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An old frog Indonesians exploration


Thai Spice

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2 hours ago, boydeste said:

Just read through and enjoyed the journey so far. Thanks for making the effort.

Thanks

2 hours ago, Krapow said:

You, having a run in with a Mod, I find that hard to believe 🤣

Macron's breaking the strike!

Back to work Frenchie, allez allez allez ...

 

 

OK, Let me raise the question at the next Union Assembly....(Yeah, yeah , I know,.... don't forget the flags TS …)

24 minutes ago, drifter said:

Your posts have been a pleasure to read. I personally would enjoy seeing the rest of this series. This is, of course, your choice.

 

I’ve been living in Thailand but plan to explore more of SEA soon, since who knows how long any of us have.

 

Regardless, Thank you. 

Thanks, Cheers.

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OK, this was from March 2018, things have changed in the garden since that time ! :

We are quietly adapting.to our 3 week roster between Bali and the Jungle house. In the beginning we planned 2 weeks, but that involves to much travelling. "Update : This has changed, now stil l3w / 3w for the Miss, but I spend only 1 week !"

A bit difficult for me sometimes to follow the "garden strategy" ....Latest plan a few months ago was for the dragon fruit, but surprise, surprise, corn was planted as well.

One of the likely reasons is that seeing dragon fruit was making more money than oranges all jumped on the dragon fruit wagon, and the price crashed....  Brother in law had about half of his production going in the bin as he could not sell it.

Ok so we are here since 2 weeks, and an opportunity for me to see the corn culture thing.

A few pics and some basic explanation as we go.  Remember I have ZILCH knowledge ( nor any interest) in farming, so I keep well away from it.

That's how it looked 2 weeks ago

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Basically when the corn is nearly ripe, the leaves are teared open,  and later it is "plucked" (?)

5aae03061677c_Corn2.thumb.jpg.8eea2543568033d5e48009633b9de6e6.jpg

5aae0368aab96_Corn3.thumb.jpg.8c3162a85527e29bddbd853891a26381.jpg

 

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Next step is to dry it ... Bit a hassle as every evening you have to pick it up, and store under roof in case it rains during the night...and next morning put it out again. 3 days.

5aae043eab4ab_Corn7.thumb.jpg.9155dfe0f82c82537974e9857b0de158.jpg

 

This is one of the very few operations where the old frog has a bit of qualification.... :

5aae04b96a231_Corn7a.thumb.jpg.fc8f82818fc4d52d05bee6ac748cb376.jpg

 

Yep, son has a nice little touch for mom... :

5aae0510baaff_Corn8.thumb.jpg.7d6733d28e42f3bdd48eae76cb3c6049.jpg

 

Next step is "rasping" it, to collect the grains as they sell it under this form :

5aae059d36bae_Corn9.thumb.jpg.afcfd0fae568ac6847771ea4d9143197.jpg

 

This is sold for about 4,000 IDR /Kg  0,25 euro    9 THB/ Kg

Sure we dont need it, but it gives the Miss a bit a feeling of having her own crop, own money and the pleasure of selling it making her a business woman.

Besides that it teaches her son, because at the end one day all this will belong to him. Also for her brother who lives in the next house, and grows corn as well it is important. His only income is from the garden (plus when I employ him for works in the house).   So it would be very arrogant to ignore all this, and just say "we have enough money, no need this"

And when I see the thing is sold in supermarkets about 50 or 100 times what she gets, I understand that small farmers can feel angry.

5aae060e6367e_Corn11.thumb.jpg.ad5e1ac10a40bb1b045d3f55ae73f070.jpg

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

OK, today a bit of jungle technology !

Saw this "mobile wood saw truck" a few times near the house.  The idea is when you have a tree to cut and transform in planks, you call them.

Of course as a technician this aroused my interest and I went to have a close look. Pretty interesting, and well thought.  

Basically it is an engine that drive or the travelling transmission (through a gearbox) or directly a circular saw mounted on the back of the truck. The rotation speed of the saw is obtained by the size of the saw drive pulley, and adjusting the engine speed.

General view :

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On the pic here under you can see the thing in "travelling" mode, the engine driving the G.B. and transmission.

You will note on the left a second set of V-Belts that will be put in place of the "travelling mode" belts, and will drive the pulleys at the end of the saw drive shaft.

