tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82867143077998959172024-03-13T12:56:45.853+07:00admatic 101Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-14890466351880722182011-07-06T13:32:00.000+07:002011-07-06T13:32:21.517+07:00Another WorldThis looks pretty darn good.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N8hEwMMDtFY" width="640"></iframe>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-61388179403102551552011-07-02T18:56:00.000+07:002011-07-02T18:56:33.367+07:00The Road More TraveledCleo and I had some plans for a wicked trip this school break. We didn't have many days to work with but we organised it so we would have a good time.<br />
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On Wednesday the 22nd of June we would take a night bus from Medan to a town called Singkil on the southern tip of Aceh.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj312k4cZij78zqfo2-_CF3YNIdDo4W-QsduGzXQKJfK8cVraYlNGGVuZBWwzabUWk_1Nlz6vYZ8q5Ob6P1eaTv6XiJwcOF0Ar30NpM-ZZyhXOx8EmWAQR31_OxHfdVnImmYz5mUffzUg0/s1600/Medan-Singkil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj312k4cZij78zqfo2-_CF3YNIdDo4W-QsduGzXQKJfK8cVraYlNGGVuZBWwzabUWk_1Nlz6vYZ8q5Ob6P1eaTv6XiJwcOF0Ar30NpM-ZZyhXOx8EmWAQR31_OxHfdVnImmYz5mUffzUg0/s1600/Medan-Singkil.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We would arrive in Singkil very early Thursday morning, have to wait a few hours, then take a ferry over to Pulau Banyak. The translation meaning 'Many Islands'. There are roughly 99 islands in the archipelago of Pulau Banyak and we were hoping to stay on only one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Fqt4rdRLhD64u8QLFWF7BGR7imbcFP6LB6nk1Vq9p01oI7baKk26l29N4SBwUtLb7P2E-Sf1W9i32as5T5zABPwPWP6QRx5pyNxmOOsK4r8qXTQzZXvBS5XpBlpuPI8zJt31Ge9wIKs/s1600/Singkil-Pulau+Banyak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Fqt4rdRLhD64u8QLFWF7BGR7imbcFP6LB6nk1Vq9p01oI7baKk26l29N4SBwUtLb7P2E-Sf1W9i32as5T5zABPwPWP6QRx5pyNxmOOsK4r8qXTQzZXvBS5XpBlpuPI8zJt31Ge9wIKs/s1600/Singkil-Pulau+Banyak.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a few hours on the boat we would then arrive at Pulau Balai. If you're coming from Singkil you have to go there first before going to other islands. We would need to check in with an organisation called the Yayasan. They started up the conservation for sea turtles on Pulau Bangkaru. That was the island we wanted to get to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqWIoXJ1u17-hMYadixoj3nwErVQxvJYZRkg1buU2Eb05ZM10WB115ID94SmHa_blfLVIAJy2aG54YvTFMJ9pC6mwU-WzMnNPVZJsWbk3CtZL-OAyvyo01SKEMH8SF0ETq5JJ8I9ou5w/s1600/Beznazvu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqWIoXJ1u17-hMYadixoj3nwErVQxvJYZRkg1buU2Eb05ZM10WB115ID94SmHa_blfLVIAJy2aG54YvTFMJ9pC6mwU-WzMnNPVZJsWbk3CtZL-OAyvyo01SKEMH8SF0ETq5JJ8I9ou5w/s1600/Beznazvu.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see Pulau Bangkaru on the left of the small map above. We wanted to spend Thurs and Friday night there, where we would have a tent set up on the beach and be able to see some sea turtles laying their eggs and maybe even catch a few others hatching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturday the 25th we would head back to Pulau Balai to spend one night there and Sunday head back to Singkil via local boat. In the early afternoon we would then get a bus, well in this case a Kijang, back to Medan and arrive in the evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those were the plans. Just the plans. Sounds pretty cool right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's what actually took place...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Catching the bus on the 22nd worked out fine. I shouldn't call it a bus really, it's a small SUV type vehicle called a Kijang. You can take a wild packed bus all the way there or you can pay a little extra for a seat in a Kijang which seats 8 when full. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd say we finally rolled out of Medan between 9:30-10:00... and started the journey to Singkil. After the other passengers were dropped off, it was our turn. By that time it had been about 9 hours I believe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Thursday, June 23</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We arrived here. The house of our Singkil contact, Febri.