Gardens at Puri Casablanca Apartment Complex

We live in a very nice complex.  It has four towers with a total of around 1000 appartments.  While it is older then many in the city, it is in a good area and well maintained.    It has some of the nicest gardens you will find.  It has been very dry lately, so the grass is not as green as usual.  Gail really enjoys her walks thru the complex!  She thinks this is how her backyard should look. There is a nice walkway that does around the three tennis courts and the three children's playgrounds.

A putting green.  There is also an area for driving practice.

This is what I enjoy--the pool.  After my morning workout in the exercise room, it's very relaxing to go for a swim, cool off, and then lay beside the pool as the sun comes up.  It helps prepare me for the hard day at the office and all the tasks the Office Manager (ie Gail) will give me with a deadline of ASAP--ie NOW!  I am sure glad I wasn't that type of boss.....

The steps lead up to a water slide.  The children's pool is on the other side.  The building in the background is where we live.  With the weather usually sunny and in the 90s everyday, it's a hard life, but...I do enjoy sitting under the waterfall.  We are enjoying our time in Indonesia!

Batak Wedding Reception

We recently attended a Batak (one of the many cultures in Indonesia) wedding reception.  As you can tell from the pictures, it was a big affair.  The estimate was around 1000 guests at a cost of $75,000+ for the wedding and reception.  These are very affluent families.  As you will see in the pictures, the ladies wear very colorful, fancy dresses and accessories.

At least 20 of these signs were around the outside of the building.  You will see these at weddings, special events, the opening of a new store, etc.

The greeter at the entrance to the reception.

The bride and groom and the family gathering at the front of the reception hall.

One of the traditions is the families of the bride and groom do a dance.

A view of a portion of the reception hall.

The former mission president was "adopted" as a part of the bride's family, so we were invited and treated as special guests!  As a result, we were seated in a special room limited to about 15 people with two waiters and enough food for 50 people.  We also got a visit from the new couple, pictures, and polite hello and handshake.

Pictures of the Ladies!

This is a Water Bufflo.  It is tranditional for a water bufflo to be prepared and served at a Batak wedding reception.  Your rank in the family determines which part you will be served.

Bali-yeah!!

All the senior couples met in Bali for a conference May 7-9 with an extended day on the 10th. We enjoyed getting together to discuss things that could make our missions more productive, and ways to help and support the young missionaries who are dedicating 18-24 months to help build the church in Indonesia.

We stayed at the Suly Resort, an older, rustic, currently being renovated resort hotel with lots of early Balinese character.

Our room was through the pathway, then turn to the left of the statue.

This was our bedroom, the ceiling was magnificent. All the woodwork was probably really neat in its day.

We visited the monkey forrest in Ubud. Monkeys and swinging vines everywhere! The guy with a basket in his hand is making an offering. He laid his offering on the walk area, and immediately some monkeys came to check it out (to see if it was anything they could eat). He lit a thing that let off a bunch of smoke as well.       
This is a Hindu custom.






We drove through several villages. The people on Bali are mainly Hindu, and they have 3 major temples in each village. There they make daily (or more freqent) offerings. There is usually a mini-temple at each house (about the size of a large mailbox) where the homeowner offers flowers, food, etc. several times a day.                                                                Temple on Lake Bratan

Then we drove to the UNESCO rice terraces.

After sight seeing in central Bali, we went to Nusa Dua (southern Bali) and spent the night in a luxury hotel--the Aston--right on the beach, beautifully landscaped, every amenity, even a breakfast feast. Wonderful.







                               Lobby/Patio at the Aston
                          

Beach at the Aston

Our last evening meal was at the beach at a little restaurant where you picked out the seafood you wanted the cooks to prepare.