Counting down 2008

We are fast approaching the end of 2008. And what a whirl wind, "happening" year it’s been. The static blog is not due to a lack of things to write about but rather that it has been a busy month and I’ve been putting off posting, thinking I'll do it tomorrow and well, a month later I’m finally able to sit down and write about the past month and the very exciting month of December around the corner.

Marc has been to Banda Aceh, Sumatra and Balikpapan, Kalimantan on business trips over the past month and will be traveling to Papua this coming week.

Below are a few photographs' narrated by Marc himself:

The best part of my job is that I get to see parts of the world - that most people only see on the Discovery channel.

We all saw the images in the news of the Tsunami, but won does not appreciate the size and the destructive power of this wave. The outlying islands formed a funnel that channeled the wave until it reached five stories high when it hit the coastal city of Banda Aceh. Approximately 160'000 lives were lost in Banda Aceh alone. The above photo is a barge that was deposited on top of three houses and a vehicle by the Tsunami 4km inland!!!It is now used for power generation.

The drive from Banda Aceh to site took 8 hours for 200km the road was completely destroyed by the Tsunami.

The Airport in Cilang - We took the Cessna Caravan back to Banda Aceh a 30 min flight

A beautiful day for a flight up the Aceh coastline. The Tsunami was so powerful that it changed the geography of the coastline.

Coffee Shop on the way to Cilang

Dr Andre and myself enjoying a cupuchino and the view

I got to ride up front with the Pilot - what a cool day at the office

Sunrise in Cilang -Fishing boats leaving for the day

Wild Kalimantan

Shorebase in Balikpapan -Kalimantan

Marc and I are looking forward to our 10 day trip to Lombok, Gili and Bali on the 19th of December. I spent the past couple of weeks finding accommodation, researching transportation options around the islands and just when I finally finalized the itinerary and received the last booking confirmation my cousin, Amori told me that she wanted to come and visit us early in December. This meant I had to put my “travel agent” hat back on and plan another 5 day trip to Bali for Amori and I. I know; tough life, isn’t it ;-)!

It also meant that I had only little more than a week to furnish the spare room, buying furniture, bedding etc. I had visions of Amori having to sleep on the floor on a mattress but luckily I managed to find a furniture store in Kemang, able to manufacture a bed in a week. Or so they say, let’s see. The bed and side tables are supposed to be delivered tomorrow and the bedding should be ready for collection. So, if all the ETD’s are met, Amori will be sleeping in her newly decorated room on Tuesday night, 2 December.

I have and exciting 10 days planned for Amori including a shopping trip to Bandung, a trip to the national Museum, a cream bath, spa treatment or two and a night out on the town on Friday and on Sunday, 7 December we leave for Bali.

With the upcoming trips, and other activities happening around Jakarta I will have a lot to blog about soon so watch this space for updates ;-)

For those of you traveling in December, take care and travel safely!