Hey friends 😊
It’s been a while since I posted anything – been preoccupied for the last few months doing a couple of short online writing courses. Very time consuming but thoroughly enjoyable! Plus there’s been a wonderful little visa-run holiday in Georgetown, Malaysia with cousin Jo, a visit here on Meno by mum (yay!) and a super special visa-run trip to visit my baby bro and his gorgeous family in NZ. I guess you could say that life’s not been too shabby.
I hope to start posting some more insights into life in Indonesia again, but for now just a short howdy doody and update.
For a year I’ve lived in one of two little bungalows at Meno Madia. A simple life. The bungalow has a small ensuite and porch. And most of our home time is spent at the outdoor kitchen dining area (we now have a table and four chairs!) and hanging around on the berugak. Indonesia is all about outdoor living.
I’ve never been very materialistic and for decades I’ve said I could live in a tent. Well that may be a bit of an exaggeration but honestly, this lifestyle suits me fine. I think the only thing I have on my shopping wish-list – for one day when I have a spot for it – is a couch.
Locals manage fine and seem more than happy to spend their lives sitting or lying on concrete or tiled floors. They sleep, eat, watch TV, play games and chat away for hours on the hardest surfaces. But my soft western and aging body doesn’t cope so well with that and I look forward to the day I can slump in a soft lounge.
At the moment we are ‘roughing’ it!
Earlier this year our Danish friends, who are building a lovely big holiday house behind the neighbour’s land, offered for us to sleep in their house during high season so we could rent out both bungalows and earn a little more money.
Unfortunately, like most (if not all) building projects in Indonesia, the construction of their house has taken months longer than expected, and so far the house still has no doors, windows, electricity or toilet!!
We could have slept on their floor, but it’s a bit of a sterile vibe. Instead I chose to ‘camp’ on their berugak (as you do!). Mind you I’ve taken the soft option and bought a roll up mattress, as I do need to sleep 
😉.
So now we are outdoors 24/7. It’s lovely sleeping outside, and reminds me a little of a time many moons ago when I worked a season mustering in the Kimberleys, and slept for months in a swag. I loved it then and still do now. Sure, it’s a little annoying when a dozen or more roosters saunter loudly through the garden at dawn in the morning, and having no toilet is a wee bit challenging 😉, but other than that it’s simple and peaceful – just the way I like it 
☺️. And it’s worth it, as we’ve had lots of bookings for Meno Madia B2!
Loving your blog Claudia
Thanks Anne 🙂 I really appreciate you reading it!