Tower looking down on the Galata Bridge in Istanbul

Our Turkish travels began in Cappadocia, a historical land of natural wonders located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

The city of Goreme, where we stayed in Cappadocia, is characterized by its fairy chimney structures standing tall throughout the landscape.

Dondurma, the ice cream man with a memorable act to perform is a necessary stop & experience while visiting any town in Turkey.

A local woman in Goreme that roped me in one evening for apple tea and her handmade jewelry. 

A most delicious dining experience-like most- in a unique cave restaurant in Goreme.

Meet one of Turkey's best and few climbers, Recep! Sharing the Valley of the Stakes in his backyard in the Aladaglar Mountains. Recep and his wife run and operate Aladaglar Camping - great place to base camp for backcountry climbing, trekking & skiing! 

Phenomenal conglomerate walls in the Valley of the Stakes!

D & I with the Valley of the Stakes right behind us and the Aladaglar Mnts. in the distance.  

Recep and D walking back to the vehicle.

I think this is where the Cappadocia wizards live.

From Cappadocia we traveled to the west coast of Turkey to Selcuk and Ephesus.  

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A defaced fresco of Jesus from the early church between 3-11 century AD.  Last standing column of the temple of Artemis with storks nesting on top.

Dave contemplating great things standing in the ancient Library of Celsus in Ephesus, built in 117 AD!

 The Great Theater in Ephesus where Paul preached against the pagans.

 Turkish coffee!

After a quick visit to Ephesus and Selcuk, we headed north for our last stop in Istanbul. 5 incredible nights in this historical city were some of our best spent!

D and I with Tolga - an old WEMT friend and a great tour guide!

Backgammon and tea, a Turkish man's favorite pass time.

D standing in front of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

Whirling Dervishes, an ancient sect of Islam!

 Protests in Taksim square

Beautiful early church frescos found in buildings used by Christians and Muslims.

 Fresh fish sandwiches right off the boat!

Taking the Bosporus to the Black Sea!

Korea

When I told my Indonesian colleagues that I was heading to Korea for a month-long contract they asked me: "So Miss Leslie, will you be visiting North Korea and teaching them about team building and the 4 Key Concepts (Team, Communication, Trust & Creativity)?" Wow, I thought, these people have way too much faith in me and my abilities!

No, I went to boring old South Korea... no missiles, no nuclear development and no big posturing national leaders. Instead I worked with a wonderfully progressive and friendly International school in the Seoul area, supporting and developing their outdoor education program.

Instructors on top of Mt. Bangteasan

Yummy... The kimchi! Everyday...

The 8th grade class at the completion of their base camp Outdoor Ed experience

The Welcome Back committee! 

I even had some time to visit our good friends, K & B and their 2 great kids in Seoul!

Beautiful Jirisan National Park.

The Korean BBQ was very delicious.

Students all dressed up for their temple-stay experience.

May 17 was Buddha's birthday, so the temples were beautifully decorated