Today (Sunday) begins the muslim month of fasting and (extra) prayer.  While I am not a muslim, I know that this is very serious for them ... they are not allowed to eat during daylight hours ... so they must get up VERY early ... eat, pray, work all day, pray, then eat ... and then try to get 4-6 hours sleep before starting again.  This goes on for a month.  It is very tough on their bodies and work and other things slow to a crawl ... especially in the afternoons.  Muslims and non-muslims have to adapt.

Speaking of adapting, many places that are normally open are now closed, so it is very important to check ahead on key places of dining and entertainment.  Case in point - massage businesses are under pretty strict orders to be closed ... UNLESS, they are located in certain areas, hotels, etc.  Our favorite place (called "Bersih Sehat", which means "clean and healthy") in the Majestic area is closed for one month ... but, Bersih Sehat in the Bintaro area is open ... so yesterday we went to Bintaro ... I don't fully understand the logic, but I can manage and adapt.

Here's one I don't understand .. but am thankful for. After the massage we went for Nasi Padang (Indonesian "buffet" from the area called "padang" on the island of Sumatra).  The men wore skull caps and the women wore jil-bobs (I'm sure I spelled that wrong).  Anyway, I swore they were muslim ... but it was strange they were serving food.  They had the TV on .. it was in Bahasa Indonesia ... my understanding of the language improves daily and I was certain the guy on TV was preaching about Jesus.  Suddenly, Decy pointed it out to me ... and he was ... so why was the restaurant watching Christian TV ????

The Fortuner arrived yesterday.  Metallic black with dark tinted windows.  A truly beautiful and "beefy" machine.  A very smooth ride ... and one feels quite safe in it.  JOB WELL DONE DECY !!!! (CrV is ok too ... and smaller sized, as per our plan).  I'll try to post a pic of the Fortuner tonight.

Palm House progress.  I think we are moving forward on signing the lease.  I will know more as the coming week unfolds but perhaps by Wednesday I can tell people about the "signing date" ... and maybe even a tentative move-in date.  BUT, I don't want to get my hopes up ... this IS the Ramadam period.

This week Decy is going to pay off the balance owed on the furniture she has already bought ... things like beds, couches, dinettes, etc.  She is going to start queuing that up for delivery at the Palm house ... although we don't yet have a move-in date.  KEY FOCUS on new purchases will be what I calll the "day-1" items that we must have at the time of move-in ... safe, towels, soap, toilet paper, sheets, something to cook on, eat on .... etc.  After we get done with the day-1 items we will consider buying additional items ... but will wait (a) until we are moved in and see exactly what we have/need, and (b) until we can get our finances better lined out.

Gotta run ... thanks for "listening" to me.  Hope you find some of what I write as interesting.

ciao ciao