of Money and Magic Potties

The value of the Indonesian Rupiah is at just under $9000 per US dollar. I'm sure that many factors influence this, but it has been a bit of an adjustment receiving bills for dinner for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Thankfully their money is similar to Canada with many different colors. I did once almost tip $60 what should have been $6. Luckily I had a honest waiter.

Our driver today lamented that his 60 year old father lost his rice crop for the fourth time in as many harvests to rats. There was great compassion in his voice for the plight of his family, and he was soo thankful for the $10 we paid for an hour in his car. (Oddly, gas is less than 50 cents per litre here...go figure!)

There is one picture I felt required special attention. Cadsie has always had a bit of an issue with toilets. She is fine at home, but she had one especially traumatic experience with one of those automatic sensor toilets at IKEA a year ago. Since then, these evil contraptions have been referred to as 'Magic Potties.' Despite several successful escapades since, every new bathroom has to be fastidiously inspected prior to use.

One thing we've appreciated here is the lack of 'Magic Potties,' However, we underestimated the prevalence of 'squat potties.' They are a step above a hole in the ground, but not much of a step,(pun intended) what they gain in offering privacy, they lose in offering privacy to cockroaches. I am pleased to announce that Cadence is the bravest of us all, and the only one to conquer these hygienic atrocities! (She does however have the benefit of having me act as a human hammock / toilet seat.)

The Good Night Leaf was found on our pillow tonight. Many such sweet surprises arrive here. The flower is called Frangipani and is as pretty to smell as to look at. And so we to wish you good night. (Though I suppose it is now 7 in the morning there...)