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS-5X-DMq2JQJfqsFG-bA0agtIv_6m7JTOGwMxypibHh1e1B5wEl6zpli3xLgq3aIX0HPUQ7mcr50hcw88-tlsxZ4RxWhStLNZHQrhWZ6GbAZOkedR2HSYIf-PHHBuJknJBFaXcTCiRw/s1600/DSC03704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS-5X-DMq2JQJfqsFG-bA0agtIv_6m7JTOGwMxypibHh1e1B5wEl6zpli3xLgq3aIX0HPUQ7mcr50hcw88-tlsxZ4RxWhStLNZHQrhWZ6GbAZOkedR2HSYIf-PHHBuJknJBFaXcTCiRw/s640/DSC03704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Febri's House</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He invited us into his home and offered drinks until it was time for the boat to Pulau Balai. At about 10am we headed to the dock, which wasn't far and got on our boat. It was a local boat headed to Balai mainly to deliver petrol aka gasoline. As we boarded, a man warned us not to smoke cigarettes on the boat and pointed to all the barrels. Neither of us do smoke but some of the other passengers did and the warning of gasoline didn't seem to bother them even as we passed a half sunken boat in the bay due to an obvious fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boat ride to Balai is roughly 4 hours depending on the weather of course. All you can do is try to rest and catch a bit of sleep because there isn't much to see or do in the ocean on a small boat. Some of the waves were a bit rough and the boat was splashing water about and it was nice. It calmed a bit and I tried to catch some Z's. Most people did the same, but as we all did the waves picked up again and at one point there was this really loud bang that woke everyone up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bang had come from the boat crashing down really hard from a wave which sent a container or two flying off the boat. The small crew on the boat said the waves were too rough and they had to turn around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Half way there and we had to turn around and head back to Singkil. This was disappointing because we knew we probably weren't going to get to Bangkaru that day anymore which meant one less night with the turtles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After arriving back to Singkil they let us know they are going to wait for the weather to relax a bit and hopefully head back out at 3. We had a little over an hour to kill at Singkil which went by quickly with a small lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3 o'clock comes and the weather looks clear enough so we head out again. 4 hours to go until Balai which meant we were going to arrive much later than we had planned. No chance of getting to Bangkaru that night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1l_wPurpGJ7-DrfyKdraSWCJhcyi2p0cIkyfjJv-n32znqeS8MeelfnU9dfmdqOfO1DXdXgZNIdr_g_c8gQ4yIoHPU0RAuTdb-gL9xdzCNLqGNAjyptIBL19D55BmrEPrUx3EX5ZJeo/s1600/DSC03712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1l_wPurpGJ7-DrfyKdraSWCJhcyi2p0cIkyfjJv-n32znqeS8MeelfnU9dfmdqOfO1DXdXgZNIdr_g_c8gQ4yIoHPU0RAuTdb-gL9xdzCNLqGNAjyptIBL19D55BmrEPrUx3EX5ZJeo/s640/DSC03712.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from the boat</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the sun went down lights came on in the distance at Balai. These were the only lights... I don't think our boat had any. Well I guess you can count the young lad with a flashlight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We arrive in Balai close to 8 where we meet Febri's friend, Beju, who would help sort out the rest of the trip. We obviously weren't going that night so he showed us to a Guest House. We got cleaned up and we met him and a friend of his, whose name I forget, to get a bit of food and let them know what we were looking to do during our time in Pulau Banyak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like I said before the plan was to spend Thursday and Friday night in Bangkaru. Well it was already Thursday night and we were about to spend it in Balai so our trip to Bangkaru would have to be shortened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We weren't just hoping to see turtles on Bangkaru, we were also hoping to do some kayaking and of course snorkeling. After