Where are you from? - Lets see where are most of our forum members coming.

[Ali]

What were you doing in Tahiti?

I lived on Pohnpei for 3 years and later chose Hawaii as my permanent US home (I'm there now, although returning to Jakarta in a few weeks). Of course, the French Polynesian, Micronesian, and Hawaiian islands are all very different, but I do think there is some truth to the idea of "the Pacific way." Once you experience it, it's hard to give it up.

Very nice choice, Hawaii is the best, still feel the vibe of pacific islands with much more things to do than Micronesia or French Polynesia.

In Tahiti, I was a freelance IT consultant, when my indonesian wife came we open an Indonesian catering company but I was still work in the IT.
Before I worked 6 years in Paris as an IT consultant, working 12 hours per day with stress, tension, living in sad and ugly suburbs, not making real friends for 6 years, paying 45% tax of my income, the last months during a burn-out and a breakdown I decide to quit my job and travel. Crazy?!
I finally stopped in Pacific, my life in there was amazing, the people so kind, open-minded and sincere, the weather, the ocean, the lagoon, it was paradise, it was my therapy.

 

[Ali]

Wow, Tahiti. My favorite vacation spot in the world. One of the most memorable times of my life was a stay on Rangirora. Drifting through the lagoon took about an hour with sharks swimming below, rays swimming close enough to rub their backs as they passed by and going through schools of fish so thick, you couldn't see your scuba partner 3 feet away. Taking a day to cycle around Bora Bora and stopping at all the beaches for a dip and the bars for a beer.

But sadly, it got so expensive those days had to end. Tourist prices just became outrageous.

Hahaha yes it is a very expensive destination for 3 reasons, first is the low numbers of tourists (250 000), second is the economic boom when France injected many money in French polynesia economy during the nuclear tests, third is the local politics want few richs tourist but not mass tourist for protect the ecosystem.

Yes, diving in Rangiroa and Fakarava is one of the amazing thing you can do on this earth. I did it once in 13 years, Rangiroa is only an hour by plane from Tahiti but cost almost same price than a Tahiti-Auckland or a Tahiti-Los Angeles in low season.

 

[Ali]

Huh Tahiti.
Been there in 2008 in Papete, and Bora Bora.
It was a hell expensive if i remember right in that time one beer was 10$ (now it might be even more) didn't try to buy something else, but i could tell by the beer price that it is soo expensive.
To be honest some places are overpriced and i can say one of them is Tahiti. However it is beautiful place !

The beer is still 10$ or even less after 2008 crisis, we suffer a deflation in Tahiti, but it's still a very expensive destination. Yes Tahiti, Bora Bora are overpriced especially with the low quality of service in hotels and restaurants.

 

[Supir Angkot]

I don't hear any myself, except when I'm laying it on purposefully as demonstration ... I have been told by a few people that they can detect just a hint of Texas twang. There are actually a few different Texas accents, maybe not surprising considering the physical area of the state.

Boston: "Yeh cahn't pahk the cah in the yahd ... yeh'd best pahk up the drive by the pe-kAHn. "

(eh, do they have pecan trees up that way? probably not)


West Texas: "Y'All kain't park here, yA'll best drive up yonder [yAWn-dur] by that PEE-kan tree."

Ah Pak AM, your cute nick name seems to suggest that you are speaking proper American English with the sing-song honey sweetness of the southern drawl mixing with a hint of asem Jawa tajweed?

 

[Pak Asam Manis]

Ah Pak AM, your cute nick name seems to suggest that you are speaking proper American English with the sing-song honey sweetness of the southern drawl mixing with a hint of asem Jawa tajweed?

... insh'allah ...

 

[waarmstrong]

Sorry, late to the game. I, a post-war baby-boomer, hail from Iowa, in the middle of everything America has to offer, but close to nothing. We -- beautiful Indonesian wife, preteen daughter and I -- are based now in Pella, a small Dutch heritage community with great schools, a welcoming disposition, safe social environment and unpredictable weather. If we want a preview of the impending apocalypse, we visit our home in Jakarta for the summer.

 

[Banana72]

Who?
I'm from Cascadia, otherwise known as the beautiful Pacific Northwest in the US, adult life in Seattle till a couple years ago. Bummed around Java and SE Asia for a while, now living in Bandung. I can fit in wearing jeans, flannel shirts, and hoodies here. And I don't die of heat exhaustion in the process. Bitchin.

Ah I forgot you were in Bandung! Nice, cool and clean air...except when I was thirsty at night...the two Indomaret I visited smiled and gave me the look as I asked if they had any beers....

 

[Bad_azz]

Ah I forgot you were in Bandung! Nice, cool and clean air...except when I was thirsty at night...the two Indomaret I visited smiled and gave me the look as I asked if they had any beers....

There are a few places to buy beer... but they are not Indomaret

& there are lots of bars.
Let me know next time you are in town & I will advise you on beer buying - in relation to your location

 

[fastpitch17]

Sorry, late to the game. I, a post-war baby-boomer, hail from Iowa, in the middle of everything America has to offer, but close to nothing. We -- beautiful Indonesian wife, preteen daughter and I -- are based now in Pella, a small Dutch heritage community with great schools, a welcoming disposition, safe social environment and unpredictable weather. If we want a preview of the impending apocalypse, we visit our home in Jakarta for the summer.

