So much happening yet so little I wish to talk about here.... Just thought I'd let you know I'm still here and traveling along nicely, thanks. Went with a couple of lecturers to visit the district offices in Sidoarjo where the hot mud is bubbling away. Stopped at the site on the way back and it really is a disaster! That was nearly two weeks ago and I've since been 'wading' through the mountain of information I have accumulated. My pembimbing (supervisor) has arranged for me to speak with some politicians to gain their party policies on this situation. I wasn't keen on this but have decided I can later go to the people who are effected and base my interviews on "policy verses reality". I read that sometimes the weight of such mud, on top of earth that's obviously unstable, can cause the ground to collapse by as much as 500 metres! Hate to be around if that happened. Fortunately 'this' mud is quite watery so it probably will never happen.
Because I've been reading so much I haven't been out there practicing my language as much as I'd like but figure there will be plenty of time, so not stressing...YET.
I have, however, learned somethings even in the 'comfort' of my room....

1: When squashing a cockroach limited pressure is required or they WILL splatter!

2:Watermelon can be fermented within 24hours, storage in a black plastic bag is recommended if this is the desired outcome...

3:Masuk Angin exists! This illness is the Indonesian version of feeling a bit "crook". I know it is real as I was invited to a function at 7am (YES SEVEN IN THE MORNING) so used the 'masuk angin' as an excuse to not attend. You guessed it, before the day was over I had the symptoms. Eating fresh pear was suggested to me so I did (and took flu pills) and I am now well on the way to recovery. Strangely enough this morning I did have a little "panas dalam" (hot inside) which is the other Indonesian excuse for a sickie!

Since living in Malang I have realised I am a water waster...hangs head in shame. I buy my drinking water in bulk and drink 20litres a fortnight which is fine, but my bath and laundry water I am now aware of because I must run downstairs to turn on the mains when I want to fill my "mandi" (eerrr plastic tub to you). I use this to bath, flush and do my laundry...NOT AT THE SAME TIME! I seem to be forever sitting on the bottom step waiting for the tub to fill, it would hold about 30 litres and I fill it about ten times a week! Shame shame.... And yes you heard right...do my laundry; by hand! I do this for a couple of reasons...
1: Why not, there's only me and most Indonesians hand wash
2: I am sick of having the life "scrubbed" out of my clothes at the laundry... I'm now the proud owner of several pairs of 'whitish' jeans (also funny how your nicer things disappear in the wash....)
3: I can't be bothered carrying it up and down stairs to a laundry...this is the prime reason actually hahaha
4: My landlady irons it if I leave it out, even bras and towels...what a star!