Bali Baby!

Greetings and Happy Holidays!
My first week on holiday went really well, and I am having a great time in Bali. I am here with my roommate's family - her dad lives in Jakarta, and from there it was just a short flight to the beautiful island of Bali.
The people are very friendly and say "allo allo" quite frequently. My first encounter with a group of small children left me mildly alarmed when they wanted to pet my skin and were a little aggressive in poking me. Other than that and the name "white ghosts" that they like to call us, we are getting on well. Mostly, the Balinese people are extremely grateful that we are visiting and helping the tourist industry. They frequently express frustration with the recent terrorist threats.
One restaraunt owner told us of how he opened his restaurant, a charming outdoor cafe in the town of Ubud (where we visited a Monkey temple and had them eat from our hands). He has had almost no business since opening only two days after the bombings in October. He is hoping, praying, and making offerings to his Gods that people will come again to Bali.
I hope so too. Bali is beautiful - A tropical paradise (as my roommate describes it)with palm trees, rice paddies, and white beaches with crystal-clear water. Erin and I like to rent mountain bikes and ride around to the local villages. On our bikes we stop often to chat with people, and we spend time asking them the best places to see in the area. This has taken us to a lovely and private white sand beach, and we have also been exposed to local crafts, traditions, and ceremonies.

I spent the Christmas Holiday diving in Tulamben, at the site of the U.S. Liberty Shipwreck. The site also gives a view of the largest mountain in Bali, which is around 3000 meters and actually is a volcano - it last erupted in the 1960s.
I was unable to windsurf or sail due to my dislocated shoulder in Rugby (long story, but a good one). So, I settled for seeing Nemo and all his little friends.
Now that I have learned how to dive and am finally comfortable breathing from a tank under water, I'm looking forward to diving in Thailand in a few weeks.

So, I am off to dinner for a little Balinese food. MMMmmm. Chicken curry.
I hope you all are having happy holidays wherever you are, or whatever your faith.

Thought I was under attack.....

As my office mate Jenn says, they really shouldn't be allowed to have fireworks in the Middle East. This past week was the West Asian Games - I was able to see Kuwait, Iran, and Qatar compete in the 10M synchronized diving. Very thrilling stuff.

Anyhow, last night was the closing ceremony. I was sitting in my apartment when I heard a series of loud explosions and felt some small vibrations. My roommate Erin ran up to the roof to see what was going on, and then she explained to me that last year after a bombing they could see smoke in the sky.

We were both relieved to see fireworks above us rather than smoke and ash. Whew.

Occasionally, I forget I'm in the Middle East when something like that happens to remind me.

Other than that excitement, the West Asian Games passed here without too much trouble.

American Thanksgiving!!!!

Wow - I'm really bad about posting on my blog. Sorry friends and family.......I am still ALIVE.

The Thanksgiving Holiday passed well here. I missed my family and friends from the states, but the great friends I've made here made me feel like I was at home anyhow.

For Thanksgiving the TAs from Cornell had a dinner and invited our friends. We had guests from the American Military, Australia, France, Argentina, Lebanon, Mexico, Scottland, England, Ireland, and maybe some more.
We made our guests wear Indian and Pilgrim hats, gave them all Indian (Native American, or if you prefer - indigenous peoples south of Canada and north of Mexico) or Pilgrim names, and told what we were thankful for.

MMMMM.....Pumpkin Pie!

This photo is of Kevin and me. Kevin's name was "good pilgrim #1" and I was ''Princess tackles a lot." Kevin is stationed in Iraq, and in a great twist of fate he was able to visit me in Doha for Thanksgiving.

Diane ("Princess smiles a lot"), Lu ("Little Naked Bear"), and Jon ("Chief skinny nerd") They are from Scottland, Australia, and England

This is a photo of me, JC, and Pete. They are both from Australia, and Pete's Indian name was "Chief sleeps with sheep." Ha ha

A Party Shot

After lots of food we had a dance Party in our living room - Celebrate Good Times