Fun with Bandung Friends!

About a week before Christmas we took some time to celebrate being with friends in Bandung. Here we are on the little 12 person plane out of Aceh. We sat in the back which is kind of a reverse bulkhead - lots of feet space which Lij took advantage of.

Jason brought an orchid from the mountain area where he & Jos work. It was a little gift for an orchid loving friend. :)

We used bookbags to block the aisle from Lij crawling forward!

Once we got to Bandung we enjoyed staying with our former homestay family. We went for a swim at a pool about an hour from their home. Here's Jah enjoying hanging out with Pak Wawan.




And then they wanted to see what E looked like when she used to teach water aerobics in college:

J celebrated his 32nd bday while we were in Bandung. Our "fam" took us out for Thai food (J's favorite) - so sweet. Here's Poppy & Raula...

Neraya & Della

Marin

Asram

Of course a Thai place (Buddist) would have a super bright orange highchair!

Arief & J

A couple pictures before we left their home...

Open sesame!


Our friend Diedre also grew up in Indo like Jason. She came out to visit her parents and brought us a whole suitcase of presents & stuff we needed - so great! Here we are eating lunch together at a restaurant with a view overlooking a beautiful gorge, good food to boot.

We took a little time to shop the outlets & there was a little fish pond out front of one of them. Look at your fish-lovin' great grandbaby Pop!

Elijah really liked the mirror that went all the way down to the floor so he could see too :)

We visited with our friend Siswo who has a little boy too. He's a development worker that Jason bonded with when we lived in Bandung.


After we left our homestay fam, we headed over to spend a few days speaking English before heading back to Aceh :) With very few foreigners in our area, this was quite a treat, a special thanks to G & M!

In their family they hide one gift each year for Christmas. They included us in their celebration this year, so fun!

Here's Lij opening his stocking from them...


And who could forget Christmas goodies

Certainly not Lij!

Lij got a book which he immediately took to - that boy loves himself some books.


Had a fondue meal together to celebrate J's bday too - he had to feel so celebrated :)

Fun with polka dots...


Jason says "Are you being Joseph" to which the reply..."does that mean I'm Mary?" oh brother :)

Bath time!


And the early flight from Bandung back to the island of Sumatra...


Part 2 coming soon....