Suavamabhumi Airport, 6:00 pm

17 November 2011:

We are traveling all the way home on this day. We changed flights at Suavamabhumi airport in Bangkok, ahead of the long flight back across the Pacific to LA. Thai airways was very nice - extra money, but the leg room was well worth it to me. (iPhone, Camera+)

Am I starting to channel Edward Hopper? (http://litespeeddad.blogspot.com/2011/11/bar-pool-gili-trawangan-lombok.html, http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/111628)

Batik

16 November 2011:

Our last full day in Jakarta, and I have enough energy to go out and buy two souvenir batik shirts, with a lot of help from Lily and her brother. I like wearing these shirts on Fridays at the office. (Canon 30D)

Hotel Sari Pacific

15 November 2011:

This has been a very interesting homecoming. I lived in this Jakarta hotel from October 1976 through June 1977 when it was brand new. We are staying here for the last three days of our trip. The hotel employee working the breakfast buffet this morning has been here nearly that long, and she remembers that the grand opening was in November 1976. I am sure it has gone through several remodeling stages. I stayed in rooms on the lower floors, but on this trip we are up in the Pacific Suites on the 15th floor, courtesy of Lily's brother who recently had an office in this building. It looks a bit used, but not as bad as I would have guessed for being 35 years old. There are many new hotels and office buildings surrounding it that were not here in the late '70's.

The Big Wedding

12 November 2011:

The dates for our trip to Indonesia were chosen so that we could be present at the wedding of Lily's nephew. These three well groomed and attractive ladies are part of the larger family that attended the wedding today. (Canon 30D)

Note - I have not been able to shake what appears to be a head cold, and so the blog posts will likely not happen over the next few days while I try to get better.

Bryds

11 November 2011:

No, Rika is decidedly not shopping for a wedding dress. But I do get the impression that Bali is a wedding destination for many, and apparently today (11/11/11) was a very popular day to tie the knot. There are a lot of bridal boutiques in Bali. I love the name of this shop. With a rearrangement of the letters r and y you get a famous rock band from LA. Taken on a shortened version my morning walk, this time again with Rika. (Canon 30D)

My tailors

10 November 2011:

Way back in 1978 or so, while I was working in Jakarta, I had a suit made by a local tailor. Inexpensive, and it fit very well. Since then almost all of my dress pants have come from that same tailor in Jakarta. Every few years a traveling relative will have two or three more pairs made to my measurements and bring them to LA.

Here in Bali, the wife of a friend of Lily's brother also has a tailor shop and we gave them some business on this trip. I had a new sport jacket made and a pair of pants. The jacket and pants will get worn for the first time tomorrow night at the big wedding reception in Jakarta. Here is the proprietor and her 'cutting man' who did most of the work. (Canon 30D)

Pengemudi Sepeda Motor

9 November 2011:

After a lot of rain the previous afternoon and evening, our corner of Bali had significant flooding the following morning. The locals were all out surveying the situation, and this young man was perched on his 'motor' out in front of our villa. Lars had struck up a conversation with him as I returned from a walk, and I took his picture. The Indonesian population is decidedly young, and they enjoy talking to visitors. (Canon 30D)

Motor bike for rent

8 November 2011: Bali is predominantly Hindu, and there are Hindu shrines everywhere, including inside or alongside most if not all shops and schools. This open storefront just down the street from our rooms has a seemingly random and eclectic selection of things to choose from, including live chickens and motor bikes. This Hindu shrine is merged right in with life in the shop, and really does not have a counterpart in a western shop, storefront, or school. The proprietor was very friendly, like most Balinese. Taken on my morning walk with Rika. (Canon 30D)

Statue Portrait Day

7 November 2011

As found in Ubud, Bali. The red hibiscus is the perfect finishing touch.

Cidomo

6 November 2011
Today's transportation modes included all of the following: on foot, bicycle, speed boat (taxi between the island of Gili Trawangan and Lombok), swimming (snorkeling on Gili Trawangan), cidomo (horse cart on Gili Trawangan), car, and finally an airplane to return to Bali.

There are no cars, trucks or motorcycles on the small island of Gili Trawangan that lies just a few km off of the west coast of Lombok. You either walk, ride a bike (very slowly), or you take a cidomo. Here our party of 8 people with light luggage climbed into two carts to ride the few km from our hotel over to the boat ramp. (iPhone)

Bar at the pool, Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia

5 November 2011:

Just before sunset I was doing laps in the 50 meter pool that is in the foreground. It is the only pool in which I have done laps that also has submerged barstools at the end (!).

Maybe this image has a little Edward Hopper in it? (Canon 30D)

They're everywhere!!!!

4 November 2011. 

I am breaking the rules. Two posts today. 

Scooters and small motorcycles are everywhere - and I mean everywhere! It is the most common means of personal transportation. They use the existing roads and parking spaces in Bali very efficiently, even if they are a bit noisy. (Canon 30D, 3 stop neutral density filter)

Neighborhood boys

4 November 2011: As encountered on our quiet morning walk in the neighborhood. "Hey mister. Photo??" I obliged. (Canon 30D)

Morning offering

3 November 2011: Purna with the morning offerings, as seen at the end of our morning walk. The incense was quite nice. (Canon 30D)

Seen in a Denpasar supermarket

2 November 2011: What more need I say? (Canon 30D)

Suavamabhumi Airport, 6:00 am

1 November 2011: We landed at the international airport serving Bangkok at about 5:00 am after a 17+ hour nonstop flight from Los Angeles. This is the view from the second floor of the international transit area. We departed for Bali a few hours later. ( iPhone, Hipstamatic)