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Dont be tricked ! The left tank is for the coolant circuit, the right (blue) one for the fuel.

20180705_103038.thumb.jpg.3fafb7fe59b55364b6ff67fc20aaee13.jpg

 

Operating process :

Note the cloth used as a protection against wood chips projections !

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Job done, clean up at charge of the client !

20180705_120907.thumb.jpg.75b2975be4a7cb33ecdf6082ae270fb9.jpg

 

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1 hour ago, STARGAZER said:

The saw truck is ingenuity at its finest.

Problem.in the west is we are drowning in H.S., regulations, standards, 100 forms....

Simple creativity is dead, everything need to be sophisticated. We build something like that it will be Hybrid, computer controlled, an Ipad on the dashboard, special license needed....and it will cost 100,000 euro.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

A quick summary of my expenses for the retirement visa, first renewal, just done last month.

Conditions are similar as when applying for the 1st year visa, and need to be processed by an approved agent.

Why an agent ?  Because for any long term visa in Indonesia a "sponsor" is required. 

In case of working visa this will be your employer, in case of marriage visa it can be your wife (depending of her filling all the requirements...), in case of "social 6 month visit visa" you need find one, but in case of retirement visa only an officially approved agency can be your sponsor ! 

Hence it is a gold mine for them, and they will say that it is expensive because they engage their legal responsibility if you do something wrong...

Documents to provide :

-        Original Passport

-        Original SKTT (temporary 1-year residency card)

-        Copy of extension of house contract (1 year) with copy of receipt for full payment. Remember long term rental contracts in Indonesia are payable annually and in advance. This is not specific to the visa. Specific to the visa : there is mandatory minimum rent, 60 M IDR ( 135,000  Thb / 11k per month)

-        Copy of health insurance, with receipt for full payment

-        Proof of hire of 1 Indonesian staff. Usually a declaration + copy of the persons ID.

-        Copy of 3 last month’s bank account (overseas accepted) which shows clearly the regular monthly pension income.

Process :

1)     Agent applies for the visa extension (your presence is not required)

2)     After about 2 weeks you will be called to the immigration dept for picture and fingerprints (This is every year…)

3)     After about 10 days you will have your passport back, visa extension stamp inside and a certificate (A4) of temporary stay permit.

! ! Note that this includes a MERP, Multiple Entry Re entry Permit, which allows me to travel out and in of the country freely as many time I want.

4)     The agent will also declare your stay to the police, which will issue you a “Police Report”

5)     With the visa and the Police Report, your landlord now must go declare you to the local “banjar” (same amphoe in Thailand) and get a “Certificate of Domicile”

6)     With this Certificate of Domicile, your agent will now go to another dept to get your new SKTT (Temporary Residential Card) valid 1 year.

 

Cost :

Agent                   : 8,700,000  IDR

Certificate of Domicile :  250,000 IDR

SKTT                     :              400,000 IDR

Total cost 9,350,000 IDR / 21,000 Thb / 565 Euro / 510 GBP. 

Amortized and integrated in your budget on 12 months it is not a big sum.

Note that Miss Indo is in no way whatever related to my visa. Which is perfectly fine and my wish.

So, off we go for another year and tomorrow is another day as the saying goes !

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37 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

That could/would be a problem for many elderly expats TS ?

A way around, and accepted is a yearly travel insurance, which many use.

But for "admin" purpose only. Dont count on it to really cover you if you are a long term resident !

Edited by Thai Spice
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On ‎12‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 2:21 AM, Thai Spice said:

A quick summary of my expenses for the retirement visa, first renewal, just done last month.

Conditions are similar as when applying for the 1st year visa, and need to be processed by an approved agent.

 

Why an agent ?  Because for any long term visa in Indonesia a "sponsor" is required. 

 

In case of working visa this will be your employer, in case of marriage visa it can be your wife (depending of her filling all the requirements...), in case of "social 6 month visit visa" you need find one, but in case of retirement visa only an officially approved agency can be your sponsor ! 

 

Hence it is a gold mine for them, and they will say that it is expensive because they engage their legal responsibility if you do something wrong...

