funny st. signs in Yogya

Yog-yess!

Nyepi is the only time when I don't want to be in Bali. Don't like the idea of staying in all day. Well, it's not the staying in that I resent, it's the no electricity no noise rule. Electricity company would still be operating, but people are required to stay in house in pitch dark. What if you stubbornly turn on some lights? The pecalangs (virtue cops) who are doing rounds checking on houses will bang on your door or toss pebbles at your window and scold you to turn off the lights. This happened, what on earth are they doing ride in cars and making such noises? Some nyepi that is.

Nyepi is easily translated as an activity of being in a quiet state.

So I (sorta) ran away. Spent a couple of nights (March 29-31) in Yogya with a friend from the office. Checking out how Yogya was doing since the last time I was there (can't be less than 10 years ago).

Did some shopping (mostly snacks), and got this funny street signs as a souvenir. We parted ways on the last day, she went back to Bali, I went straight to Jakarta. Had to go to see my sister before she goes off to US to be reunited with her hubby.

Gosh, don't you just hate goodbyes? Selfishly I would rather have her near, but then she has her own life now and she ought to be with her hubby and start a new family.

I'll see you when I see you, sis!

becak ride - our kind becak driver.

yes or no or yes or no or....

If I think I’m indecisive, this week I painfully have to endure 2 indecisive people. chronically need cure.

My boss’ was traveling and 1 agenda was doctor shopping in Sing. Before they left the appointments were settled for 2 days, 3 docs daily. The past 2 days I spent canceling and rebooking these appointments, and re-canceling and rebooking or finding different docs. The whole drama included change of flights back to Bali.

Original booking on 12. Moved to 13. Then moved back to 12. Decided to stay 1 extra night, just to find 13 was full, so moved to 14. Decided 14 was too long, moved back to 12. They’ve no idea how many hours spent for this silly indecisive annoying attitude. Indonesian would call it plin plan at worse.

Then I’ve to deal with a friend who couldn’t decide what’s best for her. One day she decided she has to move to another place because the place has gotten very uncomfortable. Then she dragged me around looking for new place. Just when she found a perfect place her decision was a yo-yo. Yes one day, no the next day.

Completely understood that you need to consider a lot of things when moving. She went through every single objection with me. Some are logical, some are just too silly. I was about to had it (yawn) I told her the easiest way was to make the pro and cons list. As we know it’s too obvious that by moving to this new place she got more amenities than staying. I ripped the paper from my notebook and handed it to her and advised her that it was her manual to consider when she starts to hesitate.

So.... just pack up your bags and move!!

changes, more changes

The beginning of 2006 signed with what a company see as a slight change, but for me was a huge change. Additional staff working together closely. I used to be very independent, managing most (if not everything) of my boss’ affairs. With the new staff ideally work should get easier of course, as this amount of burden was halved, but honestly I had to deal with personal struggle. Interesting, it happened just when I thought things can’t be any worse. To make story short with God’s grace I managed to make peace with the whole thing and accepted thing as it is.

Now, only after 3 months another big change. The staff decided to quit. I’ve heard her cry for help since the beginning, but I wasn’t sure what I could do as she didn’t reach out to me. She appeared strong, but a month ago she already blurted out that she was quitting. It happened on a crazy morning with crazy things scattered around (literally, as we were moving to a higher floor) and boss was screaming to everybody about everything.

Things cooled down, she even showed positive sign of tightening the teamwork. I thought we were doing OK together, until last night she informed that she already resigned. I was shocked. I know she’s been looking for a job, but this fast? Well, if she already found a new job, good for her, but she walks out with or without a new job. Quite brave. And risky.

Well, I don’t know what I can do to motivate her to change her mind. I just wish things will work out for her, searching for new job. While us the ones she left, I sure need to tighten up work, take up the pieces she will leave, pick up old responsibilities and back to that endless work that seems endless.

God help us…

Well, boss is currently safari-ing, and next week I got some free days (nyepi). I need to go away and think things through. One thing that has always been true working here… it doesn’t get any easier!

PH: hi a, is t there?
A: no, she’s in baung
ph: ok, please ask her to call me when she’s back
a: sure

--- a couple of minutes later ---

T: hi P, this is h
ph: hi! (well, that’s fast) you’re back from baung?
t: I’m in hotel nikko
ph: what? what are you doing in jakarta?
t: when are you coming to jakarta?
ph: well, i’m not coming to jakarta
t: can you write down my cellphone and call me back?
ph: why, what are you doing in jakarta?
t: just write down my number and call back
ph: ok then..
t: it’s zero eight one five . . . . . .

ph: hey t
t: so, when are you coming to jakarta?
ph: i told you i’m not coming to Jakarta. what are you doing there?
t: don’t you remember me? nikko hotel??
ph: what?
t: you remember nikko hotel right?
ph: yes, was there a month ago
t: yes. well, if you can’t come to Jakarta, you buy me airline ticket then i come to bali
ph: what? what airline ticket
t: yes, you can’t come, i can come there
ph: waaahhh i’m not going to pay you airline ticket

the negotiation went on for a bit but with no conclusion.
--- 5 mins later ---

sms from t: hi p, please call me again
ph: yes t?
t: hello! so, when can i come to bali?
ph: well, you can come whenever you want
t: you buy me airline ticket right?
ph: no, why do i have to buy you airline ticket? and what are you doing in Jakarta?
t: why ask me again? you remember me right? nikko hotel??

it dawned to ph only a couple of days later that he was talking to a DIFFERENT t. the one he was looking for was an attractive chinese lady working on the same office, while the other l that was bugging him was a female taxi driver who drove him from nikko hotel where he stayed to the airport, and they had friendly chat and he gave his name card. hmmm..

ps. i wonder how friendly hehehee…
pps. i bet he was heartbroken when he realized the silly mix up.