chatting with the two fellas for a while we find out that you can't really go kayaking or snorkeling in Bangkaru because of the waves being too large there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We both really wanted to see the turtles but not just that. So we inquired about another island I read about called Pulau Tailana. Go ahead, scroll back up and see if you can find it. This island is very secluded but it is one of the few that has bungalows to stay in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After some amazing kopi aceh, coffee, we decided on the new plan. The next day, Friday, we would leave for Tailana about 11. Spend Friday there and on Saturday, close to noon, we would go from there to Bangkaru. Spend Saturday night there and early Sunday make our way back to Balai to catch a boat to Singkil so we could catch a bus back to Medan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, here's what actually happened...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Friday, June 24</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got up on time in the morning and met the friend of Beju, whose name I still can't recall, it was really long and confusing. We went on down to the Yayasan to check in for our one night in Bangkaru and organised the cost for that night and the one in Tailana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were told that there is a package you have to pay for when going to Bangkaru. It's 800,000 rupiah per person for 3 days and two nights. This includes the transportation to the island and your food while you're there. On today's market that's about 90 dollars. The silly thing was that we wanted to only stay one night and they could not change the price! After a moment of pondering we decided we really wanted to see the turtles so we would pay that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With that cost plus the night in Tailana with a rented kayak and snorkeling gear would run us close to 2.4 million rupiah total. Cleo doing some smooth talking, along with the fact that she is originally from the Aceh province, they brought it down to 2 million rupiah, 225 dollars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We grabbed another amazing coffee and waited for the man to get the boat ready.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He called us over when he was finished and off we went to Tailana.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbViBUCf1WNeqtNP94cbzO0YCEpko_pzaUpgwSFbTkhrRrRZHfLM8PFNziMWPv7V8VNCkVeVlW1YU9Ezsb9mattbyVH1F8w6LKbSlHDLkEoIFSs6YVAI4GQb40IxSeZwHLzUfSBHvs_Og/s1600/DSC03714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbViBUCf1WNeqtNP94cbzO0YCEpko_pzaUpgwSFbTkhrRrRZHfLM8PFNziMWPv7V8VNCkVeVlW1YU9Ezsb9mattbyVH1F8w6LKbSlHDLkEoIFSs6YVAI4GQb40IxSeZwHLzUfSBHvs_Og/s640/DSC03714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to that small fueling station and then off to Tailana</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwU8igbViJIbCpE6gs4pjxO6G8zmfTfmtgGMlhuwfh6K13YAKjdX4Dy1z6bk0nN377iiqnIF27-W4BLI0QL5h13dhidy1lL9Jxcq1cYQgpaIlExuZr3aJ_SfU9vKzgtgvKz0zV16vMEE/s1600/DSC03715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwU8igbViJIbCpE6gs4pjxO6G8zmfTfmtgGMlhuwfh6K13YAKjdX4Dy1z6bk0nN377iiqnIF27-W4BLI0QL5h13dhidy1lL9Jxcq1cYQgpaIlExuZr3aJ_SfU9vKzgtgvKz0zV16vMEE/s640/DSC03715.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to finally be on our way...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGghCmYtrUEuRs4L1iMghtGXsJzxVOCV0JzlF1Odi1Y-Zy7sSYoIaKMELyyaWTBEhbzP7SK9C06rjVTSCPghI_8xwUvgythhvh8hNTuv0DDc8Z3IhW1qysdkuc99Wt1-2dXDNT6FSoEBw/s1600/DSC03721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGghCmYtrUEuRs4L1iMghtGXsJzxVOCV0JzlF1Odi1Y-Zy7sSYoIaKMELyyaWTBEhbzP7SK9C06rjVTSCPghI_8xwUvgythhvh8hNTuv0DDc8Z3IhW1qysdkuc99Wt1-2dXDNT6FSoEBw/s640/DSC03721.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and so was he</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">After about an hour or so on this little boat in the middle of crystal clear waters, we arrive at Tailana.