Batik-on-Skin, Part 1

So, as with all my tattoos, this new one has meaning.  In a nutshell, it's all about my own growth in the last four years here in Indonesia.  It's been beautiful and not-linear and kinda wandering.  More on that in person with a glass in each of our hands.  This post is about the process :)

 

First, Lou suggested that we go to the Batik Museum.  Great idea!  I'd never been although she and Mom went a few years ago.  So, off we went.  We saw so many beautiful traditional batik patterns.. and I took lots of pictures.

 

Then we went to the library because Lou knew that there were books of patterns, like guide books.. so we found those, and found these:

 

 

So I sent these to Danang, the awesome tattoo artist (having already talked to him about what I was thinking), and he sent this back:

 

 YES!!!

except that I changed my mind and didn't want it on my back.. lest I become a walking botanical garden.  So, we revised.. and here's how the first piece went:

the sketch:

the visitors and the inspiration that resulted in Lou getting some impromptu ink work done herself..

 

 the inking.. two-sided, one more permanent than the other

and, the result;

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Jaffa turns NINE in a Monster High kinda way

This past year we've worked through Frozen, Harry Potter, Maleficent, perhapssomethingelseIcan'tremember, and Monster High.  It keeps things exciting around here!

 

So this year, the birthday party theme was Monster High. 

In preparation, first we took a nap with the dog.  Yes, she really is sleeping.

 

Next, we got an AWESOME dress from memere. 

 

 

 

Then friends came and we dressed up and face painted, we played pin the lips and hearts on the Monster High ghoul (girl) poster.  We colored, we watched Monster high movies, pizza and cake, and nighttime hide and seek, and more movies.. including the Book of Life. 

 

 

Somehow, there were still eyes open at midnight!

 

She had a great time, we had a great time.. and now, we are done with birthday parties for a few months.  A little time to let the grown-ups recover and get some creative party-planning juices back ;)

Super Slippers

The Nordic All Stars came to Jakarta for the Java Jazz festival last month, and we went to see them at the Black Cat club.  They were pretty amazing.  We're all fans of the electric bass (standing). Zeric got two of their CDs..

 

http://www.norway.or.id/Norway_in_Indonesia/culture/Nordic-Jazz-in-Indonesia/#.VRi2o8IcSM8

 

But the best part was this member of the band:

Here he is playing the flute and the keyboard at the same time.. AND he's wearing his hotel slippers.  Not even kidding.  It's really SO Indonesian to do that (wearing your hotel slippers out and about).  it was a memorable night on many fronts!

Pasar Santa

http://ghiboo.com/2014/11/01/yuk-kulineran-di-pasar-santa/

 

Back in Jakarta, we did some exploring.. this market (pasar) is not what the name suggests.  It's a funky, hip top floor of a standard Indo market where there are coffee shops and vintage clothing shops and vintage other shops and hot dogs in black sesame buns and frozen bananas covered in nutella.. and tacos, and a vegan guy who makes tempe Reuben sandwiches.  WOW!!!  It's so cool.

 

Rocked Eben's world as now we DO eat street food (ish) in Jakarta!!

 

 

Maple bacon on a donut, anyone??

 

The girls shopping for heels..

And sometimes there is a good idea that maybe culturally is.. um.. well.. a bit mistaken?

I don't have a picture, but there's a coffee shop called ABCD (a bunch of caffeine dealers) and another called Bear&Co that COLD PRESS their coffee and tea.  The coffee comes out looking (and tasting) like Guiness bear with the froth and all (sans milk) and the lemon iced tea is the best I've EVER had.  It's cold pressed for 24 hours, and the flavor is just fab.

Going back soon..

Thai murals

These are from all different wats, and they are so lovely.. some are painted, some are tile.