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Lori goes to SE Asia
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Lori goes to SE Asia

A 29-day adventure by Lori Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 18, 2024
    Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Detroit Leg

    September 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    It’s going to be a 15 hour flight so us girls must lubricate ourselves before we board. Everyday is a thrill and a blessing. Thanks for joining in on the fun!
    Meeting Martin in Seoul; then off to Manilla. And the fun journey begins.
    And thank you to Mel who woke up at 3 am to get us safely to the airport. She’s the best!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Makati

    September 19, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Officially our first day in Manilla. Let the fun begin. We got all of our luggage to the hotel late last night. Note that Jean and I have a little more than Martin. lol.
    garlic chicken with garlic rice for breakfast. Life is good and the vampires will definitely stay away!Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Unexpected surprise.

    September 20, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I know people don’t believe I will ever really date or fall in love with someone, but.. something happened tonight while on vacation. Martin knows someone; Chris. He highly regards Chris and vouched and set me up. I was hesitant. But Jean insisted, and it’s hard to say “no” to Jean. So I went. So welcoming, so polite, so thoughtful. Chris led me to a private place behind a blue curtain so we could talk. It was uncomfortable and a little awkward at first. But Chris put me at ease. I know you will never believe this, but my clothes were all but off on the first date. Chris’ hands were magic. We stayed together, never separating, and with Chris rubbing me until I wanted to sleep there. And so I did. I stayed 90 minutes in rapture. I knew I needed Chris in my life and planned to be back with Chris tomorrow.

    And then Christina said, “That will be be $20 for the massage please.!”

    I am in love with the place and will be back again tomorrow. Thank you for sharing your masseuse, Martin! Best massage of my life.
    It’s good to be me tonight!
    Gotcha!!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Now this is my store!

    September 20, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    It’s a Joy shopping store.

    And it’s a race with Puerto Rico for the longest Christmas. Christmas music is playing and the countdown has begun.

    Joy is everywhere!

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    11

    Wonderful Day! Part 2

    September 21, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Fun is on the air.
    Few remaining farmers market pictures. Note the chickens, the intestines on a stick and the strawberry-apples. Wow. But the grapes!!!!!!
    Next we decided to head to dinner. The taxi was call Joy ride. My face is me contemplating how my favorite word is used here. Why aren’t we always joyful! And why doesn’t every town have joy markets and joy rides?! Nope we have gas stations, box stores and taxis- where you go to a stand to sit for a ride.
    Hmmmm. Just saying. Even the fast food here is Jolly!
    Ok- so…. We go to a great restaurant where they even make waiting for your food fun. You order your food and they immediately put you to work grinding the spices to put on your dish. Which you can add a sauce too. By the time you’re done playing with your food (joy) it arrives and you dress it up to taste. Delicious!

    Last picture is one of the famous jeepney still in use.    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Sunday in Makati is funday

    September 22, 2024 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    How beautifully joyful is it to witness an engagement; and she said YES! So cute, he started playing cards with her and friends and lunch and had placed the two important cards so they would be dealt for her. She saw the question, then turned around and he was on hiatus knees behind her with flowers and a ring.
    Perfect moment.

    Headed go Jakarta tomorrow. Come along.    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Jakarta day 1- part 2.

    September 24, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Here she comes! Party in the mall. Then we are off to the Shangra-La to show the youngsters how to stay up late!!

    The noodles are the food after dancing at 3:30am in the morning! We closed the town down. lol.

    This may come in multiple parts.    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Day 1 Jakarta.

    September 24, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We arrived. Lovely airport. Lovely hotel with this romantic statue. Then off for lunch for dumplings. Yummy! And all the motor bikes. Holy moly.
    Traffic looks wild, so we walked to the mall. Guess who started a Karaoke party in the electronic store? Watch for day 1 part 2. And tonight we must dance!Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Last day in Jakarta

    September 25, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Well, two and a half hours of sleep and we are back at it. Little make up and I look half awake. Lol

    Best part of the day today…. We all drive for what felt like forever to surprise Jeans youngest brother. We pulled up to their somewhat remote business and I rolled my window down and asked for “Bob”. A beautiful soul with the happiest and kindest eyes (just like Jean’s) came out to assist me in his market. I told him I had traveled a long way from the US and my American friend had told me all about him and I just had to find him to meet him. He seemed a little confused but was so welcoming, almost like family. And then Jean rolled her window down and pure joy exuded between them. Hugs and kisses and surprises. Bob’s wife Rena emerged with as much love and beauty and we went in for visits, tea and laughter on a rainy day. Family is everything. And feeling that joy of togetherness and surprise is unequalled. Thank you Jean, Bob and Rena for allowing us into your loving moment. It was a perfect moment, indeed!Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    1131

    Suka Bumi

    September 26, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Well, I’m behind in posting as it’s been a frenzy of fun!
    Went out of Jakarta with a gorgeous sunrise to Suka Bumi to do the longest suspension bridge in Asia, the new Sultan chair along a river experience, flying fox zip line and Suka Bumi falls. So fun! Only the second time in my life I have seen a photo of some place in the world and said “I must find out where this is and go!” It was a you tube video and I sent it to my friend, Jean and here we are! On the other side of the world riding it together. Amazing.