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynzZXOpcPgNBenGVN4fl9dYBQaSLRVIlas4UMcGNB7O-XWK7vyPHLwo0MQmDrsBr3CE-dHSQSxPKkVbQnjxCgTVG9QSNqVgj8a1P_-nenO6yllHijPhLw-ksHeInR0bCdK92UdyzU9UA/s1600/DSC03728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynzZXOpcPgNBenGVN4fl9dYBQaSLRVIlas4UMcGNB7O-XWK7vyPHLwo0MQmDrsBr3CE-dHSQSxPKkVbQnjxCgTVG9QSNqVgj8a1P_-nenO6yllHijPhLw-ksHeInR0bCdK92UdyzU9UA/s640/DSC03728.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 20 steps from our bungalow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxavKBIXBD4HNSebeLY9j1sXLbH02oByX0P_zun-V9sr_wN7YRf_PbC1SXeN9MV8vJzEGeN9asPcZyFQVhAo_Yt-gxnKTmqHFGkfT90ZOqHybalciNf2SXj6G8U6idedQMZQ9pCoBatRU/s640/DSC03726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We came in on the grey boat</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We ate and went swimming for a bit. It started to rain slightly but we were still able to see some interesting things underwater.We couldn't get a lot of good photos though due to the overcast skies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHCb9Apzb9HeyPcy-hxCmR5DWbRyBes530A39gtCD3Gph9PyGh8QQDJWyym2UjBgM5ZNTvW5t5j1-FArWXrQQDQIx3TQcMbJWl8fA9MIAJRm3c5e8euy6d7FbcysUGMHfFaNMreUAZ-A/s1600/P6300660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHCb9Apzb9HeyPcy-hxCmR5DWbRyBes530A39gtCD3Gph9PyGh8QQDJWyym2UjBgM5ZNTvW5t5j1-FArWXrQQDQIx3TQcMbJWl8fA9MIAJRm3c5e8euy6d7FbcysUGMHfFaNMreUAZ-A/s640/P6300660.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then went for a stroll around the island a little later in the afternoon to see how big or small it really was. We were able to walk around the whole thing in about 20 minutes with a few stops along the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7UAg0fNLdQ0N2A27LSi6gWrF5CaArT5Nf9QaPCw3Xa9QlHytAvf8b6AwO5dRFZnl3-RN0ilGAKYdmK_WjAMC1LKL1nDZKfaF59FRWynovo3S-Y7qrY5urAFxK8AMShFfosohuWUPWv8/s1600/DSC03734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7UAg0fNLdQ0N2A27LSi6gWrF5CaArT5Nf9QaPCw3Xa9QlHytAvf8b6AwO5dRFZnl3-RN0ilGAKYdmK_WjAMC1LKL1nDZKfaF59FRWynovo3S-Y7qrY5urAFxK8AMShFfosohuWUPWv8/s640/DSC03734.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While on our walk, he went out to catch our dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG11-mOLyTmXQcoL-C2Kri4zW4d4_5t5ksemvA3sbladiULEVQYwvMZ92o5Jx1RWx-KnD28wlOXh7-JqZqzKCdFod6WQ1j4iw7uYXwGtQBbkQi8mu60ye-62F80MriRAbd2bruxMJUzXE/s1600/DSC03740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG11-mOLyTmXQcoL-C2Kri4zW4d4_5t5ksemvA3sbladiULEVQYwvMZ92o5Jx1RWx-KnD28wlOXh7-JqZqzKCdFod6WQ1j4iw7uYXwGtQBbkQi8mu60ye-62F80MriRAbd2bruxMJUzXE/s640/DSC03740.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgJTjhZSjdGYbjvhCJtqaBrHF0cD9Pjh94XoPDdKD2E-QnKzefL57ESulrE_3BLkMF3KkOcjSE79C4WwB3NK1Jefro5TQkXfrdOvn1_cTDmxJM3bLF1hx8QFHMJrxoJNy72BB8lYmvHU/s1600/DSC03730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgJTjhZSjdGYbjvhCJtqaBrHF0cD9Pjh94XoPDdKD2E-QnKzefL57ESulrE_3BLkMF3KkOcjSE79C4WwB3NK1Jefro5TQkXfrdOvn1_cTDmxJM3bLF1hx8QFHMJrxoJNy72BB8lYmvHU/s640/DSC03730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the crab? It's actually quite easy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5obc3yOe7fTAPk2PX0OWpEiDXDv4KB_sIX015Y0of_w5OaZfck5w8hZlwSarXDo9khNbDLDhkHN8xx5uoZh2UFCP71vkr3wublzc6F4pGY7NaUxDp5izCUFnNj6Jii_WDZdxs-JykGs/s1600/DSC03736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5obc3yOe7fTAPk2PX0OWpEiDXDv4KB_sIX015Y0of_w5OaZfck5w8hZlwSarXDo9khNbDLDhkHN8xx5uoZh2UFCP71vkr3wublzc6F4pGY7NaUxDp5izCUFnNj6Jii_WDZdxs-JykGs/s640/DSC03736.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It started to get dark as we headed back to the bungalow side of the island.When we got back the man, whose name is lost, came over and showed us what he caught for dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD_vFcxw1kupLbjUTImXVgjk9F-ygxofAtaUjL9iTQoPE0b8SJja_rfJqr88Go0e5liuO2rGwPtSYoMKc58q9M4t3V7WTlGFtCmvo_kX6Ds0dKhALLhPw5qkUJghU_YpniBn8TmazVDY/s1600/DSC03749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD_vFcxw1kupLbjUTImXVgjk9F-ygxofAtaUjL9iTQoPE0b8SJja_rfJqr88Go0e5liuO2rGwPtSYoMKc58q9M4t3V7WTlGFtCmvo_kX6Ds0dKhALLhPw5qkUJghU_YpniBn8TmazVDY/s640/DSC03749.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleo was very hungry...