Lily's choir at their Christmas concert

Last Saturday, Lily's choir Les Petites Voix du Plateau, joined forces with the adult choir Le Choeur du Plateau for their 5-year anniversary concert and presented an evening of Christmas songs and two classical pieces (Bach's Magnificat and Haydn's Te Deum).

The concert took place in the exquisite Christ Church Cathedral downtown.

Here are two video excerpts taken by one of the moms.

A delicious day exploring Zagreb

Today I finally struck out to explore this new place that I am in. I have had an exquisite Sunday exploring Zagreb. It poured rain all morning so I had the streets largely to myself then magically the sun broke through the clouds and smiled on the day.

These trams crisscross the city. Much the best way to get around. Hardly any cars downtown, what a difference!

St. marks church. A beautiful building inside and out. I peaked inside and happened upon a mass. The church was full and there was exquisite organ and choir singing, a peaceful spirit in the air.

Across town from the tower.

The market with the new sun.

Yogyakarta: First expeditions

Peter and i set out on our first afternoon in search of some water. We were both on this motorbike which in itself was quite an adventure. There are a great many motorcycles here - the streets are packed with them, they flow like water around cars and obstacles of any sort. The waterfall was not anything special but had the great advantage of being wet, very welcome in this hot and humid weather.

À snack on the way home. Chicken head anyone?

Iris, eldest daughter of Devi and josh.

This food stand is right next to the road but there is a tarp in front of it which makes it remarkably peaceful inside.

We went for a ride on a pujah (or something like that). It feels very strange to sit while someone else labours on our behalf but fun to see the town and the rice fields that way. It was a beautiful evening with chanting coming to us from the evening prayers across the fields. Unfortunately it is also the hour when people burn their garbage, a practice that Josh is working to stop but seems well entrenched in the habits of town folk.

Arriving at bamboo bottle

A very early flight from Jakarta (we had to leave our hotel at 3am) and we arrived rather droopy in Yogyakarta or jojiakarta as the javanease like to call it. We were very glad to be met by our super friendly host Josh who drove us in to his village and then to this street vendor where we had a breakfast of rice, Tempe, veggies, coconut curry, eggplant all wrapped up in a banana leaf.

Our lovely hostess Philianna or Devi to friends.

Peter in the kitchen.

Goodbye bamboo bottle

A crazy and wonderful two days we have spent with these marvellous people at the bamboo bottle home stay. I don't where to start... so many things to share... I will trickle pictures along when I can. Right now Casey, Peter and I are at the airport at Jojiakarta at the start of our long journey to Zagreb.

This is our travelling trio along with our marvellous hostess Philianna.

Jogjakarta Day #2

3 travelers stopping for a snack.

Yet another way to get around. I felt rather decadent being peddled around the village by this friendly fellow but it is a great way to move about - so tranquil, especially after all the motor biking that we did. And it was great fun as everyone we met greeted us with smiles and waves and some friendly words for the driver.

Another world!

Here we are in Yogyakarta (pronounced jojakarta). We are living in little bamboo huts in a village just outside Yogyakarta. There is nothing here that is like home from the toilets to the street food to the ever friendly people.

Breakfast!

Our hostess.

Peter and i rode this bike to a waterfall nearby. Thanks to Pete we made it back safely after winding trough narrow crowded streets that are a combination of concrete and dirt. This is a great way to see the countryside.

Delicacies complete with chicken heads.

Last show in Jakarta

Another good show last night in this amazing space in Jakarta. This is a privately funded complex that houses a theatre, an art gallery that can also serve as a theatre, a music studio, office space, a restaurant and artist shop. It is a totally amazing space and apparently unique in Indonesia for its contemporary art.

Jakarta skyline at dusk from the roof of the theater.

Green roofs anyone?

Halloween sur la rue Fabre

Sans la maman qui est à l'autre bout du monde, les filles se sont quand même bien débrouillées pour être fin prêtes pour l'Halloween: costumes et accessoires finalisés — merci à Patricia pour l'arc d'elfe !! —maquillage, toiles d'araignée protectrices autour du jardin avant et deux citrouilles contentes de faire partie du décor.

Lily a fait le trottoir avec Anaëlle et Noémie (la mère d'Anaëlle).  Alice a parcouru le voisinage avec ses trois inséparables amies (Pascale, Mélina et Sandrine) pour ensuite aller terminer la soirée par un dodo en gang chez Pascale.  Flor a été merveilleuse d'enthousiasme à la porte de notre maison pour distribuer les bonbons et a créé un chaleureux halo d'hospitalité dans notre salon pour Noémie, Anaëlle et Lily lorsqu'elles sont revenues avec leur récolte de la soirée.

Show #3 Jakarta

First show in Jakarta last night. It went super well. I was nervous about doing Prismes here with nudity and all but it seems to have been just fine. The director tells me that this is the only theatre here where such performances are possible. The crowd we had last night were very appreciative if somewhat challenged.

The theatre café complete with jungle...

Coconut stand across the street...

Dancers by the poolside

Lush world

In this city with next to no park space there are these private oases like the hotel where we are staying. And in these places it becomes apparent that we are in fact in the jungle. How things do grow! The hotel garden is very carefully tended by quiet gardeners who work away tranquily much of the time.

Jakarta day 2

Another version of the side walk... this time there is a little space so it has become a plant shop. There are also these storm drains everywhere competing for sidewalk space.

Another lovely moment around a table with good food and good company.

Another meal

Indonesia: no walking

Here I am in another world... in so many ways! One can not walk here. It is dangerous and there are no sidewalks. We have to take a taxi to go have a meal! This is going to take some getting used to!! Good thing there is a pool at the hotel.

You can rent a bicycle and a hat to ride around the square. I have only seen one bicycle on the roads. This is the only such open space in town or so I am told.

Sidewalk - at least there is some space here!