Is Pella still home to that lonely Maytag man and it's manufacturing? Or, has that moved out of tge country now too?

 

[waarmstrong]

Maytag was in Newton, a few miles north of Pella. Poor management and stubborn unions did it in -- weakened, it was bought by another big appliance maker, Whirlpool, that moved most of the manufacturing to Mexico. Some of the facilities in Newton now house a manufacturer of wind turbines.

 

[Puspawarna]

Hey, as long as we are talking about the wonders of Iowa, did they ever build that big gun factory (I think that's what it was) near Grinnell? Around 2013, the last time I was in the area, there were plans underway, and a lot of ambivalence. It seemed like most people had the common decency not to want to be associated with manufacturing tools for killing, but at the same time....JOBS!

 

[Nimbus]

Hey, as long as we are talking about the wonders of Iowa, did they ever build that big gun factory (I think that's what it was) near Grinnell? Around 2013, the last time I was in the area, there were plans underway, and a lot of ambivalence. It seemed like most people had the common decency not to want to be associated with manufacturing tools for killing, but at the same time....JOBS!

Are you talking about Brownells? They don't make guns, only some gun parts. They're one of the suppliers of magazines for M4 carbines to the military. Their biggest business is online retail.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...-store-stands-out-off-interstate-80/82335176/

 

[tihzho]

Actually not all of the members are expats in Indonesia - some are Indonesian citizens. At least three members (I won't identify them, it is their choice to reveal as many or as few of their personal details as they choose) are Indonesians who live outside Indonesia.

As for me, I am from the Northeastern United States. But I have lived abroad for 27 of the last 30 years.

Americans are a dime a dozen; Macedonia is MUCH cooler. Do you ever meet fellow Macedonians here?

What a coincidence! I am as well from Northeastern United States from what was at one time called "America's Armpit". And indeed it was when I was young! hahaha I also lived abroad for 31 of 33 years.

 

[Puspawarna]

Are you talking about Brownells? They don't make guns, only some gun parts. They're one of the suppliers of magazines for M4 carbines to the military. Their biggest business is online retail.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...-store-stands-out-off-interstate-80/82335176/

Yup, that's gotta be the one. It's been a while since I was there so I was shaky on details.

 

[waarmstrong]

We did not return until 2014; I am not up to speed on the status of the new Brownells factory, but when I drive by the Grinnell exit on the way to Iowa City dental appointments, I do notice a new building -- a huge gray nondescript structure that must be measured in acres rather than square feet. I'll bet that's the place of which you speak.

Thanks for the heads-up, though. Good to know that parts for my many autoloaders are likely close at hand. I wonder if they make aftermarket flame-thrower parts; I will probably need a new nozzle soon.

 

[Mas Mana]

I am German by origin, born and currently living in Hamburg.
My first contact with Indonesia was 20 years ago as a backpacker, which later led me to studying Austronesian Cultures and Languages. Have lived and studied in Yogya as well during that time, but have gotten more used to Jakarta as my "main point of reference" in Indonesia since graduating from uni about 10 years ago.
I hope to relocate to Indonesia again in late 2017.

 

[Wisnu]

another new comer, just found this forum today.
not an expat, Indonesian, was born in Jakarta, tempe lover,
a TKI by law (UU no. 39 - 2004),
living in dessert of new Cairo since early 2015 and so far has successfully grown kangkung (water spinach), lemon grass, sweet potato, cassava, lemon basil, banana (for the leaves) in our lovely garden here.

 

[Puspawarna]

Sounds like a great garden, Wisnu! I didn't have much luck growing things other than basil while we were in Cairo (2002-2007), but then I did not try very hard.

Did Cairo American College ever move out your way? It had been in Maadi for years when we lived there, and the school's Board of Trustees badly wanted to move out to a larger, newer campus in Katameyya. All parents (me included) thought that was a terrible idea. Given the tough times Egypt has been through (which has probably decreased the size of CAC's student body, due to fewer expats and rich Egyptians either leaving altogether or not having as much financial security as before), staying in Maadi was probably a good idea.

What do you do in Cairo? Have you taken a hike through Wadi Degla? If you haven't, you really should - it is awesome! And the White Desert is even better, although it is more of a production to go camping there.

 

[atlantis]

another new comer, just found this forum today.
not an expat, Indonesian, was born in Jakarta, tempe lover,
a TKI by law (UU no. 39 - 2004),
living in dessert of new Cairo since early 2015 and so far has successfully grown kangkung (water spinach), lemon grass, sweet potato, cassava, lemon basil, banana (for the leaves) in our lovely garden here.

Hey! Welcome to the forum Pak Wisnu. Glad to see you here among us and waiting forward to see some of the many astonishing pics of the "Wisnu family on tour".

 

[Missnaughty]

another new comer, just found this forum today.
not an expat, Indonesian, was born in Jakarta, tempe lover,
a TKI by law (UU no. 39 - 2004),
living in dessert of new Cairo since early 2015 and so far has successfully grown kangkung (water spinach), lemon grass, sweet potato, cassava, lemon basil, banana (for the leaves) in our lovely garden here.

Just checked the UU.. Now I know that Indonesian Expat is called TKI in Indonesian..