As I wake up I notice that something isn't right, my face has a slightly swollen feel and my left eye won't open properly. I have a flashback to a persistent buzzing noise around my head during the night and the slow realisation that the itchy bumps on my face are mosquito bites... ARGHHH!! Today of all days!!!! This is not good, definitely not a good look for a photo shoot. I rush to the bathroom to splash with cold water and then return to bed with a cold compress on my face.
By the time I actually need to get up, my face has deflated a little and I can open my eye, but its still not great. I venture out to meet Oscar at the local shopping mall with heavy make up and dark glasses!
Since my arrival in Jakarta, I had managed to resist the allure of the shopping mall, feeling that I would prefer to spend my time in the antique markets and the old town, but as I spent more time in Jakarta I realised two things. Shopping is a way of life for Indonesians and two, its no funny shopping in the open air, way too hot and sticky. So on my final day, I let Oscar escort me round one of the biggest malls, Grand Indonesia. It was pretty good, they have most major western fashion brands, both high street and designer, but also some quirkier smaller shops and an Indonesian store, Alun Alun dedicated to Indonesian arts and craft, where if I'd have had the space in my luggage for more things, I could have spent quite a bit!
It was then time for the photoshoot, my eye had deflated a little more by now, but was still not great so I asked the makeup guy to do a smokey eye thing, hopefully painting over the puffiness! The stylist thought it would be a good idea have a more stylised shoot, with Oscar and I in more traditional clothing from his collection. The photoshoot posed the usual problems for me, trying not to blink and attempting to smile naturally, not easy things for me, but eventually I think they got their shot!
I then got the text I had been waiting for all day....my husband had arrived!!! We had planned to take a holiday in Bali at the end of my trip as this was a part of the world neither of us had explored before. The original plan had been that I would meet him at the airport this afternoon and fly straight to Bali, but just before I left for Jakarta, Oscar had sent me my itinerary which had me down to attend the Queens birthday party at the Mandarin Oriental hotel tonight. Initially I was very excited, would I get to meet the Queen of indonesia?!! Was there even a Queen of Indonesia?! Either way it sounded glamourous. When I later asked Oscar about this event he informed me it was actually our queen, and the event was hosted by the British ambassador, a far less exciting prospect for me!!!! Anyway, we decided to change our plans and stay another night in Jakarta and Dean, my husband would join us at the party!
In the end it was quite a jolly affair, although after almost 2 weeks of eating yummy Indonesian food, the British themed buffet of sausage, mash and steamed vegetables seemed a little uninspiring and I longed for a bit of spicy peanut sauce. It was however good to meet again some of the people I had met earlier in my trip, especially Ni Luh Sekar, the super glamourous editor of Dewi magazine who gave me a detailed list of places to visit to visit in Bali that you know will be fantastic!
The ambassadors party and not a Ferrero Rocher in sight...
It finished early so we headed back to Oscars mother house, for the last night in Jakarta, will be quite sad to leave this city.....
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