Sellers around the Mountain

>> Aug 25, 2014

Happy Monday, happy new week to all! How’s your weekend? I went no where, just stayed at home as I was not in good health; but I’m much better today. I have no fever anymore.

I still feel a little headache, but it’s not annoying. For Blue Monday this week, I’ll share my captures of sellers around the Bromo Mountain (East Java, Indonesia). Only people from the local tribe named Tengger who are allowed to earn a living from this tourist destination by renting horses, selling stuffs, etc. Tengger people also have responsibility to keep the mountain.

The spot of sellers.

She must face cold wind, sun heat and sulfur gas every day. I didn't buy any bottled drink as they are exposed to the sun. Alternatively, you may order hot drink. It's safer option.

For residents of Bromo (Tengger tribe), Mount Bromo believed to be a sacred mountain. Once a year, they hold the ceremony Tengger Yadnya Kasada or Kasodo. The ceremony held at a temple located at the foot of Mount Bromo and proceed north to the top of Mount Bromo. It starts at midnight to early morning -every full moon around 14 or 15 in Kasodo (tenth) according to the Javanese calendar. This year, 2014, the Kasodo ceremony was already held at 11^th August.

The temple on the background.

The temple captured from the Bromo Peak.

Should Fever be Treated?

>> Aug 23, 2014

I’m not already in good health but I feel better today. I’ve got cold symptoms for the last few days and I had fever during the night –it was hard for me to sleep well. At first, I didn’t take any medicine to reduce my fever as I’ve ever read that a fever is a sign that one’s body is fighting infections. So, fever is not a bad thing, essentially. But then I decided to take a drug as I already felt very uncomfortable.

image:wikihow.com

I’m still wondering, should we care for a fever or let the fever run its way? So, I searched a little and found this guidance from mayoclinic.org.

Age	Temperature	What to do
Infants
0-3 months	100.4 F (38 C) or higher taken rectally	Call the doctor, even if your child doesn't have any other signs or symptoms.
3-6 months	Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally	Encourage your child to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isn't needed. Call the doctor if your child seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable.
6-24 months	Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally	Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). If your child is age 6 months or older, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) is OK, too. Read the label carefully for proper dosage. Don't give aspirin to anyone age 18 years or younger. Call the doctor if the fever doesn't respond to the medication or lasts longer than one day.
Children
2-17 years	Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally for children age 3 and younger, or taken orally for children older than 3	Encourage your child to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isn't needed. Call the doctor if your child seems unusually irritable or lethargic or complains of significant discomfort.
2-17 years	Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally for children age 3 and younger, or taken orally for children older than 3	Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Read the label carefully for proper dosage, and be careful not to give your child more than one medication containing acetaminophen, such as some cough and cold medicines. Don't give aspirin to anyone age 18 years or younger. Call the doctor if the fever doesn't respond to the medication or lasts longer than three days.
Adults
18 and up	Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken orally	Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isn't needed. Call the doctor if the fever is accompanied by a severe headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath, or other unusual signs or symptoms.
18 and up	Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken orally	If you're uncomfortable, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or aspirin. Read the label carefully for proper dosage, and be careful not to take more than one medication containing acetaminophen, such as some cough and cold medicines. Call the doctor if the fever doesn't respond to the medication, is consistently 103 F (39.4 C) or higher, or lasts longer than three days.

I took medicine yesterday when my fever reached 39 C; so I think I have done the right thing. I’m glad that this night the fever doesn’t come.

Care for Your Newborn Baby

>> Aug 19, 2014

Newborn babies look weak, but they aren't as fragile as you think. In just a few weeks, you will comprehend the skills of nurturing your baby. Here are some treatments for newborns that need attention.

image:cbc.ca

Umbilical cord care.

Baby's umbilical cord needs to be cleaned and dried to speed up healing. Every diaper changing, fold the diaper below the belly button in order not to harm the navel cord. Allow the cord to dry naturally; don’t rub it with alcohol. Don’t worry if there are little spots of blood on the diaper when the umbilical cord is healing. But if it’s bleeding a lot, get medical attention immediately. Don’t pull on the cord, let it loose by itself, usually occurs 1-2 weeks after birth. If it doesn’t come off after 3 weeks, contact your doctor.

Scalp treatment.

Cradle cap is a form of eczema that is not detrimental to baby’s health, but it isn’t a pretty sight. The cure: rub with baby oil, wait for 30 minutes, then slowly remove the scales using baby comb and shampoo. Be sure to wipe clean baby oil on the head, because the rest of baby oil can worsen the condition. Do it every time before baby bathing. Scales will be gone in 1-2 weeks.

SIDS safety.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden deaths under 1 year old when the baby is sleeping. There’s a fact that 90% SIDS occurred when the first 6 months of age, most often affects infants aged 2 and 4 months.

The possible causes are still not clear, yet SIDS usually occurs in the winter, and baby boys at greater risk. In the United States, SIDS happens to 1: 1400 babies. The study mentioned that supine sleeping position may reduce the chance of SIDS.

Other important ways: avoid cigarette smoke around the baby, don’t place cushiony sleeping items in the crib, keep the room temperature is not too hot, and give breast milk to increase the baby's immune system against respiratory infections.

Baby acne.

Small pink protrusion on baby's face and chest, which is often the case in the age of 2 weeks and 4 weeks, due to the release of mother hormones from the baby's body systems. So, make sure the baby's skin clean and dry, don’t squeeze pimples or grease any medicine on it. Acne will disappear in a few weeks, a little longer in breast-fed babies.

Indonesia Independence Day

>> Aug 18, 2014

Every 17^th August -like yesterday- we celebrate our independence day. The day usually filled with festive and celebrations. About a week before, the preparation is already seen. People hoist flags on their homes along with red-and-white decoration placed throughout the city.

Captured a few days before the independence day in my city. Long flag on the fence of Bogor Presidential Palace.

Many communities and neighborhoods arrange and held fun activities and contests. It’s a pity our neighborhood had no special celebration this year. So I just saw a flag hoisting ceremony at the Presidential Palace on television yesterday morning.