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sun finished setting and dinner was ready. After we ate, there wasn't much we could do because it was completely pitch black outside. I grabbed my flashlight and we went down to the beach to check out the stars and we saw all these crabs along the beach as well. They all ran back in as we got close though and they were surprisingly quite fast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our plan for the next day, Saturday, was to get up early to see the sunset, go kayaking and snorkeling for a bit and then head off to Bangkaru.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Saturday, June 25</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We woke up for the sunset only to see that it was extremely clouded over, so we went back to sleep. Woke up at 8 to start the day only to find a huge downpour outside. We were upset that we couldn't go snorkeling or kayaking but we still had hopes for Bangkaru.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We lazed around for a bit hoping for the rain to stop but it didn't. That didn't stop us from going for a swim though. We talked with the man without a name and he said we couldn't go to Bangkaru in this weather. He also said when it cleared a bit we would need to go back to Balai because we had no more food on Tailana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a drag because we had to hope the rain would let up so we could leave Tailana and we had to go back to Balai, which was not where we wanted to spend our last night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For most the afternoon we were trapped in out Bungalow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r53JZOXoPJPJsalUGy8Now04ogO9K8R0q4digZQj-YmV1za2fLvYCVGvoi1CyZfuiuxP29cKg3CmqxeOAweQnnLh1Fjrzq7XfUplVSipwmFg0cHVaeniO9Z7pUCvtNRfmxTpYqqtC94/s1600/DSC03753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r53JZOXoPJPJsalUGy8Now04ogO9K8R0q4digZQj-YmV1za2fLvYCVGvoi1CyZfuiuxP29cKg3CmqxeOAweQnnLh1Fjrzq7XfUplVSipwmFg0cHVaeniO9Z7pUCvtNRfmxTpYqqtC94/s640/DSC03753.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end the rain didn't really let up much at all but we had to leave anyways because it was getting late. Everything we brought with us, including us, were put into giant bags. (We forgot to pack raincoats, so we wore big plastic bags as raincoats.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We left the island on what Cleo and I both agree was the scariest boat ride we have ever been on. The boat really wasn't all that big and we were going through waves that were almost twice the size of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was reminded of this painting...</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm11wZxxOsmrXbZAsAxB9OrvVXmi0LrEyGNI_P07E_1cTR5LTyqxs6LEEEhMFLcTA22RfkxbpedHy2trU8muKcmbctgQndRBUgzY6EdcttRt8ZAraz2KciKZbtcr5z1ADmyZCh1S3o9x8/s1600/800px-Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm11wZxxOsmrXbZAsAxB9OrvVXmi0LrEyGNI_P07E_1cTR5LTyqxs6LEEEhMFLcTA22RfkxbpedHy2trU8muKcmbctgQndRBUgzY6EdcttRt8ZAraz2KciKZbtcr5z1ADmyZCh1S3o9x8/s640/800px-Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With almost every wave we hit it felt like we were going to flip over. We were both holding on the best we could in the pouring rain just hoping we would make it there safely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ride took almost twice as long with the boat battling all the waves but in the end we made it there a little shook up and soaked but safe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That night we had dinner and just went to bed a bit early because it was still miserable outside. There really isn't anything to do in Balai and it is no where near as beautiful as Tailana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday, June 26</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got up early hoping we could catch a boat leaving for Singkil maybe about 9. The ride would be again, 4 hours, but we would be in time to catch a bus at 2 back to Medan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember that happy photo earlier when we started our boat ride to Tailana?