Saturday, 16Sep06

Highlights: drive around Cepu: market, river, woodmill, forest, dad comes home, bus to Yogya

Today was fun… we took a scooter out & made a grand tour around Cepu & the surrounding areas,,, Nina’s hometown.

Another bit of good news came via a morning phone call. Nina’s dad was going to finish his business early in Surabaya & come back by 3pm, provided we could wait for him. Was there any other answer but yes? Ha ha! Like I said before- I was looking forward to meeting him myself. I already have a good impression of him, for saving Nina from three arranged marriage attempts by her zealous aunt. =/ (still a tradition alive & well here).

First stop on the tour: downtown Cepu & the market.

We had breakfast (rice, of course, mixed with an assortment of chicken, fried soy tempe, a dash of crushed chile pepper (sambal), and an ice sweet tea to wash it down.)

The market, like several traditional markets I’ve seen in Indonesia, is a maze inside- with fresh fruits & veggies, traditional foods, and fish everywhere… turn the corner & there are t-shirts, souvenirs, handi-crafts… as far as you can see in all directions. Nina has a few cousins who work there.