And This Is Why We Are Here...

I usually post about our families happenings on the blog, but today I have a little something different to share.  The real reason of why we are here.  The Mine.

Chris and his team are in the process of building the world's largest underground (UG) mining complex.  When the expansion project is finish, there will be FOUR world class mines in production UG.  They are designed to pull 240,000 tons of rock out A DAY!  Of course, that is in a perfect world where everything runs perfectly... but we do live where we live, and the only thing that is "perfect" here, is that nothing EVER runs perfectly!  Everyday, there is always a new challenge!

Yesterday, Chris took a new couple, from the lowlands, underground and invited me along.  I haven't been UG for a tour in almost five years! Usually Chris would take one of the kids with him on the weekend, but since we seem to be kid less these days, I decided I would go spend the morning with him.

Before the tour started UG, Chris tried to explain to us where we were going. I'm glad he knew where he was going because I sure as heck would have been lost the moment we drove underground.  There are approximately 500 kms of drifts (tunnels) UG!!

After we left his office, he took us to the MineGem room where men and women above ground controlled  muckers (loaders) underground. Because of Indonesian law, women are not allowed UG to work. So Chris found a way to get them involved in the mining process.  He also says they are better operators than the men and don't bang up his equipment! ;) 

This is the future of mining!

Now, the rest of this post is going to be all messed up and pictures are going to be out of the order of what we saw in the tour, because frankly, there were so many things that we saw and so many names, that I really can't keep it all straight!  

What these next pictures show, is what Chris does and what he does best!  He loves his job and you can really tell it by they way he talks about the project and by how he treats each and every one of the workers UG.  He always takes the time to shake the men's hands and tell them hi.  He checks out EVERYTHING to make sure it's all to the highest standards.  You can see the pride in the project just by how everything is so well taken care of.  The UG is cleaner than most cities!  That should surprise no one who knows Chris! ;)

Now, parts of the mine that I remember and can put the pics together...

The GBC (Grasberg Block Cave) mine rail project.

They are putting in an underground rail road for ore haulage and moving materials.  These pictures are not in order of how the operation of the rail will work, but just know that it is all so mind-blowing awesome!

Another area we toured was the ore flow system.  Rock is transferred to the belt that is taken to the crusher that is loaded in rail cars and taken somewhere... and something and somewhere... and will eventually end up at the mill.  :D  I would make a great mining engineer!! lol!!

This area wasn't lit up like the previous because of a power outage.  This is one of those "perfectly" things I was talking about earlier.

Just have to say... this crane was put in just to remove the crusher (two pics below) if it ever needs to be replaced!

GBC shaft.  This shaft, or underground elevator, will take people and materials from the terminal level to the working levels.  Yah, I'm not going to explain that.  Just know that it's another piece of the awesome UG pie! :D

Fantastic tour group.  We tried to take a selfie with the hoist in the background. Big time fail!  Our arms were not even close to being long enough to get everything in the pic!

A nice gentleman came and took a group pic with the hoist in the background.

And that brings us to the end of the tour... But first... "Let me take a selfie!!" :D

Before I go, I just want to remind everyone, that every nut, bold, beam, widget, (I'm talking EVERYTHING) that makes this place work, has to be brought up our ONE road, approximately 72 miles, in a sea container or on a flat bed trailer, in the middle of a remote mountainous jungle, to make this place happen!!

It is truly a fascinating place to live and work!!  We who have experienced PT Freeport Indonesia are truly some of the luckiest people on earth!!

Happy 18th Birthday Theodore!!

Yah, Wow!!  Our Teddy Bear is 18!  He's now "old enough" to buy cigarettes and lottery tickets and as Marz nicely put it, he's old enough to be charged as an adult! LOL!

Teddy, you have grown into such a thoughtful, kind human being, who truly serves humanity.  I cannot wait to see what plans God has for your future!

This year, Teddy is in the Philippines for his birthday.  His volleyball team is participating in the ACSC tournament.  What a great life experience for him!  However, before he left on his trip, we got to spend a couple days in Penang with him.  It's always fun to hang out with Ted and listen to him laugh! :D

On Sunday, we took a few of his friends and their families out for dinner and then the kids enjoyed some laser tag fun while the adults got to go hang out with a cup of coffee. 