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's how happy we were when we had to stop because of the rain on the way to the boat for Singkil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcEQKJ_bS9aOYWbDpWPDi560xGgejXqDpKyRywB-DChinh5zrtu7Dfte5mPP1mRZYbBtbTFDVrn4fZHD03fG-ScrFzhWRpNSq5CkFaGkFn3YX8oHUw7TSTZfIYsqTK8Pjt3vl1qFeZuY/s1600/DSC03754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcEQKJ_bS9aOYWbDpWPDi560xGgejXqDpKyRywB-DChinh5zrtu7Dfte5mPP1mRZYbBtbTFDVrn4fZHD03fG-ScrFzhWRpNSq5CkFaGkFn3YX8oHUw7TSTZfIYsqTK8Pjt3vl1qFeZuY/s640/DSC03754.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Due to the wonderful weather again, no boats were leaving early in the morning. They were waiting for the weather to calm down before they headed out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We waited and waited until they said they were ready. We weren't going to be making the bus at 2 back to Medan. We arrived in Singkil I think close to 5 where we were met by Febri.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were hungry so Febri took us to a restaurant then back to his house where we waiting for the bus, Kijang.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got on the Kijang about 8 and spent forever picking up the next few passengers. Once the bus was full, we were off to Medan. I felt bad for Cleo because we would be arriving in Medan, if the bus was on time, just a couple hours before she had to go to work. She said she is able to sleep at her work... apparently.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were many winding roads on the ride too. So many that Cleo actually was a bit sick on the way to Singkil but on the way back the guy in the front must have hurled out of his window at least 5 times during the ride. Those were some wonderful sounds to try to fall asleep to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Monday, June 27</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bus wasn't on time and so I wasn't dropped off at my door until 7am, then Cleo at hers shortly after. 11 hours in a Kijang with a very unpleasant driver is never much fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end the one day we had in Tailana was nice, even though it rained. The whole trip just felt like more 'trip' than anything else. We were on the move too much and didn't have enough time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd love to go again but I'd be sure to spend more time there and look into the flights they have headed that way once a week. I'd definitely do some research about the weather beforehand as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a few links about Pulau Banyak if anyone is interested.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.sumatraecotourism.com/pulaubanyak/index.html">http://www.sumatraecotourism.com/pulaubanyak/index.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://tailana.webs.com/">http://tailana.webs.com/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.acehturtleconservation.org/">http://www.acehturtleconservation.org</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-26743672624066191212011-03-18T15:21:00.003+07:002011-03-18T15:26:47.815+07:00Darkest HourThere's no salvation<br />In a world where you worship proven fiction<br />And no redemption for a life of servitude<br />You bow and you heed<br />Unhallowed command<br />Your only care is the money we gain<br />It's the same place<br />A hollow escape<br />A palace of concrete and glass<br />Keep waiting, keep waiting<br />For no god<br />To erase you<br />No god<br />To make you fall to your knees<br /><br />There's blood on these pages<br />And the war inside your head<br />Is with yourself<br />Through the ages, through every form of "Hell"<br />It's the same face<br />A hollow escape<br />A palace of concrete and glass<br />Keep waiting, keep waiting<br />For no god<br />To consume you<br />No god<br />To bear your burden<br />No god<br />To use you<br />No god<br />There is only illusion<br /><br />The usurper of life<br />It'll bleed every last drop<br />And it'll suck all the breath out of you<br />And leave you forsaken<br /><br />There's no god<br />To release you<br />There's no god<br />To make you fall down to your knees<br />There's no god<br />To deceive you<br />There's no god<br />To bear your burden<br />There's no god<br />There's no god<br />There's no god<br />There is only illusion<br /><br />Give it a listen.