I admit it. This picture was taken a few years ago, but I think I still look vaguely like that. Depends on the day (and the time of day). And today, just before I uploaded this picture, an Indonesian English student told me how much she liked my nose. I heard that a lot in Indonesia. Apparently, a large nose like mine is a good …
Read the full story »19 – No Bridge! Crossing the River by Raft
Wednesday August 15, 2018
6:30 a.m. Room 10, Kana Wisma
Meureudu, Aceh, Sumatra
Well, I’m afraid it is that time again, the time for a graphic account of being very ill. This has been a very bad one so far, but I also got a bit lucky. The lucky part is that I made it through the entire day of cycling and getting a hotel room and getting …
18 – Fixing My Bike and Other Gear in Sigli
Monday August 13, 2019
6:30 a.m Ramshackle Room, Wisma Dian
Sigli, Sumatra
I was woken up by the call to prayer this morning at around five a.m. I felt like I should sleep longer, but I wasn’t able to. So I got up and went about my early morning routine. That involves taking down my mosquito net and setting it aside, plugging in my kettle for hot water, …
17 – The Coast Road and a Construction Camp
Sunday August 12, 2018
6:20 a.m. Ramshackle Room up the stairs at the Wisma Dian
Sigli, Sumatra
(100,000 rupiah per night; big room, two single beds with hard wood frames and hard mats; junky table; plastic stool; no sheets or blankets but supplied towels; private bathroom with occasional water flow; very dirty)
The skies looked perfect when I woke up in Banda Aceh for my planned departure. The owners …
16 – Rain and More Rain in Banda Aceh
Thursday August 9, 2018
4:30 a.m. Griya Arida Hotel
Banda Aceh, Sumatra
The plan is to get back on my bike this morning and head out of town. I’m still drawn a little bit to the paradise tourist island of Pulau Weh, but unless I get a sudden irresistible urge, I don’t think I will be going there. But you never know.
I was just sitting here considering my …
15 – Return to Banda Aceh
Wednesday August 8, 2018
6:15 a.m. Room in the House, Griya Arida
Banda Aceh, Sumatra
My time in Kuala Lumpur passed easily. I ran some errands, met up with some friends, and bought a couple of items for my bike. Then it was time to head to the airport to catch my flight back to Banda Aceh. The flight went smoothly, though my arrival at the airport was …
14 – Short Trip to Kuala Lumpur
Sunday August 5, 2018
7:00 a.m. Room 216, Rain Forest Hotel
Chinatown District, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
45 ringgit per night ($11 US) – shared bath, air con, WiFi, clean, modern, professional staff, great place
I never was able to fully relax in the coffee shop at the airport in Banda Aceh. I kept wondering when immigration would open. I wondered if maybe I was at the wrong part of …
13 – The Griya Arida Hotel in Banda Aceh
10:30 a.m.
Room 102, Hotel Griya Arida
Banda Aceh, Sumatra
Well, I am relaxing in luxury. Luxury, I tells ya.
I ended up booking a room at a place that would normally be quite outside my budget. But I started with the thought that my dirty, horrible hovel at the beach cost 200,000 rupiah. That was my starting point. And while I was investigating hotels near the bus station …
12 – Beautiful Lampuuk Beach Near Banda Aceh
Yesterday was a pretty relaxing day. I needed to do some preparations for my trip to Kuala Lumpur. Nothing major, but I have to do a bit of planning to make sure that I bring everything with me that I need. And my clothing was very smelly. I didn’t want to inflict my funk on people at the airport, so I needed to do some …