    Now, for the injury of the adventure. And no, it did not happen on any of the outdoor activities that one signs waivers for. Yes, it was me. It had to be my right ankle, of course. After all the fun, it was time to use the ladies room. Small fee to get in and then I had that “hmmmmm” moment as the toilet was a porcelain squatting hole with a large bucket of water to flush with. When in Rome… This said, once I was in the proper position, I must have been a little too top heavy as my sandals slipped on the water and I was faced with a choice…
    Fall forward into the, maybe not so clean bucket of water, or backwards onto the tile. I chose the later. And ended up in a dead cockroach pose (re-enacted outside for all to enjoy). So loud BOOM!, Lori does the cockroach while twisting her ankle to pivot to the back fall. In runs Lina to the laughing rescue. You can’t even imagine how hard we laughed- including the entrance fee collectors in their birkas. It was a side splitting and ankle twisting moment. Perhaps I should have asked for the small fee back as the hole was actually never used. lol

    After all the fun outdoor activities, and dangerous bathroom visit, we were hungry. So off to Sumatran Padang food for lunch. Also, amazing. You sit down and they bring every dish they make to your table cover in wrap. Everyone is delicious and very spicy. When you leave, you only pay for what you enjoyed. The best part of the day was seeing our friend Lina’s excitement to have Pandang while visiting from Alaska. Her joy and gusto were infectious. What a glorious day!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    11

    Yogyakarta day 2.

    September 27, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Shopping day!
    Breakfast of yummy Indonesian goodies and new fruits. The heart shaped beauty was a first for me. Salak is a pitted white flesh wedge of sweetness and crunch. Delicious. Another favorite next to mangosteen. Don’t worry, I will try the stinky Dorian fruit before I leave; promise.

    Next more batik and the largest batik store I could have imagined. Followed by an expensive trip to the Yogyakarta gold palace. Holy moly, there was a lot of gold being sold. Maybe 50 people buying when their deli number was called that were helped by around 40 uniformed women all filling up jewelery baskets with 17k+ bangles, necklaces, and bobbles. Based on the sheer volume of high priced gold sales, I’d say the economy is doing well. Now the fun part, many adults and all of the children were fascinated by seeing a non-Indonesian woman in the store. I was definitely a novelty and worthy of stares, pointing and smiles. We all enjoyed the sense of surprise the children’s eyes showed seeing a Caucasian woman perhaps for the first time. It appears they thought I was a tv Hollywood character come to life and the polite sense of wonderment was endearing and welcoming. Eveyone was so nice.

    Finally a visit to a craftsman who designs clothing and hand hammers parts of nature into the fabric to release their blessings, shapes and colors; giving each piece a spiritual name, blessings and beauty from Indonesias earth and nature’s art. Absolutely amazing and what a delightful man to purchase from.
    You may be a lucky recipient of one of his pieces, as they were as impossible to resist as was he. His services even included packing and dropping off at my hotel after his shop closed. I promised him photos of all outfits on live models as despite his traditional methods, he is ready to embrace marketing via instagram.

    Lastly, a safe trip to the ladies room where I was happy to see the custom signs keeping people like me safe and sound.

    Tomorrow is the big adventure day! Stay tuned!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    1

    Yogyakarta day 1

    September 27, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Early morning drop off by by beautiful Maria and her driver. Short flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta for our next adventures.

    Once we arrived I was pleasantly greeted by the smell of flowers. These fragrant fresh decorations filled the air in through the airport and even the bathrooms.

    Once outside a sound occurred announcing it was 10 am time for the Indonesian National Anthem. Note how the entire crowd stops and joins respectfully and pridefully in with the music. This occurs every day at 10 am and is a lovely site to see!

    Off to lunch and to a tour of a Batik artist studio. Along the way I enjoyed the signs suggesting to hold hands while crossing the street. Quick view of traffic and all of the motor bikes parked and racing; I decided it was great advice!

    Lunch was a spicy Sumatran clay pot chicken with duck filled rice cooked in bamboo leaves. Accompanied by a ginger and herb tea and a block of stone sugar! Yum!!

    Then the studio. Batik is an Indonesian fabric art using bees wax to resist naturals dies and is applied by older woman trained to apply the hot wax as a masters of their trade. It is used to make art as well as cloth for traditional clothing. Each has a unique patter and meaning and are worn form everyday to extravagant events. Many take weeks to months to complete with layers of color and finally the setting of the dye into the fabric. It was a site for the eyes to enjoy!

    Great first day! More to come!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    1

    Temples and tissues- part 1

    September 29, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    So much to share. Today was magical. You know I love history! Wow! We started our day at Borobudar, the largest Buddhist temple in the world; built 1,200 years ago. Wow! Just wow!

