We are now in Java, Indonesia for a few weeks and we can safely say that the toilet standard has dropped. From the fanciest toilets ever to not being able to flush toilet paper (instead it goes into the bin next to the toilet – if used at all) is a big shock.

Plus the heat & humidity, the chaos of the roads and having to worry about hygiene – Should we be having ice? Should we be using the tap water to brush teeth? – it’s a bit different! On the plus side, the prices of everything is a LOT lower: one night’s accommodation in Japan gets us five nights here! Ok, the hot water might not exist but still – it’s great for our bank account 🤑

We are minor celebrities here – especially the kids. In Japan people would look at us sometimes, but not much more. In Java, people love to have their kids in a picture with ours for some reason. Probably not as bad as China (where they could be aggressive) or India (where it was grown men asking for selfies with my kids) as they tend to be polite and smiling/giggling. I still find it strange that white people are even a spectacle at all in 2025 but we are 🤷