Dentist and making a norwegian dinner

Just a few pictures from the last week:

This is my neighbors adorable new puppy, so makes me want a dog!

Me and Anne took Esther out to a nearby town to celebrate her birthday that was in March. Esther ended up spending part of the time at the dentist because of a tooth ache, and opted not to take out her wisdom tooth that day (to have something to look forward to later..;)

Yesterday I attempted making "kjøttkaker". They ended up being a bit softer than usual, due to the meat having had a bit of water added to it when it was being grinded. But the taste was almost like at home! 

Here you can't actually buy finished hamburger meat (kjøttdeig), you have to go to the market and buy a slap of meat and then take it to somewhere else to have it grinded up. I found some grey, metal like pieces in the meat when preparing the meat-dough, and I realized it was a bit of cow hide ;) According to my house helper they don't clean out the grinder between the different people having their meat grinded. So probably the one that went before us were grinding up the "not so nice" parts of the cows to make bakso (local meat-balls made from all kinds of leftover meat.. ;) Jum

A bus ride and a motorcycle ride

On saturday I went with some friends on the bus for the first time here, to a nearby town to watch a movie. It was an interesting ride to say the least

 It was pretty crowded (the trip took almost 2 hours!). Thankfully we got to sit most of the way

 We saw two accidents, both including busses...

 In the two lanes there were often 4 cars, trucks and busses driving next to eachother. This is the bus only driving halfway on the road. The driver of the white car ahead actually stopped his car and came out and yelled at out bus driver, because he kept driving so close he almost hit him several times. 

 Yesterday afternoon I went with some friends on a short motorcycle drive from home, only about 20 minutes, and ended up on a small mountain overlooking the lake/swamp and nearby mountains. Where had this pearl been hiding these last 8 months?? I can't believe I didn't know about this place, so close and so beatiful with a resturant at the top, a play ground and even a live gamelan band ;) And the drive was so fun!

 Posing with my faveourite 1 year old! :)

 Puji and Samuel

A & A trying out the toys ;)

Drivers instructor

Who would ever have thought I would become a drivers instructor?! Here's the evidence! Good thing you only really need to learn how to turn on the engine, the rest is pretty much like riding a bike and try to survive the crazy traffic ;)

 I also managed to get into a one year olds very fancy birthday party. I've met the grandma maybe two times and seen the baby once ;)

 Besides being a drivers instructor and going to birthday parties, I've been learning how to cook a bit, in order to survive when I leave my househelper :( Yesterday I learned how to prepare grilled fish 

Sometimes I also entertain a host of neighbors on my porch, usually their average age is about 4 ;)

Activities the last week

 Went to a traditional snack shop, where they go to buy snacks for big events

 Went to a friends relatives house for a birthday party

 Found out my arms are as tan as my indonesian friend Jes' now :)

 Watched a neighbor cut down a papaya tree with a macete 

 Another neighbor came and asked if she could have the leaves for food

 Saw the universitys performance of the Wizard of Oz

 Took a horse wagon - dokar- for the first time. It was pretty crowded, and I felt really bad for the poor skinny horse

The island

Just got back last night from the trip an island! Here are some pics:

 Heart shaped corals

 Eating freshly caught and baked tuna by the beach

 Drinking fresh coconut milk

 The public transportation is green here, instead of blue like in my town

 They even have some norwegian influence ;)

 Bough a towel by kg price

 Interesting looking politicians, is that really ear-hair?!

 Gandaria juice!

 Beautiful flowers

 Interesting arkitecture

 Huge insects!

 Luke warm water

Coral reefs for snorkeling, I think I saw most of the fish from "Finding Nemo"!