<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/53xViWdjhIY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-30068095518181088012011-03-11T16:38:00.002+07:002011-03-11T16:59:35.844+07:00Film UpdatesThese are a few movies that I have watched recently. All given high ratings by yours truly. You should watch them if you haven't already.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R5BsYRmMfus" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3oiY7W7nDeE?rel=0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5jaI1XOB-bs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-91318649832490331602011-02-21T16:20:00.002+07:002011-02-21T16:24:41.789+07:00Dead Island<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OTtv3DyXRow" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />This is so well done for a game trailer.Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-32388239057213790862010-12-16T16:47:00.002+07:002010-12-16T16:50:33.054+07:00The Tree of Life2011 here we come.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PL7SThqcBy8?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PL7SThqcBy8?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-4688585002638689202010-12-14T10:55:00.002+07:002010-12-14T10:58:03.865+07:00Christmas DinnerCharlie, Tom and Daryl organized a Christmas Dinner for all the expats in Medan.<br />Here's the ticket I put together for the dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHgojImNIU9xZb97A80mRtwX4oeHdtjw1X290CWbGNiIn0xWG-BE0WJnX8FJqNSuqXWpWdklvtVfZnT4zKST6CrdHAFqTW_cf3hMkdtcoVEOTlC7Fxie5a4CId6bTJPXWvWQHOnausJ8/s1600/ticket.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHgojImNIU9xZb97A80mRtwX4oeHdtjw1X290CWbGNiIn0xWG-BE0WJnX8FJqNSuqXWpWdklvtVfZnT4zKST6CrdHAFqTW_cf3hMkdtcoVEOTlC7Fxie5a4CId6bTJPXWvWQHOnausJ8/s400/ticket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550382166997033298" border="0" /></a>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-83119728274664122892010-12-03T16:11:00.008+07:002010-12-03T16:34:57.503+07:00Pub Quiz PostersFor a while now Tom, Charlie and I have been doing a Pub Quiz at a German bar in Medan called Roland's. We have done two so far, with our third tonight, and we're hoping that someone else will do the next one so we can actually play.<br />These are the small and cheesy posters I made for the past quizzes and the two I made for tonight's quiz.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9HNioA7V5anNJhqtQ4ucs9ZzYfzSuVLKRBQ5OTv23ya5npV4hzdKB1MKhvJlF-wwtFxoSxkNhYshGM6NVg22MutKyADuL09seJXwR547SneWv-NLsJ4Elp6qzOvd0Hg7TXgl3iXGvXQ/s1600/quiz_night2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9HNioA7V5anNJhqtQ4ucs9ZzYfzSuVLKRBQ5OTv23ya5npV4hzdKB1MKhvJlF-wwtFxoSxkNhYshGM6NVg22MutKyADuL09seJXwR547SneWv-NLsJ4Elp6qzOvd0Hg7TXgl3iXGvXQ/s400/quiz_night2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546385084273865186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2ffmHytEjDqqLZqRuJBZ9UsfEJWmhzBVb6fEuvWLUwjtQuLTGKOKhaIuI43jhQicLJ7CwQa0lmnwTmvmB_Q9w_ZtlxR7l5fyUes3UY2dEPgaXCzuvZiWRemYMeiL4RVW_2eR_gT0EVs/s1600/rainman_poster.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2ffmHytEjDqqLZqRuJBZ9UsfEJWmhzBVb6fEuvWLUwjtQuLTGKOKhaIuI43jhQicLJ7CwQa0lmnwTmvmB_Q9w_ZtlxR7l5fyUes3UY2dEPgaXCzuvZiWRemYMeiL4RVW_2eR_gT0EVs/s400/rainman_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546385094259620098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHXAVf0v1ElmuhRYqZFcM_M-ddamcT2YqZ4DCO4biYnTz04uxMzjZAKQiD0tp8HqrpWp6bbfXAVGXtabJfk56t1xrHiWZfvQ-TyurBVJLtDEfduNN9WiQU0T1Dj4FKVNUYhIn3aaHJwk/s1600/poster_1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHXAVf0v1ElmuhRYqZFcM_M-ddamcT2YqZ4DCO4biYnTz04uxMzjZAKQiD0tp8HqrpWp6bbfXAVGXtabJfk56t1xrHiWZfvQ-TyurBVJLtDEfduNN9WiQU0T1Dj4FKVNUYhIn3aaHJwk/s400/poster_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546385098995281970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnYf0W4jlfo4X9pINHwu7shtUMuz5qFLEST6o1XQDe-KaaL5uBuejh_3WyeYjN3ap0wNtgNQPGmNOevojnOoMv1c-uC-oKg2sZv-nQbU1e1eAbaYVN0mSAUP6m3siSw_VGD6gMb01TBY/s1600/poster_2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnYf0W4jlfo4X9pINHwu7shtUMuz5qFLEST6o1XQDe-KaaL5uBuejh_3WyeYjN3ap0wNtgNQPGmNOevojnOoMv1c-uC-oKg2sZv-nQbU1e1eAbaYVN0mSAUP6m3siSw_VGD6gMb01TBY/s400/poster_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546385110340991474" border="0" /></a>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-18255000103236068182010-11-29T15:10:00.001+07:002010-11-29T15:11:51.687+07:00Scott PilgrimThis is worth checking out. I wasn't sure a while back when I first caught the trailer but it's really well done and not as cheesy as it looks.