[as told by ph himself]

who needs more control??

As if working overtime up to 7PM isn't enough I have to start looking for a place where I could get a fixed line so I could get internet connection at home.

WHAT??

I presented my monthly expense and my decision of not spending more than 3.6 mio p.a on housing. Now they want to move (as the alternative is much more expensive), why not they pay for the rest of the rent?

I've been looking for a house for over a year. On and off of course. Been looking at houses again recently, but when the instruction fell I just lost interest.

Why would one want to work more at night??
Don't I deserve a quiet good night rest??
How insensitive.

Well, I could hit the road and house shop, but that doesn't make me HAVE TO move in and pay extra. I mean, after living where I live now for over 15 months I've no complaint whatsoever.
. the place is simple and quiet
. landlord is understanding and mind their own biz
. neighbors are quiet
. 15 mins ride to office
. approx. 40 mins ride to either Ubud and Kuta
. cheap (money talks!!)

Now, how do I present that more diplomatically?!

doll face chiropractor

We regulary have visitors come to join us for lunch. one of our visitors for the day was a chiropractor. I didn't know the arrangement, but people who did it wasn't very eager of arranging it so I slipped in and took over. Enrollment was closed yesterday with not so many people that I worried he won't fullfil his 2 hour practice.

But as we did lunch and the guests got introduced more people signed up. More women, obviously. Hehehe... He did a quick check on them and good thing I even had a slot. Mind you, I need a tip on how to work on my right back. Nothing special, just the usual back pain office person has.One thing he said that really surprised me (and honestly, made me depressed), my right hip is slightly higher.

HOW SO??
I don't remember having an accident that might cause it.
WHICH PART??
I think I need a second opinion.
Could it be a "trick" to make people come to see him?

Now I'm really confused whether I should be glad to have my back checked or regret it. If I had skipped it I didn't have to hear the diagnose. But he did quite a pretty good job cracking some joints (the sound itself was quite terrifying). I had no idea which part, but I wonder if it will be like those massages that could create dependence and makes you carve for it? Chiropractors aren't exactly cheap. Worse, my insurance doesn't cover it!

My statement of 'pretty good job' is questionable as it was my first so I don't have previous experience to compare it. My friend who had series visit was rather doubtful to be checked by someone who's twelve (yes, doll face), but she didn't mind to try just by his looks. Hehee...

jewelry making

week of madness

A lot of preparation, so much time and energy spent (and money too of course) for the visit, I could say it went successful. The guests had the most of Bali (culture, traditional life, food, ambience, etc), so did I, I've to admit.

No funny surprises, other than a staff lost her camera. Well, from her side she had to admit it was expected. She's not very popular for being the most organized person (staff). Funny thing she lost it right after she mad nasty pic of me. It was nasty, but hilarious also. Nasty because I was the 'victim'. People was suspicious I took it, but there was no proof/witness. & no, no matter how embarassing the pic was it wasn't worth a steal. The word karma might apply here. hehehee....

In our trip to east bali we left at 6 am (we didn't have to trouble ourselves knocking at their doors!). slow ride with 8 cars in a convoy. At a point most people moved to a big (cow) truck. I decided to stay in the car as I started to feel sick. Nothing happened, we reached to our destination, a silver workshop. Going back it didn't get any better, and ironically just 15 mins before we got back to the hotel I threw up. That was pretty gross.

The most interesting dinner (of all 4 dinners I only attended 2) was in Ubud. My boss was in a mission: make me drunk. I knew that naughty idea, so I just took it easy. We were positive he was the one that was drunk. Almost went all crazy, but managed to make an exit before he did/said anything embarassing.

All in all it was totally exhausting. Every morning we had to wake up around 5.30 and leave early morning for the day's schedule (trekking, rice planting, long ride to east bali, yoga). The schedule was so tight until late for dinners. Good thing for the guests they could focus on the programs, while for us we still had to tend our work (mostly got pend though).

Amazing I didn't get sick (other than that yuckee car-sick incident). Not even a flu. God's grace...

bebek betutu - urap - babi guling

Roomies

We had the most hilarious meeting session today. Oh yes, this is on relation to a program of having Sales Team from abroad coming to Bali for a week. We had tight schedule for all activities (yes, including the famous trekking). For this there are 4 local staff chosen to assist and lead them. Sort of like group leaders. Lucky being Group Leaders, we were reserved at the same hotel. I don’t really feel lucky, as it’s for logistic purposes and it’s work!

Small part of the meeting today I had today was deciding who sleeps with who. 1 gal went begging not to be the room mate this one gal, we were confused as what’s her base? Is this gal that bad? Noisy? Snores? Not a clue, but she just begged for it.

It went on until I decided that we had to do it by chance. So I prepared 5 pieces of papers and in 1 of them I wrote this gal’s name. The rest just tagged along and picked the paper I had folded so they all looked the same. When the begging gal found out she got a blank paper she just screaming happy. It really puzzled the rest of us, but sure it was contagious. We who didn’t have personal experience with this poor gal also had some resistance to be around her. Not fair.

Well, I just found it amusing, especially when you were there, watching the commotion, learning a bit more about your friend.