I’ve been on holiday for over three weeks now, since I’m online much of the work day, I thought I’d take a break from the internet, hence my recent lack of posting.

We decided to stay in Jakarta for the entire break this year, mainly because I’ve been trying to be more financially responsible (skip the next few words), and prioritized the purchase of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (still need to sell my 5D), but also because we had to prepare for the photo exhibition.

As tough as it is seeing most of my friends and co-workers take off to exotic locations for those three weeks, in the States you’d be lucky to get two weeks a year. Having spent two months in the States last summer helped to quench my wanderlust slightly, but also knowing that I have two more holiday periods coming up (a week in March and one in April), helps ease my mind.

It’s been nice to be slightly more ‘off the grid’, but I’ll resume work tomorrow and back to my routine. It was wonderful to relax, enjoy time around Jakarta with friends, and release some of the stress that had built up this Autumn. (can you still refer to Sept-Nov as Autumn on the equator?) Compared to previous years, it admittedly was a bit of a drag sitting in Jakarta. Generally we’d be in Bali, Cambodia, Thailand, etc. The only real bummer is how the days seem to slip by when you’re not doing much. I feel as if our trip to Cambodia and Thailand last year lasted much longer than a few weeks.

But it’s time to get back into the gym, return to Muay Thai (took a break from these as well), and start maximizing my productivity with the time I have.

As if to play a cruel joke to end my vacation at home, fate (or tequila) allowed my wallet to be lost/stolen on Friday night. I was enjoying an evening with old friends and new at Eastern Promise, and somehow for the first time in my life, my wallet went missing. After finding out that Indosat didn’t allow overseas calls, Twitter friends and Skype came to the rescue. It was amazing to see how people I’ve never met face-to-face came to my aid. I had numerous offers for assistance, both financially and with contacting my credit card companies.

I think we’ll be alright for a few weeks, as long as the cards come. Unfortunately, I transfer all my money to the States and can no longer access it for the time being. Luckily though, Novita still has a couple of credit cards and some money in a local account. If I’m a nice boy perhaps she won’t let me starve.

As if this wasn’t enough icing on the cake, I fell into a canal while searching for my wallet (not much blood), and today while working on a very large photo (75x110cm) for the exhibition, we broke the glass. I’m starting to wonder if I should even leave the house with my recent luck.

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year.