Going with the flow

What this photo shows: me, Xander, and Zekey bobbing around on the waves with a lot of local kids at Tabula Nusa Beach, a gorgeously remote stretch of seaside about two hours west of the Papuan capital of Jayapura.

What it doesn't show: the relative height of the waves, which, at around two feet, weren't really dangerous, but strong enough to toss everyone around like so many assorted socks in a washing machine. Fortunately, unlike socks in the wash, nobody went missing. (One of those times where I had to squelch the Protective Dad instinct and watch the boys happily bob around and get smacked silly by an unexpected wave or two.)

Also not shown - many of the Papuan kids were eating corn on the cob, which, as Jane pointed out, is the perfect thing to eat while floating around on an inner tube in salt water. No butter, but the salt's all provided!

A few more pics, while we're at it... (Click to see them larger on Flickr)




Some of the local flotsam - a sprouted coconut and a cool spiny starfish of some kind.


Jane tried chewing betel nut, which turned her mouth a bright scarlet and made her an instant hit. Worthy of a post in and of itself...


And, yeah, I've posted this picture before, but have to do it again - if only to remind myself that I was there...

Some signage, most excellent...

Bangkok, near Chinatown in a neighborhood that specializes in automobile engine reconstruction


"Fried Chicken, Tofu, Tempeh"
Indonesia is full of roadside restaurants like this one with their specialty animals painted on them. Did I photograph any? Of course not, except for this one in Bali, near the end of our stay in the country.


The sign that pointed to our restaurant on the beach, on Bali's north coast. (Well, okay, actually the place that we ate at a lot - you know what I mean)


..and another sign from Bali to round out the group. Happy noticing, everyone!

Starting the day right

Had a quite chaotic day yesterday, which started off with finding that my very old glasses were broken, and also included my wallet getting stolen at a bus stop, a very long wait to fill out the required (and universally useless) police report, and lots of time on the internet to the States canceling credit cards. So this morning, I'm beginning the day on the beach:


Oh yeah, I was there, too! Okay, yes, life can be pretty good as well. Now off to teach an 8:00 class. In a cold unheated classroom. But I'll be imagining palm trees....