 

Documents to provide :

 

-        Original Passport

 

-        Original SKTT (temporary 1-year residency card)

 

-        Copy of extension of house contract (1 year) with copy of receipt for full payment. Remember long term rental contracts in Indonesia are payable annually and in advance. This is not specific to the visa. Specific to the visa : there is mandatory minimum rent, 60 M IDR ( 135,000  Thb / 11k per month)

 

-        Copy of health insurance, with receipt for full payment

 

-        Proof of hire of 1 Indonesian staff. Usually a declaration + copy of the persons ID.

 

-        Copy of 3 last month’s bank account (overseas accepted) which shows clearly the regular monthly pension income.

 

Process :

 

1)     Agent applies for the visa extension (your presence is not required)

 

2)     After about 2 weeks you will be called to the immigration dept for picture and fingerprints (This is every year…)

 

3)     After about 10 days you will have your passport back, visa extension stamp inside and a certificate (A4) of temporary stay permit.

 

! ! Note that this includes a MERP, Multiple Entry Re entry Permit, which allows me to travel out and in of the country freely as many time I want.

 

4)     The agent will also declare your stay to the police, which will issue you a “Police Report”

 

5)     With the visa and the Police Report, your landlord now must go declare you to the local “banjar” (same amphoe in Thailand) and get a “Certificate of Domicile”

 

6)     With this Certificate of Domicile, your agent will now go to another dept to get your new SKTT (Temporary Residential Card) valid 1 year.

 

 

 

Cost :

 

Agent                   : 8,700,000  IDR

 

Certificate of Domicile :  250,000 IDR

 

SKTT                     :              400,000 IDR

 

Total cost 9,350,000 IDR / 21,000 Thb / 565 Euro / 510 GBP. 

 

Amortized and integrated in your budget on 12 months it is not a big sum.

 

Note that Miss Indo is in no way whatever related to my visa. Which is perfectly fine and my wish.

 

 

So, off we go for another year and tomorrow is another day as the saying goes !

Spreadsheet?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Another trip to the jungle this 22/12.  The usual routine, but nevertheless here are a few pics.

I hadn’t been back since nearly 3 months, due to our trip to HKG in Oct and my recent visa renewal for which I prefer to stay close to Denpasar Immigration during the whole process (6 weeks).

Timing of the trip was because of Galungan, the Bali Hindu New Year, that this time fell at the same time as Christmas. Note that even they use the same official calendar as us, the Bali Hindu religious cycle is 210 days; Hence every year Galungan falls on a different date on OUR calendar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galungan

Galungan-and-Kuningan-Balinese-holiday.jpg.ad1859d80997b7b688b66ec17e18ae80.jpg

 

As usual having some stuff to bring home we travel with our usual driver. Car + driver + petrol + ferry fee comes to 1,300,000  IDR one way (80 Euro / 2,900 Thb) .  The return I do usually by plane, the Miss staying a week more and returning to Bali after.

Luggage always includes the ice box and a coolbag, for the frog’s food. The bottles are used and distributed in the village for water storage.

 

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Google map is as usual VERY optimistic, even leaving at 05.00 am the trip takes 6 h in good traffic condition of which 1 h on the ferry.

 

Screenshot_20181222-052510_Maps-1024x576.thumb.jpg.afa1eb7040e0001826bc1f2c995d926f.jpg

 

The ferry :

 

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The approach to East Java, city Banyuwangi, volcanos in the background.     One is pretty famous for its "bleu fire"    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijen

The jungle house is located 40 km south from here. Yep, in this country you better get used to live never far away from a volcano ….

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View of the ferry terminal :

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And a typical ferry :

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Ready for disembarking:

 

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Home around 11.00 am after the mandatory stop at a supermarket for Bintang supplies.

 

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The youngsters just arrived back from a hunting session, pretty successful !

 

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Next morning the preparation works to decorate the house start very early, those big bamboo poles indicate that visitors are welcome to drop by to convey their N.Y. wishes, and yes it will be a 2 day non stop flow of people dropping by, neighbours, family, friends…..

Work on the bamboo pole :

 

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Preparing the snacks and drinks for the visitors. Non alcoholic only, TBH since I come here I seldom saw anybody drink beer or alcohol, and this is not limited to the Muslims. It is simply not in the mentality.

 

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And a bit of lights at night !

 

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And yes of course we have a couple of dogs in the house. 4 of them between our house and the brother in law house just adjacent.

