Random Pictures from Pat's Camera

We've been travelling with two cameras and finally we have a fast enough connection to upload some serious photos... here they are, in no particular order!






The view from our little hut in Perhentian Cecil.


The Ol' Swimmin' Hole. Teman Negara, Malaysia.


Taman Negara.


On the Canopy Walk, Taman Negara.


View from the canopy in Taman Negara.


Pat's shirt says "Save the Earth", incidentally enough, posing in front of the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur.


Teman Negara National Park, Malaysia.


Out for a little walk.


On the Skybridge, Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur.


View from the Skybridge.


My dream really HAS come true!


Kuala Lumpur's public gardens.


KL


KL


KL


KL


Central Market: Kota Bahru. Old Man Making Roti Canai.



I asked for my tea to go... Jerantut Station, Malaysia.


China Town, Kuala Lumpur.



Korean advertising in Melaka.



Portuguese Egg Tarts in Melaka. Amazing.


The night food market in Melaka.


Food market in Melaka.



Posing with "Cat" at Nora's Homestay in Bukit Lawang.


Bukit Lawang



The crazy bus to Bukit Lawang. Notice the motorbike and spare tractor tire? Anything goes!



Our jungle trekking guide, Sanur and I on the shady bus to Bukit Lawang.


The beautiful mosque in Medan, Sumatra.




On the balcony of our guesthouse in Medan, wearing the Batik shirt my honourary Javanese sisters gave me on the ship.


Waiting... and waiting.... and waiting... for the driver to take us to Medan from Belawan.



The crazy port of Belawan, Sumatra.


My roomies. Meet sister, Auntie, Janine and sister.


Pat and I and some of our many fans in Yogyakarta...


Working hard, or hardly working? Guard at the Sultan's Palace, Yogyakarta.




Thoroughly impressed, apparently, with Yogya.


Lotus flower, Ubud, Bali.


Art stands in Ubud, Bali.


Pat at the Raja's palace in Ubud.


Once a golden retriever lover, always a golden retriever lover.


Babi Gulung! Ubud, Bali.


Enjoying my Babi.


Getting tired of their "steal the glasses" game. Monkey Forest,


Temple at the Monkey Forest, Ubud.


Taking a little nap on our way to Gili Trawangan, Indonesia.


Our first day in Bali... overwhelmed by artistry!

Bromo and Borobudur, as promised:

We have been in Jakarta for about a day now, and I think we're both ready to leave! Other than the yummy homemade fries the little restaurant down the way makes and the cool music the guy at the internet cafe plays, we haven't really felt comfortable here and don't feel very bad about spending so little time getting to know the place!

We often support the Muslim countries that get a bad rap from certain governments, and Indonesia is no exception to the rule. The people here are beautiful and tolerant and they have a gorgeous country that everyone who gets a chance should visit. However, there are always some hardliners in the world who make beautiful places a little more scary than is necessary, and most of the hardliners in Indonesia seem to live in Jakarta. Not that we've had a hard time with anything; just the reaction some people have had to me (probably because I'm wearing shorts) has been a bit unsettling. I try to be sensitive to the culture, but there is no way I can wear jeans in Jakarta. It is so, so hot here! Side note* If every other woman in Jakarta was dressed so conservatively, I would be too, out of respect. But lots of women wear more revealing clothes than me!

As always, though, the vast majority of people are kind and smiling. None of our stuff (knock on wood) has been stolen, which we hear is the normal sort of annoyance here. But then, we heard that about Yogyakarta, too and had no problem. We heard that about Bali too, but they just scammed us there. No real harm done!

So this morning we went to the Tourist Information Centre to have them call and make sure our boat to Sumatra exists (apparently, sometimes they don't) and everything seems to be running smoothly. After that, we went to the National Museum. I must say, I wasn't too psyched about the idea. Someone told us to go to the museum in Yogyakarta, too, and all that was there were a bunch of dioramas documenting the communist takeover after WWII. Lonely Planet said this was a good museum, though, so we walked through the crazy traffic and got there just in time for a (*free*) English guide of the premises.

This is a great museum, with lots of artifacts, a knowledgable staff and really cool exhibits (like the entire room devoted to stuff found on shipwrecks). I also liked the exhibit of the different houses found over the archipelago. So interesting and creative! We spent a few hours at the museum and then went back downtown for lunch. After coming across some mean looking politicos who were very not happy to see me in my shorts and pink sunglasses, we changed direction and went to a "fast food" indian place for lunch. Yummy grub.

Then, because we are finally in a city with stuff that is slightly familiar to us, we went to the cinema and watched a terrible movie (they only had two choices and neither were great). Maybe the selection will be better in Kuala Lumpur; our next urban stopover. Stay tuned!


Bromo:



View from the horse I took back. I think he was as tired as I was, and I spared him the walk up the hill...



Bromo's belching, stinky gut (so much sulphur; my throat burned).









Borobudur: