When he was an NGO worker involved in gender rights in farming communities, Hartoyo says he was greeted as a hero wherever he went. Today, in his more personal battle for gay rights in Indonesia, it’s a much lonelier journey.
To read the complete story, Click here
Please post this link on your site, everyone needs to read this.
That was actually a question for this blog. Seems there is no time or interest to update it since I have moved to Bali. There have been a ton of activity around here so this blog has been put on the back burner for some time. I really want to start posting again soon. I have pictures I could post but they are all on Picasa or my Where is Whittle blog. So, visit those sites if you want and I’ll try to come up with some ideas for this blog.
I thought I had the posting via email working but, it only posts two lines of what I write, I have it set for 250 lines but still only two post. And attaching photos only causes a big list of garble that makes no sense.
So until then, I’ll use Scribefire on Firefox to post until I get the email thing fixed. Actually, Scribefire is easy to use, guess I could just use it and forget the email route.
Here is us on New Years Eve at Q Bar in Seminyak, then we was off to Double Six Club for more drinking and dancing. Truly the best New Year of my life, to be with my husman to celebrate it.
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here. Been too busy enjoying life in Bali with Vickar. I’ve been posting pictures at Where is Whittle so you can go there to check them out. I’d post pictures here but it’s a long process and not that easy. If I could ever figure out how to “email” to the blog I’l post more of them here.
So lie in Bali is wonderful. Been going around to different beaches, sights and temples. I’ve learned to drive on the left side of the road, our motorbike has been wonderful to have. Easy to just take off and venture around without having to worry about taxi fares. We’ve rented an APV recently when friends visited and it was a joy to drive. Of all the horror stories you hear about driving in Indonesia, they are not all true. Just keep your head about you and take your time. Traffic is easy to get through and it helps to take time to look at maps and take the “non tourist” routes. These will always be plugged up with traffic so it can be avoided. Also, taking taxi’s for a while after we moved here helped learn the “rules of the road” and find our way around. Taxi drivers here are great for the most part.
So, that is that for now. Thanks for checking in and I’ll see about posting more soon.
Well, a trip to Singapore for my social visa was in order so it was a mini vacation from Bali. Who would ever need a vacation from Bali? It was nice but great to be home at the villa.
After what seems forever, I figured I might as well get back to posting something, this blog has not had the attention it deserves.
As for an update, currently I’m living with Vickar at Villa Tibu, located in Legian, Indonesia. That is on the island of Bali. I arrived in Medan on August 25th to the waiting arms of my dream. The flights were uneventful except for the eerie feeling of my luggage not showing up at LAX when I did. The flight from Arkansas USA left a little late, putting me in Dallas a little late. After a rush to my next flight to Las Vegas, which left Dallas late, was full of the excited passengers, going to “Vegas” for their fun filled weekend. The flight was stuffed full and I was just happy when it finally took off. The flight was bumpy to say the least, not bad weather but in August in the US it that hot transitional time for the seasons. It was just rough air.
The flight attendants (both daddy types) was both humorous and attentive. As one attendant put it to a passenger, “you better buckle her in or she will be riding the short bus to school”. They made the best of the rough ride for everyone. I think I slept most of the flight, not really from being tired but just relieved to be on my way to my lovers arms.
Landing in Las Vegas was a little rough but safe. Arriving late put me in a rush once again to my flight to LAX. Once at the gate it was only 5 minute wait to board. It was a TED flight by United, an Airbus, very nice plane. The flight to LAX was smooth and we arrived a little early. After sitting on the taxi way for 10 minutes we deplaned and off to the luggage carousel to collect my bags and get something to eat. After waiting for a long time and the carousel stopping, I had no bags. A feeling of helplessness started to creep up on me. I went to the luggage help counter to find out my bags was not scanned on the flight. So the clerk pulls out the “Lost Luggage” form and proceeds to ask me “What color and style are was your luggage”? OMG, what do you say when your luggage looks like every other piece of luggage that others have? Guess I should have taken photos (good idea to keep in mind) just in case. But that was the last thing on my mind, losing my luggage.
So I provided all the information I could, was given a form and then I proceeded to American Airlines Luggage counter. They did not find my luggage in the system meaning it was somewhere (duhhhh). Finally the deduction was that since the AA flight was late to Las Vegas, there was not time for my luggage to be transferred to the TED flight to LAX. I was told by the United Airlines representative that there was another flight leaving Las Vegas at 8:30 pm and if my luggage was scanned onboard they could tell me after the flight was boarded. So, being hungry and feeling kind of helpless, I decided to just go eat.
I went to the Tom Bradley international terminal (by the way, it’s a long walk), found a sit down booth with a plug in and fired up the laptop. I had a sandwich, fries and some hot tea. Called Vickar to let him know I was at LAX and told the story about my luggage. I told him it would not stop me from my flight to Medan, they would just have to send it if/when it showed up.
After dinner I walked back to the United Terminal (#7 I think) and checked with the nice lady that had taken over the counter. After she logged on and checked, I could have danced right there. My bags was on the flight and would be arriving in LAX at 9:35 pm. So I found a spot to sit down in the floor and waited. I think I called Vickar again and updated him on my luggage. After the flight arrived I once again stood at the carousel and waited. What seemed forever turned into forever I think. Once again, after watching tons of bags go by, mine was not to be seen. So, back to the United Luggage counter, the nice lady making a phone call, and presto, they showed up, finally!!!!
So, renting a baggage cart for $3 (very well worth it) I was off to Tom Bradley terminal again, with a great feeling in my heart. Things were looking up. Not worrying about what seemed miles I had to walk, it was a great feeling to be pushing my life possessions on the way to my next flight.
Arriving at Malaysia Airlines ticket counters, there was quite a few ahead of me. Each one seemed like it took forever to check in, but my turn finally came. Getting my boarding pass, off through security I went to the same gate I had departed at in April. Expecting another bus ride to the airplane, this time the gate had been remodeled and the plane was sitting right there. Great feeling once again.
The flight boarded on time, got the seat I had requested, and settled in for the flight. On takeoff I just looked out and said Good Bye to America. My plans are to live in Bali and only return if necessary. Selling everything and starting a life with my man on the opposite side of the world is a dream come true, and a true gift from God.
Dreams do come true, just have faith, believe and follow your heart.
Sedikit-sedikit lama-lama menjadi bukit (Take it one step at a time)
More later……………….
Yep, made it to Indonesia on the 25th as scheduled, today will fly to Bali and our home. So ready to get settled in and start life here. Will post more later when I have time!!
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