50's not so bad!

So I was pretty bummed when I realized I was turning 50 with no old friends nearby. No girlfriends to take me to lunch and make me feel special :( I really wanted to have a big bang up party and invite everyone Peter and I ever knew to celebrate both our 50th birthdays! 30 and 40 did not seem like a big deal BUT 50 - good grief that's half a century and I still FEEL good! Peter came through with flying colors - he and the kids at my request took me to the National Orchid Garden Saturday evening. Peter really wanted to go and take pictures of the orchids - oh my gosh they had an incredible variety and they were all beautiful. We went to our favorite Indian restaurant and had yummy butter chicken.

On the morning of the 7th (the big 50) Peter and I caught a ferry to Bintan, Indonesia. On the ferry I got to open my present - a very cool new point and shoot camera. We arrived well before check in time so we took the Mangrove tour. Very cool, it was low tide so we saw lots of neat roots. As far as animal life we saw Monitor lizards, a Mangrove snake, a colorful Kingfisher and a monkey peeped out at us. Next I was treated to a 2 hour and 15 minute spa treatment, we did it as a couple so Peter got treated special, too. Sea Salt scrub, full body massage and foot reflexology - heavenly! After that we went to the resort and spent the rest of our time eating and relaxing by the pool or on the beach.

After 2 weeks of unpacking, organizing and setting up the house it was a wonderful treat to be able to relax. We both really enjoyed our time at Bintan. It is pretty amazing to live somewhere where you can travel 45 minutes and be at a tropical island paradise!

Now a little fiber talk. I found out yesterday that Rene Derewetzky (Tall Pines guild member) is living in Jakarta. Jakarta is an hour and 15 minutes plane ride from Singapore. One of my goals while living in this region is to learn more about the indigenous textiles. I've seen Laotian and Cambodian silks and the beautiful batiks and ikats of Indonesia. But I want to see them being made and learn more about the process. After talking with Rene this afternoon we have worked out a deal. She has spent 2 1/2 years in Jakarta and has seen many different local dyers and weavers in action. She knows where to go!!!! If I will go to Jakarta and help warp her loom she will take me around Jakarta and give me an Indonesian textile primer. Then she will tell me where I can go to see the actual weaver and dyers!! I am so excited! That means in the future I will have something exciting to share ....

Off to work on organizing the files, yuk!

Tracy