Welcome to 'Travels with my Angst'.
A blog about family,travel,living in Asia and working in the education industry. Started in China, and continues now that we're back in Indonesia. We do try to provide some useful esources for travelers and for people intending to relocate.
It's a place to learn a little something about the kind of individual who would choose to live overseas.
What kind of demented loon(are there sane loons?) would choose to teach for a living?
Perhaps you've come here to learn. Perhaps you're curious. Perhaps you can't sleep.
Welcome.
Come dip your toes into the refreshing silliness that is our little corner of Cyberia.
Clean water is a basic human right. Everyone knows that and only an absolute moron would disagree. Our knowledge doesn’t explain why water sources continue to dry up and water prices continue to climb. This site lists a lot of companies that sell water.
Add Nestlé, Coca Cola and Perrier to this roll call of H2O producers and suppliers. In fact they don’t really produce anything … you do.
Your tax dollars at the municipal level are used to store, distribute and maintain a supply of clean water. In some areas money is used to recycle and purify water. This water is for drinking, agriculture, replenishing ground-water resources, and for creating a freshwater barrier. This barrier prevents seawater from contaminating fresh water.
What some of the bottled water companies do is take water directly from these reserves and they don’t pay for it. Then they charge customers a premium price for bottled water.
On the other hand, Coca Cola says, “… water comes with the assurance of safety from The Coca-Cola Company. That is why we introduced … with reverse –osmosis along with the latest technology to ensure purity of our product. Because we believe that right to pure, safe drinking water is fundamental.” Yay Coca Cola.
Included here are some links to further develop an understanding of the realities and possibilities of water conservation and purification.
For many years she has had an interest in art. She has been involved in Arts on the Bay since its start in 1991 and is a founding member.
For 17 years she was a school board trustee for the Parry Sound School board as well as held art shows in the local school in the summer months.
Joan has been happily married for 57 years and raised a family of six!
It was not until her retirement that her own art became center stage. She paints a wide range of subjects including wildlife, sailboats and lighthouses.
There’s always something new on the horizon for this artist.
(text above taken directly from http://www.paintingsbyjoanemery.com/)
Little Min Li believes she lives in the world’s greatest nation until the Red Guards terrorize her village. And when her father sells her crystal monkey to buy alcohol, Min Li loses much more than a beloved toy. As she grows up, Min Li must rediscover her hope and courage in order to achieve her greatest dreams. This true-life story will capture your heart!
At Kirkos 4th Floor Ciputra World
Surabaya
Jun 27, 2014
19:00
28 Attendees
We just made it before the month long ban on alcohol sales. We had a good group – about 25 people – and it was a fun evening. We had a large number of new faces, from New York,Belfast,Finland, and of course from Surabaya. Thank you to everyone who came out. Special Thanks to Chris whose negotiating wizardry allowed the evening to come together.
Date
Start date: Jun 27, 2014 19:00
End date: Jun 27, 2014 23:59
Where:
Kirkos! Wine Bar
Bar & Grill Mayjen Sungkono 73, Ciputra World, 4th Floor
Surabaya, Indonesia
+62 31 51200051
“In Indonesia, the common term for practitioners of traditional healing, magic and sorcery is dukun. … In the past dukun used both white and black magic. …”
It’s all too easy to roll your eyes when people talk about Black magic, curses, masuk angin, and the power to hold off the rain, but maybe there’s something to this stuff.
Stories abound of the magic that chills, kills, heals, and apparently repeals(the laws of nature) here in Indonesia.
Every so often a newspaper story tells of the demise of some poor soul who ran afoul of a dukun.
Lately, we’ve been experiencing a long stretch of hot weather where we should be getting rain. Areas around us have been drenched to the point of flooding, but poor old Surabaya, Porong and Sidoarjo are being baked.
The reason …Black Magic, Baby!
“Pshaw,” you say. Which you have to admit is a silly thing to say. “There’s no such thing as magic.”
