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August 2005

High-Points

• Mimpi Gula Guest Room!

• The family gets bigger

Mimpi Gula Guest Room!

We had our first guests (paying) in our special room.  After hanging up our best Balinese art, putting our favorite local wood carvings out, placing some great reading material for the guest on the tables, buying new towel sets and some fancy soaps.  Then putting in some plants, creating some menus (breakfast and dinner), and a nice flyer to put up in town, we were ready!  Our first call came just a few days later.  A very nice young couple from Belgium that were in Bali on their honeymoon called.  They asked about the location and the price ($22/night) and said they wanted to see it.  At 9AM the next morning, I met them on the path to our house and showed them the house and room.  They loved it and stayed for 3 days!  They said that staying in Ubud was just too noisy!  So, we look forward to more guests!  (I've now created a nice web page with images and info at: http://www.brucebriscoe.com/mimpigula)

The family gets bigger

I have met Yanti's family when I first visited them before we were married.  She has her parents, 3 brothers and no sisters; plus (at that time) two grandmothers. This entire family was present when Yanti & I married in Bali and there were several pictures taken of them (Click here for ALL the Wedding images from Sept 2003).  While we were in China one of her grandmothers passed away L .  There are also 5 grandchildren.  Her father is a salesman and a driver; while her mom has her own warung (small cafe).  Two of the grandchildren are now aged 5 and 6.  They are both very sweet and very cute.  They were attending school in Java and living with their grandparents (Yanti's folks) and being raised by them. 

Yanti and I discussed this in great detail while we were in China and determined that it would be great if WE raised them and sent them to school here in Bali.  We felt that this opportunity could and would change the entire direction of their lives.  Learning to speak English; attending better schools; perhaps visiting the US some day; and, eventually, being adopted by us!

So, when we came back to Bali, one of the things we looked for in a house was one with room enough for a bigger family.  Well we found it in our current house.  4 bedrooms, each with their own full bath and a large kitchen and a big yard; all in a quiet and safe area, just to the east of Ubud itself.

So, after Yanti & I moved our things, we called her family and had them all come for a visit.  Her Mom & Dad, 2 brothers, grandma, and the two kids all arrived in a car and a truck (the truck bringing our stuff from Java).  Her dad only stayed one night as he had to get back to work, while one brother stayed about a week and was a huge help doing the things around the house that need doing when you first move in.  Mom went back after a few more days and so now the house is back to 'normal';  her bother who is a HUGE help (driver, landscape guy, and general helper); her grandmother (who helped raise Yanti when she was little and is here as a semi-retired person (but insists on helping by doing laundry and ironing)); and the two kids!

The kids names are Fifin (pronounced 'Fif in') and Fany (pronounced 'Funny').  Fifin is in kindergarten while Fany is in 1st grade.   Fany's school is fantastic.  It's called Taman Hati, which means, literally, a 'park for the heart'!  Here's some images of them (Click here for ALL the NEW Family images)

Coming up:

October - Yanti visits So. Calif. for a short week to finalize here US Visa!

January 2006 - Bruce AND Yanti visit SF and LA with a stop in LV to see Elvis.

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Guest Room for Rent - Flyer

Our 2 daughters - Fifin & Fany

Bali
...Well, it's there somewhere above Australia and below Singapore...