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur

    To protect the stone, you are required to wear special shoes if you want to climb to Nirvana (top floors). Also, it was very hot, so Jean rented an umbrella and I bought a local hat. Life saving.
    Having worked in construction, I am amazed at the puzzle joints and dove tailing done with the stones so that no mortar was used in any part.

    It’s beautiful, spiritual and peaceful in Nirvana. The two videos are the guide explaining the five different hand poses and what the represent.
    Also, beautiful.

    Breathtaking start of our day!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    1

    Temples and Tissue- part 3

    September 29, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Ok here is the miscellaneous stuff… enjoy. And don’t laugh too hard at the end. Viewer discretion advised.

    You see here a few items I have never seen before.
    An ostrich like animal with vibrant colors; a pod or fruit hanging from a tree I have never seen before. A conical fruit and a thorny tree with beautiful flowers. A cannon ball tree.
    The scariest sign I have ever seen! I’m certainly in favor of stoping sickle violence.

    Now for the big one. All of the temple bathrooms were out of tissue today. They had the rinse off hose connected to the toilet, but no paper to dry with. Being familiar with this problem from prior travels to China and Cuba, I realized that I should have brought my own tissues.

    So off to the convenience store. Right at the counter they had various packs of tissues. I grabbed two (one for Jean, and one for myself). Nice packaging too.
    I set them on the counter next to the cold water bottles for my final purchase. The clerk put her hand on my arm and said with a smile, “lady, I don’t think you want theses. They are for men only”. I put them back thinking it might be a religious thing as the town is 90% Muslim, 10% Hindu and 10% Christian. I left with water only.

    When back in the car I asked the driver “why can’t women buy tissue here?” And explained the dialog. Adit, our very Muslim driver kind of stuttered and said “those aren’t bathroom tissues. Those are for a man to wipe his privates to make them numb so he can have stamina for hours and hours”. Omg! Can you imagine if the clerk hadn’t saved me!

    We laughed so hard and went to the next store to buy them for funny gifts. But they had a different brand here; less subtle . So we bought every one they had and put 8 packs of tissues on the counter. New clerk just looked us up and down at us and smiled. We said “Well, we need a lot!” And left laughing till we cried.

    Temples and Tissues!

    Post script; Adit told us no less than 6 times that he never has to use them but he knows about them from a “friend”. Of course. Even he was laughing!

    We had a happy Buddha day!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler

    Yogyakarta to Batam

    September 30, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Mostly a travel day with flights from Yogyakarta to Jakarta to Batam. Batam is an Indonesian island near Singapore. We are stopping for a few days here then to Singapore before going to Mayalasia.

    Quick breakfast that included picked fruits. The green fruit is called a Kadongdong. Pronounced Ka-dong-dong. It’s a fun to eat as it is to say. Delicious. The beige one is a fresh nutmeg. Something I have never tasted before. It was familiar, but maybe a required taste. lol.

    Then our driver drove us 1.5 hours to the airport. Along the way, I found myself next to a motorcycle with a man carrying a chicken. Omg! I was fascinated. Someone went to market and was taking his chicken home. Jean and the driver didn’t have a chance to see it so I said something everyone has always dreamed of saying…. “Sir, follow that chicken!” The second video is from when we caught back up to the chicken. Enjoy.

    We finally got to Batam. Much to my chagrin, either of my
    Covered fruits seem to be allowed in the new hotel! Can’t wait for the adventures in store in Batam!    Read more

  • Lori BLori goes to SE AsiaTraveler
    Ferry to Singapore

    Last day in Indonesia.

    October 1, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Today was housekeeping in Indonesia. Yummy food, games, mani/pedi and massage time.

    1- best restaurant so far. Fresh fish that you select before your meal and they bbq it for you. Delicious! Really delicious! Then we went to the game store to try to win the grabbing game to get a durian. Yep, the beloved fruit can be won; alas not by me. I was unsuccessful so the durian is still elusive to me.

    Great pedicure but not so relaxing massage. I opted for the 90 minute - four hands massage. Two women rubbing and scratching by body until I begged them to stop. They started by both sitting on my back and then walking on my back. Unfortunately the air was out of my lungs when they asked if I wanted them to “coin” me instead walking on me. I got a head nod out as a coin sounded safer then two woman walking on me. Wrong!
    Indonesia coin massage (kerokan) is a traditional massage where a coin is used to scrape your back. Kinda painful. Especially when you aren’t expecting it. After five minutes of hold your breath pain, one lady said “your body is bad! You have pain! It’s red!” To which I replied, “well, if you stop scratching me; I won’t be red”. So, I left with red hickeys all over my back. Definitely a first.

    Later I was told that it cures pain and prevents the common cold by causing circulation to come to the surface. I don’t have a cold. And I wouldn’t tell anyone if I did. I’m a pass on the next scraping event.

    I will miss Indonesia. Coins and all. Off to Singapore tomorrow.

    Btw, the massage was expensive. 90 min with two therapists was around $30 in the hotel spa. Would have been $8-12 outside of the hotel spa.    Read more

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