Hi Folks,

We made it to Indonesia.

First there was the airport. We didn't really know so many obligatory lines could exist in one building. But they did, and we almost missed our flight, until we found out that our flight was delayed so we had time to get a doughnut. AND right next door to doughnuts was a huge candy shop full of free samples. So, feeling adrenal from the airport sprints and with sugar high from the free samples, we boarded our two hour flight to Jakarta, in airplane with the word AMAZING plastered across it.

Jakarta is pretty much everything you imagine. Hot, crowded, chaotic, essentially the least charming place we've ever been. We pretty much sat in traffic in tuc-tucs and drank iced coffee the whole time we were there. OH and we went to the biggest night club in Jakarta called Stadium, which is what a nightclub at Hogwarts would probably look like. It was magical. Emily wore a yellow onesie. Jaki was actually cute. Then we boarded an economy train to Solo. 12 hours in economy. Any time we told someone where were going there would be a lot of snickering and we could hear the word "economy", so we knew we were in fo something.

[By the way, if you need an ego boost/want to feel like a comic genius, just go to Southeast Asia. The fact that you are white is SO FUNNY. Someone says hello to you, and whether you respond or smile or ignore them, you will be laughed at. This is mostly funny, only sometimes a little obnoxious. Emily would be a really bad celebrity. Jaki might do a little better, she's more tolerant. ]

Back to the train - just getting on this train was the most "oh-yea-i'm-traveling-through-seasia" feeling possible. There were confrences of people trying to get us where we needed to go, jumping from one car to another with our luggage, turning around, jumping off (losing my darling Sigg in the process), and then eventually realizing that we were supposed to be in different cars - but one sweet security man(boy?) made sure we sat together. At first we were pleasently surprised by how empty it was, but by 1 a.m. there were people sitting on every square inch of the train.

We arrived sleepless in Solo with swollen ankles and empty bellies at 8am, and man, has it taken care of us. We are staying in Mama's Homestay, with an overexcited and incomprehensible host, a huge room, and delicious breakfasts and tea. As far as we can tell after a day here, it has a very lively arts scene - with festivals and performances in public squares advertised everywhere. Last night we went to see a wayang-orang (dance-drama) performance. The theatre is attached to an amusment park. I'm talkin bumper cars and rollercoasters and corn on the cob. Can we live here please?

Tomorrow we are going on a bike tour, then going on to Yogakarta before heading to Bali!

We miss and love you all!