IMG-20181205-WA0020.thumb.jpg.9e3ff6c9d2e853f8501896c0f3f8aee3.jpg

 

 

This one is the latest arrival, born 9 months ago. Spoiled kid, he has quickly understood that keeping close to the white guy the food was much better than the usual rice !

20181229_072714.thumb.jpg.655a36e59c0f1295a250a7d8fb919737.jpg

 

The waterway near the house has recently been cleaned / drained before the rainy season, so now they can throw more garbage in it……

IMG-20181206-WA0037.thumb.jpg.65b4712a353ddff90d42f9c9f14b9342.jpg

 

IMG-20181207-WA0011.thumb.jpg.4f77fab3f78ae6ed42006508217c4b94.jpg

Of course the digger team justed dumped everything on the pad along the stream, without giving a shit that is was an access (the imperial drive) to our and 3 other houses…..   So the kid and brothers had to clear and level it themselves. Now just need to hope it doesn’t rain too much before all this stuff has properly drained and dried !

 

IMG-20181207-WA0052.thumb.jpg.23d2bf3b1dc794dc001806f4397a1d33.jpg

 

IMG-20181208-WA0047.thumb.jpg.dfc465c17d08b85db6af1efd346b0fff.jpg

OK boys, that’s it for today !

 

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1 hour ago, Krapow said:

How do they cook those fcuking things?

How do they catch them first? 

Shoot them with an airgun .  I think I posted something on that previously ?

Then they skin them (skin is sold), then they hack them in small cubes and BBQ them.

And no, I didn't taste it .....

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2 hours ago, Thai Spice said:

Shoot them with an airgun .  I think I posted something on that previously ?

Then they skin them (skin is sold), then they hack them in small cubes and BBQ them.

And no, I didn't taste it .....

Bet it tastes like chicken 😁

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6 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Thanks for updating your thread TS, interesting mate, WTF happened to this dog ?

TS Dog.PNG

Son of brother in law next door has a strange sense of humour for a 22y old guy !

But he is pretty good at hunting, cares a lot for the dogs, plays with them, shower them, bring them along when hunting etc...

 

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4 hours ago, Thai Spice said:

Son of brother in law next door has a strange sense of humour for a 22y old guy !

But he is pretty good at hunting, cares a lot for the dogs, plays with them, shower them, bring them along when hunting etc...

 

Is that pooch tatooed?

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OK, a bit off topic, but I thought I better put it here than in the food thread.

As you know (if you didn't miss too many lessons at school...) Indonesia was colonialized during a time by the Dutch.

As any in any colonization traces will remain for a long time (maybe forever), and in Indonesia the influence of Dutch food is one of those things. Language is another.

Note that this is more concentrated on Java as it was there that the Dutch has their main bases and trading posts.

Garuda inflight magazine has a subject on this, and I thought it could ne interesting.

Here you go.

Special note to @Esco and @Evil Penevil who may recognize some familiar stuff ?   Sorry for the quality, taken with my phone from a magazine on the plane yesterday with my limited skills....

Our estimated Belgian BM @Lambik may recognize a few items as well, as Belgian and Dutch cuisine have a few things in common.

20190104_131930.thumb.jpg.f673c5b620a892fed80bc4b97302ad14.jpg

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Love the Klappertaart on the last page, never seen it on a menu here. Maybe I need to start looking for some Dutch restaurants after all !

Another very popular one, that I often saw in Indo restaurant is the "Rijsttafel" , translation "rice table"

A few pics taken from Google....

k2.jpg.aa4a489176210500e2e6411f61eaee24.jpg

rijsttafel2.jpg.1021e298da469f375f6626840c964f82.jpg

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Bon Appetit !

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Re language one of the major differences between Bahasa Indonesian and Bahasa Melayu (Malaysian) is obviously the adaptation of Dutch words during colonial times in Indonesia. But in recent times Indonesian has become somewhat anglicised but Malay has resisted this despite colonial ties to Britain.

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2 minutes ago, Thai Spice said:

Hahaha,

Thanks mate, nice find.  Confirms this old frog is completely outdated now !

Sure easier to read. 

Yes a lot of these in flight mags are online nowadays, especially so you can order things from the comfort of your home.

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