The local residents in Porong have employed the dark side of the force …er …dukons to hold off the rain. Porong residents fear the rain, and resultant flooding will exacerbate the problems already caused by boiling mud.
A few months ago the earth started spewing up mud. Steaming liquid has destroyed homes, flooded and ruined farmland, decimated an industrial area and washed out roads. If you knew Harry Potter’s cell number, you’d call him too.
Logic be damned.
What about the healing?
First off, a healer may use magic, but he/she is not a Dukun.
I’ve been going to a local healer for a couple of weeks.
Pak Harto is said to be able to channel energy and heals all sorts of things. A friend with heart problems swears by him. I actually just swore. Man, this healing hurts.
What the heck is wrong with me? Well, I’ve got a herniated disk, between the fourth and fifth vertabrae. Sometimes it hurts, and sometimes it’s bad. Pak Harto is the man with the magic hands.
Pak Harto works out of a Chinese temple here in Surabaya. So you’re watched over by all sorts of nasty-looking beasties.
I went down to Jalan Cokroaminoto and put my feet into his hands, Yuck. “Owww,F…..! F…..!.” Then the pain was gone.
I was sweating like a pig but the tightness in my lower back and the dull ache in my shoulder were gone.
I went back a second time. Took a handkerchief. A muffled series of obscenities followed, and then – relief.
Do it. Scream and get better.
Started an account with Fanbox. Initially I was enthusiastic. I was warned and cautioned.
I pressed on. I was wrong.
Please do not waste your time and money on this.
I was hoping to make a bit of money, save a bit as well as offset expenses. Fanbox proved to be a drain on our bank account. To make matters worse there were the constant reassurances of a mentor/teacher who insisted that all I had to do was follow the plan that they had laid out. I followed … right down the garden path.
Thankfully our losses were relatively minor. I hope I can save others the pain, annoyance and embarrassment. Steer clear of Fanbox and anything to do with SMS.AC.Inc.
A group of nearly 20 brave souls to to the GoKart track for a furious (if not too fast) few laps. Then we enjoyed a delicious meal at Hanashobu Japanese restaurant. Following a hearty meal we returned to the track and the racing continued. Thanks to everyone who joined us.
Saturday, April 26th from 5 to 10pm
for a few laps around the Go-kart track. There is also a
Sedgway track for the young ones or those opposed to fiery
crashes. Afterwards, we moved to HANASHOBU
RAMEN for Japanese food and a drink or two.
Where: Grand City Surabaya
Jl. Gubeng Pojok
Where Gubeng Pojok and Kusuma Bangsa cross
31000 Surabaya
A group of locals and Ex-pats joined us on Saturday, April 12th from 7 to 10pm for a
night out at Kirkos in Ciputra World for our April Event.
We celebrated spring with delicious drinks and snacks.
Where: Kirkos! Wine Bar
Bar & Grill Mayjen Sungkono 73, Floor 4
Surabaya, Indonesia
+62 31 51200051
Birthday Party in Trawas. A weekend in the mountains to celebrate the birthday of Emily’s sister Suzy. Trawas is a small community that also contains a number of vacation villas. It is two hours from Surabaya, and perched comfortably in the mountains.
Trawas is high enough to comfortably cool and quiet, which makes it a welcome change from the heat and noise of Surabaya.
Surabaya is Indonesia’s (southeast Asia) second largest city, and the capital of East Java.
It is an ancient city with a modern Asian flavour. A mix of cultures, foods, fashion and music to delight the senses and draw you back. Close enough to Bali for weekend trips, Surabaya also has volcanoes and jungles within a few hours drive. Tefl International’s Indonesia course is in the heart of the city and close to eating, and relaxation centers.
The school building is located in the heart of Surabaya, offering easy access to exploring and enjoying the entertainment and tourist sites. The building is spacious and comfortable, with large classrooms, white boards and complete resource materials. The school phone, fax and internet facilities are available for trainee use with prior approval from the School Manager.
Wayne