Cottage Industry Lives in Indonesia

First, thanks so much for all the great messages! You've given me loads of motivation to keep shooting and posting the best shots here:)

My first posting was of a cottage industry gold mining operation. In Bali, we toured a sea salt farm (the man with the yoke and bags of sea water below was from that farm). We also watched a family as they harvested palm sap and turned it into the sweetest carmelized sugar imaginable. The sugar hardens as it cools in the half coconut shells, then it's bagged and sold in the local markets.

Today in Central Java, while on a work trip to observe a training workshop, we made a detour to a batik factory (factory in the loosest sense of the word) operating out of a converted house and back yard. Central Java is famous for its beautiful, handmade batiks. And yes, Jess, I shopped at the factory outlet store!

Suli's Wedding

My friend Suli got married last January and invited me to her wedding! The wedding itself was nothing we in the west are used to - more akin to a very long receiving line. The bride and groom dress up like a prince and princess of their ethnic tribe, in this case Makassarese from South Sulawesi, and spend the entire night on their feet under hot lights greeting well-wishers. No booze, no dancing, and everyone leaves after they've had a bite from the buffet. Not much fun for the bride and groom, but at least they looked great! Also above are children akin to a ringbearer and flower girls. On the bottom is Suli's proud mom - a universality.

Jakarta

Life in Jakarta is dominated by traffic, pollution and malls. But from time to time, a few photo opps present themselves...

Bali with Jess & Daniel

Jess and Daniel came to Bali! The most amazing flower - the lotus - was all over Ubud. I've never seen one before and it took my breath away! We toured a sea salt making operation in Kasumba, East Bali. The beach was black sand and the sea and sky were stunning.

West Java, March 14, 2007

It was a beautiful day in Cisolok, West Java - a gorgeous part of Indonesia, when we stumbled on this cottage industry gold mining operation. In the background, the miners are pouring buckets of sand and sea water onto beds that sift the gold-containing sands from the water. I think anyway! It made a good photo, which, have to admit, is all I really cared about:)



Indonesia, being in the 'Ring of Fire,' is home to countless hot springs. Here is one, also in Cisolok.