Absolut Petrol (Southern Bali, Indonesia)

For an updated version of this site, go here.

January 26^th, 2009 - Drove all over the south of Bali today. I would like to reiterate that driving a motorbike here is just a tad nerve racking. I am flabbergasted about the conspicuous lack of mass casualties on the roadways. Pleased, but flabbergasted. I think they start riding before they start walking. Imagine stacking your entire family (father, mother, two kids) on a moped and going out for a casual spin.

And you know you are good when you can negotiate traffic at 40mph while chatting on the cell phone or with four mattresses somehow rolled and strapped to the back. Or how about chickens, a food stand, or ten to twelve crates? Ain’t no thang.

How can driving the wrong way down the highway seem like a good choice? Are they intentionally playing chicken with whitey (i.e. me) or is it normal to come as close as you can to a head on collision before swerving? Dunno, but it sure gets the heart pumping. What do you do when there no actual gas stations nearby? Sell gas out of Absolut Vodka bottles, silly.

Pit Stop Padang (Sumatra, Indonesia)

For a revised version of this post, go here.

July 3^rd, 2009 - I made my way twenty minutes north to the city of Padang. Not a whole hell of a lot going on there. In fact it is a fairly unremarkable place. Although near the water the beach scene is not exactly happening. I made my way to the beach side village Air Manis. It would be a beautiful place if not for the large volume of trash strewn everywhere on the beach. Quite a pity.

[Author's Note – Almost three months after I left Padang the area was devastated by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake. Timing is everything. I cannot imagine what that would have been like.]

I met an Aussy expat that has been living in Indonesia for over twenty five years. He is part-owner of a company that organizes surfing tours to the nearby Mentawai Islands. I was curious about the area so he invited me up to his place for a few beers and a chat. In the span of two hours or so he reaffirmed many of the Indonesian idiosyncrasies that I have encountered during my stay here. I have mentioned previously that many a time while stopping to ask directions I encounter the 'deer in the headlights what is this thing that speaks to me' look. I thought it was the natural result of my sub par Indonesian language skills. As it turns out Rick has experienced the same phenomenon many times even though he is fluent. I guess it is just impossible to believe that whitey might know a few words of the local tongue.

I went to dinner the other night and noticed 'spaghetti sandwich' on the menu. I had little desire for either spaghetti or a sandwich but I was titillated by the combination. It was actually not half bad although it was merely spaghetti sauce, not pasta. Maybe next time.