Cumi!

Means 'squid' in Indonesian... Interestingly, it's also used when one wants to swear.... Oh Sh*t! would then become Oh Cumi! Or perhaps, F**k you! would then become Cumi you!

Ah, the things we learn in a foreign country...

Extra protein? Thanks but no thanks!

Eating at Jakarta is a challenge.

Where we live, it's either the hotel restaurant, the western food restaurant next door, or a very dodgy looking Indonesian food restaurant across the street. So, you can imagine what a mind boggling task it is every night to think of what to eat for dinner.

But that's not the reason for this post.

At the location where we work, we have 2 main coices of location for lunch. It's either the place at the driving range where they serve chicken and rice OR Japos, which serves mainly Mee Bakso. After 2 weeks, my appetite during lunch is waning. It doesn't help that there are no shops around to grab a bun or something else.

So anyway, last Friday, we decided to go for a quick lunch at the chicken place. This time, I decided to order something other than my usual of Ayam Cabe Ijo (Chicken with green chilli sauce..... trust me it's anything BUT spicy). I ordered, Ayam Bakar (Roasted chicken with some kind of spice sauce). Since I didn't have breakfast that morning, I was really keen on tucking in to my meal.

I took a spoonfull of rice, and began the process of pulling the meat off the chicken... then i noticed something in the sauce... about half the size of my thumb. My heart skipped a beat.

I flipped the unknown object over..... and involuntarily released a loud gasp. It was a cockroach!!!

Full roach with wings and all !!! .... *grossed out*

We called the waiter and she took my plate away pronto. They assured me they will give me a new plate.. but at that point I lost my appetite. I just paid for my drink and left. My two colleagues however, stayed on to finish their meal.

I had to rush up something and attend a meeting later that day.... and didn't reach the hotel till 8pm local time. By then I think my gastric juices already ate quite a fair bit of my stomach lining hahahah....

I'm SO thrown off food here now..... :(

Ganbate!

Touched down at Soekarno-Hatta airport at 5 pm local time. Automatically my countdown begins. 20 more days.

Yup, I'll be in Jakarta (not Jogjakarta... but more on that later) for work reasons for 20 days. Do not intend to do a lot of sightseeing, but I would probably be able to tell you the hues of the carpet, wall paper and the furnishing of the Hotel and the Client's office.

Anyhow, this post is NOT dedicated to the ramblings I have about being away from my Hubby and family. It's about the group of men and women I saw as I walked into the Soekarno terminal.

Right in front of me, like a never-ending train of green....soldiers. At closer look, it's no doubt that they're from Japan. Quick, Run for cover! We're being attacked! No wait, hang on... Japan last invaded this side of the world nearly 60 years ago.

Hehehe... actually, they are the medical relief and rescue team that were en-route to quake strikken Jogjakarta. Dressed in their uniform, with the red cross armband...they looked determined. Suddenly I felt that my lamenting about working in Jakarta for 20 days, pale in comparison with the purpose they have here.

These men and women, volunteered to leave their country, their family and friends, to help the quake victims in Jogjakarta. They bring hope to people whose hopes were probably shattered together with the buildings they once called home.

And so to these noble men and women..... Ganbate! All the best and keep up the good work.