2002-2005 (c) GetJealous.com, All rights reserved. http://www.getjealous.com/leedsmetindonesia/rss.xml We are a team of 19 volunteers made up of students and staff from Leeds Met University; Jade Mcloughlin, Gill Wood, Peter Khoo, Lara Stephens, Muchtar Mansyur, Su Robinson, Liz Carter, Kim Wilson, Kelvin Shewry, Gemma Dove, Andy Kirkman, Louise Tanner-Stokes, James Struthers, Jacqueline Grundy, Martin Flynn, Anne Schiffer, Katharine Hartley, Anthony Main, Lee Griffiths; accompanied by team leaders Janet Cochrane & Rupert Bozeat. On the 20th July we left sunny Leeds and head for Surarbaya, East Java, Indonesia. We worked at The Kaliandra Foundation; a non-profit organisation who works for the sustainable use of East Java's natural and cultural resources to provide responsible tourism opportunities. We helped with various tasks including building a playground, English conversation practice with staff of the organisation and children at local schools and an array of tasks relating to responsible tourism. Here we are in traditional Javanese outfits - check out our site to see our activites including fundraising for the trip. http://www.getjealous.com/leedsmetindonesia http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=383617&go=leedsmetindonesia Well after an early surprise return to Kaliandra from our travels, Kelvin and myself came back to celebrate Mr Bagoes birthday with all staff and family from Kaliandra! It was a lovely night where many people paid their respects to Mr Bagoes (although we didnt realise what was being said a tthe time!) and ended with a traditional dinner. Me and Kelv were then treated to another night in the eco... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=383617&go=leedsmetindonesia Fri, 7 Sep 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=374756&go=leedsmetindonesia Well, Kaliandra seems like a bit of a distant memory now after a hectic week in Bali. After 3 days in Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali, where we haggled our way through the busy markets, dodging the pulling hands of insistent market traders and then the Monkey Sanctuary being mauled by hungry Macaks, we departed for Kuta. From the tranquility of Ubud, Kuta came as a bit of a shock! After lots ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=374756&go=leedsmetindonesia Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=376265&go=leedsmetindonesia It was a proud day for the volunteers as we arrived to find the playground dressed up ready for the grand opening. It had been a hectic week with the key workers up at dawn every day and the whole team helping with the final construction on site. We were still putting the final touches to the playgrounds the night before but we were deligted and surprised by the welcome that awaited us. The who... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=376265&go=leedsmetindonesia Wed, 8 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=373819&go=leedsmetindonesia This morning was the grand opening of the playground. All the volunteers, Kaliandra staff, teachers, parents and of course children attended the opening ceremony at the local school. We all felt very proud when Rupert went forward to cut the ribbon and was presented with a traditional Indonesian head-dress. Our hard work was rewarded when we watched the first children running across bamboo bridges... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=373819&go=leedsmetindonesia Wed, 8 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=375634&go=leedsmetindonesia It was a night we didn't really want to come but we had a traditional fruit party thown in our honor for our time spent volunteering at the foundation. We started off with exciting dance performances from the Kaliandra staff, local women and both Leeds met and the University of Indonesia (UI) students who spent some time providing medical clinics for local villiages working with natural medicines ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=375634&go=leedsmetindonesia Tue, 7 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=375220&go=leedsmetindonesia Seeing as my blog writing career has been abysmal, well, non-existent, I decided to get my act together and review what's been written to see if I could add anything else. Although I think Gill briefly mentioned it, the last night hasn't been written about. And that night just cannot be forgotten! On this highly entertaining last night were a handful of performances from a group of young local ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=375220&go=leedsmetindonesia Tue, 7 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=373814&go=leedsmetindonesia Today has been very emotional we're leaving tomorrow and its time to say goodbye to everyone. I've found it particularly difficult saying goodbye to all the children we've been teaching over the last few weeks. As a surprsie for the teaching volunteers the children prepared their own special farewell celebration and performed songs and dances for us. It was great fun to watch and we were all very ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=373814&go=leedsmetindonesia Tue, 7 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=368820&go=leedsmetindonesia wow! I think I've actually just had the most productive day of my life! Somewhat surprisingly, the whole team bounced out of bed this morning for a 6am start on the playground. After loading the van and heading down to the playground site, the construction of the remaining towers began. I was a member of team tower 1, and despite a few mishaps ( me falling down a hole, for example) the tower we... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=368820&go=leedsmetindonesia Sun, 5 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=368387&go=leedsmetindonesia After a manic few days of sawing, plaining, sanding and drilling, tower 2 of the playground was finally ready to be transported to the the village school. We had been divided into teams and myself (the muscle), Su (the gaffer), James (the vision), Kim (the mouth), Jade (the looks), Agus (the brains), Eva (the chocolate bearer) and Sis (the mediator) formed the Tower 2 Team. Up at 6am and after a s... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=368387&go=leedsmetindonesia Sat, 4 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=368832&go=leedsmetindonesia today, i decided to try my hand at indonesian cooking, as the ameteur cook that i am, i have egarly being waitng for this day for a while. Louise and i began at nine, and don't think we anticipated the amount of preparation it would take to feed us greedy lot. The best part of the morning was spent trying to master cutting a bag full of green beans, i dont know whether we were more of a help or a ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=368832&go=leedsmetindonesia Fri, 3 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT