Last Days of Indonesia

Medan, Sumatra

This restaurant serves meatballs, chicken, duck, fried noodles, and ice cram.

Boys at the mosque on a Friday afternoon.

Masjid Raya Baiturrahman in Banda Aceh, Sumatra.

The 2004 earthquake and tsunami killed more than 170,000 people in the province of Aceh (61,000 people died in the city of Banda Aceh) and destroyed infrastructure along 800km of coastline. The mosque remained intact and served as a crisis center for survivors. It was also here where thousands of unidentified bodies were laid out and later buried in mass graves.

Tsunami Museum in Aceh, Sumatra

Breakfast with Mei, Elly, and Dita. Bogor, Java.

I met these lovely ladies at the bus stop in Yogyakarta. They let me tag along and hang out with them all day and even invited me to their home in Bogor, where I spent the night and had breakfast with them the following morning. These special people made my trip memorable.

Back to Alaska's Arctic

Photo taken by Jack in Wiseman

Packing up and getting ready for another adventure in Alaska's Arctic.

Java Days -- Part IV

Ninth-century Hindu temple near Prambanan.

Borobudur, ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument. I've wanted to come here for a long time.

Borobudur

 

On the bus, near Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta

Charcoal in coffee. Yogyakarta.

Crater Lake, Kawah Ijen.

I am back in Alaska. It was -40 degrees Farenheit in Fairbanks last night. I hear it was -65 degrees up north (yow!), where I will be going in a couple of days. Although I am excited about spending another winter in Alaska's Arctic, I already miss Japan and Indonesia. Here are more pictures from Java (Lombok pictures are below). Photos from Japan will be up soon. I hope you're staying warm, wherever you are :)

Lombok Days

Sweet Leni, cutest girl in the whole wide world. Senaru, Lombok.

Climbing Gunung Rinjani (my little yellow tent on the left). I was surrounded by monkeys.

One of my neighbors on Rinjani. Stefan from Switzerland.

Post-hike beverage. Rice wine from Senaru, sold in reused plastic water bottle.

Siblings in Kuta, Lombok.

Monkey relaxing.

Happy Weekend

Love this girl.

Thank You!

Goodies from aunt Toshie's organic garden! I am grateful that we are able to eat delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables that are uncontaminated, free of pesticides and free of radiation!　　幸せ者です、私。　

Bali Days -- Part II



People in Bali are warm, welcoming, and extremely tolerant of oblivious foreigners. Here, strangers smile, wave hello, and chat with you. What a beautiful thing! Of course, there are dishonest folks who you should not trust...but I met so many people who were genuinely kind and good. I lost count of how many people who stopped to help me when I was lost, who took me out for food and refused to let me pay for any of it, who invited me to their house...even with my dirty backpack, stinky sneakers, and broken bahasa Indonesia. Terima kasih BANYA to all the amazing people I met, who make me look at the world differently and fill my heart with love. Thank you! XO

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Japan :)

Happy to be with my family in Japan for New Year's Day 2012!

I am behind as usual...I have more to post from my Indonesia trip. Lombok and Sumatra photos coming soon. XO

Bali Days -- Part I

Bali was a little overwhelming at first. Traffic, hordes of people, litter, stray dogs, men on the street asking if I need "transport, transport" every 5 seconds and getting ripped off again and again...but if you stick around long enough, the beauty of the island and the gentle and friendly locals will win you over.

Java Days -- Part III

This morning's breakfast. 3,000 rupiah ($0.33) for rice, noodles, tempeh and tofu. Perfect.

Java Days -- Part II

Indonesia is HUGE. The country is like a continent. I am currently traveling through Java and will be ending my trip in Sumatra. Man, time flies...Even though traveling in Indonesia has given me grey hairs and high blood pressure (more on this later), I am already thinking about coming back. One day, I hope to explore Sumbawa, Flores, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, West and East Timor, Maluku, Papua...There's too much to see!