Burninating the Oceanside

So the blog is still retroactive. Pretend it’s a month ago………

Bad news. Time to get on a boat again. We were booked, not for a 3 hour tour, but for a 3 day tour. It promised to show us several islands and the famed home of the Komodo dragons whilst carrying us to more-Eastern Indonesia.

Pics of Boat Tour and DRAGONS!!!

We booked with Perama, which is an Indonesian tour company, but also sort of like a summer camp. I’ll try to explain. We first bussed across the Island of Lombok to see the great things Perama was doing for the community. The first small town was our rock star tour stop. As soon as we get off the bus, there is a small marching band (all playing gongs, drums, and chime-type things) decked out in Perama T-shirts. We then are then marched along in a parade (in our honor) to the center of the village. As the band plays us along, every child in a 5 mile radius starts filing out of doors, windows, and the air to see the parading whities.

We crowd into a courtyard to see “traditional dance.” I think there was some dancing, but I don’t remember it. Because then this little guy walked out with a wooden shield and stick. So did another guy. A third man, a referee of sorts blew a whistle and put some money down on the ground. I figured I was a millionaire, so I did the same, as did the other whities. Soon the ground was full of cash, one stick guy was praying, and I realized they were not fucking around. They proceeded to beat the shit out each other for three rounds. I don’t know where that money actually went, but I do know boxing seems like a boring sport now.

Then we got on a little ship. The first night Jen and I decide to sleep up-top under the stars while we traveled. Worst idea ever. We nearly got swept out to sea. Only the gods of friction and gravity saved us. The best part of the boat trip was that the boat crew performed awesome dances at night and in the mornings. “The Perama Dance” consisted of captains, cooks, cabin boys, etc, doing a serious multi-version rendition of the electric slide. The next morning we were lined up on the beach and led in musically accompanied stretching exercises. It was awesome.

We soon arrived at Komodo Island. Unhappily, we were told that the dragons were mating, so we might not see one. I figured though, since there are 7 males for every one female, some dragon guy must not be getting lucky. This proved correct as we saw two massive guy dragons ambling around. How do I know they were guys? Because their names were Trogdor. Both of them. They were awesome. No worries about safety though. The most dangerous things were the souvenir salesman at the dock. One poor guy showed interest in buying a wooden dragon, and the salesmen went into an orgiastic frenzy I hope never to see the likes of again.

Soon the real danger would begin….

Why I'm Not a Real Pirate

Still in the past. I am currently a small town in the philippines, but the pictures below relate chronilogically to the last blog entry.

Welcome to Fantasy Island!

We had just left Yogyakart and flown to Bali, which i'm sure is a paridise if you can escape the Hell Hole known as Kuta, which is like spring break capital Indonesia, and motor scooter capital, and capital of people trying to sell you stuff. Dancing was fun in Kuta, and I did get to sing on stage w/ a cover band. I sang a Bon Jovi Song, "It's My Life" It was pretty boss.

We then decided to get the hell out after just two nights, and check out the more remote Gili Isles which were a couple boat rides away. Whoa. Yo ho ho, the pirates life is NOT for me. Jen, myself, and the rest of the free world on our boat were more praying for land-ho within 1 hour of our 5 hour ferry ride. Rocky seas combined with diesel fumes = not so awesome. The high point was that our indonesian ferry boat crew found every small event to be hysterical and demanded a Pee Wee's Playhouse-Word-of-the-Day-Type reaction. Once we finally reached our tiny island getaway, the crew had to use a smaller boat to shuttle people to land. Whenever the little boat took off safely, mass hysteria and shouting. When the boat returned safely, mass hysteria. When the guy driving our little shuttle boat missed the rope he was thrown, mass hysteria. When he caught it, same reaction. They were on crack 24-7.

Upon getting to Gili Air Island we had to wade with our packs thru about 50 ft of ocean swamp. Then we get picked up in a horse drawn cart and driven through a powerless island to our bungalow. Fortunately, the bungalow kicked ass. A bamboo hut w/ porch, hammock, mosquito net, etc. The next few days were spent sitting on a beach and thanking the Gods of Land that we were not on a ship. A special favorite point of mine (and Jen's, in retrospect) was when Gary the Gecko visited our bungalow bathroom. Geckos are everywhere, but this guy was almost 2 feet long!!! He also made this awesome clicking noise. i hope the picture does him justice. Unfortunately it was a one time sighting.

Yogyakarta Pics

Permit me to live a few weeks in the past. Here are a few highlight pics. They were actually taken back in July at Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Pictures of Awesome

Don’t be afraid, there are not a Mark Gantsian number of photographs. I believe no more than a baker’s dozen. If you really care for an explanation of these pics, you can look back at the posting entitled “Giving the People What They Want.” Only at that time, I did not live here in Manila, where the world of superior technology is at my fingertips.

There are more Indonesian stories and pics to come. Currently, we’ve finished the first week of school, and our Deluxe Apartment in the Sky is starting to look pretty flash. Pics of Awesometown (where I live) will be up soon also.

Back in Action

woooooooo. I'm back! At least, back in the world of non-dial-up internet that is. I'm in Manila. In fact, i start teaching children again tomorrow. But, i now am wireless in my apt. I'll try to retroactively walk you readers through my summer, over the next few days. Bear in mind, you'll be living in the past.

MOre later.