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 »Thief! Part 3 – Follow-Up at the Police Station
Saturday, March 19, 2016
8:00 a.m. Room 7, Tamariah Losmen
Siantar, Sumatra
My life continues to be dominated by the theft of my phone. I now see thieves everywhere. I suspect everyone on the street—especially men on motorcycles. And whenever anyone looks at me, I follow them with my eyes to make sure they don’t double back and stalk me. It’s not really feasible to live like this …
Thief! Part 2 – A Police Report
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
7:35 a.m. Room 7, Tamariah Losmen
Siantar, Sumatra
My return to the police station went, perhaps, much better than I anticipated. There were some of the expected, though I think avoidable, problems. For one thing, when I first approached the main desk, I was treated as if I had never been there before. They knew all about me. Everyone knew my story. Many of …
Thief! A Stolen Smart Phone in Siantar
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
5:40 a.m. Room 7, Tamariah Losmen
Siantar, Sumatra
I’m not in a good mood this morning. I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I relived the moment when a thief grabbed my cell phone on my belt, ripped it off, and took off on his motorcycle. It was driving me crazy thinking about it—all the ways I could have prevented it from …
More Illness and a Walk to the Giant Buddha
Sunday, March 13, 2016
11:00 a.m. Room 7, Tamariah Hostel
Siantar, Sumatra
Well, my life continues to be dominated by illness. I really wish I knew what made me sick. It’s the ultimate mystery. Was it the fish and rice and soup that Al’s wife served me? Was it the bubur ayam that I had for lunch in Kisaran one day? Was it the big expensive meal I …
Illness and Struggling with ATMs
Friday, March 11, 2016
8:10 a.m. Room 7, Tamariah Losmen
Sumatra
It’s a bit later in the morning for my journal session. That is because I have no need to go to immigration this morning. My passport is sitting in some pile somewhere in their offices waiting to be dealt with. Hopefully they put an extension stamp in it and then I can pick it up on Monday. …
Visa Extension at the Siantar Immigration Office
Thursday, March 10, 2016
7:00 a.m. Room 7, Tamariah Losmen
Siantar, Sumatra
My quest to renew my tourist visa has not gotten off to a good start. I arrived in Siantar too late on Tuesday to make it to the immigration office. That was my fault for not taking the issue seriously. I should have left at 6 a.m. from Perdagangan, guaranteeing that I’d arrive in Siantar with …
Cycling to Siantar and the Hunt for Water
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
5:40 a.m. Room 7 on the second floor of the Tamariah Losmen, Siantar, Sumatra
Getting out of Perdagangan took longer than I expected, and I wasn’t on the road until after 10 o’clock. That really wasn’t the best idea, and I realized that very quickly as I started to ride. The sun was high in the sky, and I would be dealing with …
A Night at the Wismah Idola in Perdagangan
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
6:50 a.m. Wismah Idola, Perdagangan, Sumatra
I could have and probably should have gotten up earlier this morning. I was awake around 4:30 and probably well-rested (since I went to bed early), but I was enjoying my comfortable air-conditioned room too much, and I stayed in bed until later.
I’m awake now largely because of the strange habits of truck drivers. It’s the same …