Some shenanigans before their turn to play.

Finally the kids geared up and enjoyed a few games.  They look so fierce! ;)  Truth be told, four of the six older boys are looking into joining a branch of the military after high school... I think they took this laser tag stuff a bit serious... ;)

A Week In Bali

While the kids are away, we get to play.... At least I did!

This last week Chris attended language school so he could improve his knowledge of the Indonesian Language.  Chris is already quite good at speaking the language but there are some things, like changing nouns to verbs and verbs to nouns.  He also learned about how the Balinese cast system works and how the Indonesia Government works. (I'm pretty sure he has a good idea about the last...) ;)

Here are some pictures from his class experiences.  He would do the classroom work in the morning and then go one field trips in the afternoon to practice speaking to other Indonesians.

One afternoon he went to visit where they make the poop coffee.  Yup, you read that right!  These marsupials eat the ripe coffee beans and then poop them out!  The humans then take those pooped out coffee beans and roast them to "perfection" and Viola...  You have a "nice" cup of Kopi Luwak!

This is just one of those question in life for me of "Who on earth thought of this!!!???"

A Balinese museum that was built to display the Balinese culture.

Chris found this sign on one of his many morning walks.  It has nothing to do with "class"... But you always find the craziest signs in Indonesia, usually because something was lost in translation... or maybe this is just Indonesia's version of Hooters??   :D

There were many other field trips that Chris went on, but these are the only pictures I have.

While Chris was a class, I did what I do best... Got a very good dosage of sun along with a lot of reading time and FB time.  I only had one goal this week...  I didn't quite get there, but I gave it my best shot! ;)

Here is the villa that we booked.  It was absolutely beautiful and very quiet!  I lived at the pool.

I thought this was funny... No, I don't normally travel with my very own blanky, but I plan on bringing back some grocery items, from Malaysia, which requires extra padding, so since I had room in the luggage, I threw it in.  I'm glad I did... It was just a little bit cold in the room for me.  Imagine that... ;)  What I thought was funny is that housekeeping folded the blanket to resemble a crown.  At least it looked like a crown to me...  It's my story... lol!!!

My second most absolutely favorite thing to do in Bali is get my hair done!  The guys at Manik never  let me down!  It may look like a mess now... lol!!! but when they were done taming the mane, it turned out great!

I can actually call Mars from this chair!! ;D

After my hair was all done and I was presentable again, I met up with my friend Jeff and a friend of his, and we headed out to a restaurant called Standing Stones.

Black sand...

Better pic of Standing Stones. :)

It was very windy...

At dinner one night, we watched a married couple take wedding photos.  They didn't quite stop traffic, but they did make quite a few people stop and take notice.

Also at dinner, I noticed the statue had a swastika.  After looking "swastika" up on Uncle Google to see if I had the word spelled right, I discovered in the Hindu culture it means "well, good, auspicious, luck, success, prosperity."  Now it makes sense... :)

We then went walking around the night market area so Chris could practice his Bahasa.  The ladies loved him.  He bought something from everyone of them...  He was their good luck charm!

Now this guy was a hoot!!  When he saw me he asked me if Chris was my number 2 husband.  I knew exactly what he was saying... He thought I looked too young to be Chris' first wife...  Now I know enough Bahasa to get me in trouble... so I replied (in Bahasa) that Chris wasn't my husband but that he was my Bapak!!  Or translated... My Father!!!  LOL!!!  I just kill myself sometime!!  That guy, Johny Walker, (not kidding!!)  Laughed his head off!! :D

 My very first "Bogan" singlet...  I am so proud! ;)

All our treasures from the night...

The market was a great fun night!  

Now we are back at the airport waiting on our flight to Penang.  Tomorrow morning I'll get to hug my babies!!  I am so excited!!  

Bye Bali... You are still my favorite!

PS  I did not proofread!!  I need to run to my plane!! :D