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O_RrNCqCIPE?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O_RrNCqCIPE?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-64451626376286965592010-11-22T21:12:00.005+07:002010-11-22T22:27:19.738+07:00This ain't the down it's the upbeat, make it complete.Got some photos out of the way finally. They were overdue but it felt good to finally complete a little 'project'. One of many.<br />Guitar is ummm... getting there. Gym is still the gym and it still feels good to be going. It's my longest stretch at the gym yet.<br />My TEFL course is coming along. I'm just about finished the largest portion of it and then I'll have just a few smaller ones to go.<br /><br />I went on a Hash run last night.<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers</a><br /><br />It is basically an excuse to get drunk and socialize with a decent little trek before hand.<br />You show up, pay your fee 45000 rupiah (5 dollars Canadian) and you just gather around meeting the other 'hashers'. Once everyone shows up you head out on the hash. One member has already gone ahead and laid a paper trail on the route through the jungle so you know where to go. We had a group of about 20 plus heading out on this hash and it took a little over an hour to get through the trail. Once you're back at base camp there are showers, food, kegs of beer and someone who cleans your shoes for 2000 rupiah (20 cents). Once everyone's back, showered and had a few they had out punishments.<br />All the members form a circle around the ring leader who has a tray of beers ready. He basically just goes around the circle taking the piss out of everyone and giving these 'punishments'. The things they call you on could be completely true or just absolutely random. It could be something like 'you were the last one out of the trail so you get a punishment' or 'your shoes are new so now you have to drink a beer from them. When you get called to the middle of the circle they hand you a glass of beer, sing this little song and at the end you have to chug it back.<br /><br />The new guys get called to the center quite a few times their first night and it was no exception for me of course. I got called in a few times just for being the new guy, no other reason. Once I got called in because I had my hand in my pocket. The ring leader just pointed at me and yelled 'he's wanking! there's no wanking allowed'. For that I had to chug another beer and also have cold water poured down my shorts. That happened to me 3 times. This goes on for quite a while until they announce 'social drinking' where you finally sit down and realize how much beer you just drank.<br />Got home pretty late and didn't get much done at work today. I'll have to make up for that tomorrow.<br /><br />Been thinking about Christmas lately. I think it's because they have already put up decorations at my work... Can't decide what to do. I'm kind of wishing I went home for Christmas instead of in the summer. Maybe I miss the winter a little bit.<br /><br />Anyone want to fly me back?Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-26665526586689125602010-11-19T14:52:00.002+07:002010-11-19T14:55:11.227+07:00Arcade FireAmazing song. Amazing video.<br /><br /><div class="topspin-widget topspin-widget-bundle-widget"><br /> <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="595" height="370" id="TSWidget45492" data="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/bundle/swf/TSBundleWidget.swf?timestamp=1290112184" bgColor="#000000"><br /> <param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"/><br /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><br /> <param name="quality" value="high"/><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/bundle/swf/TSBundleWidget.swf?timestamp=1290112184"/><br /> <param name="flashvars" value="highlightColor=0xFFFFFF&theme=black&widget_id=http://app.topspin.net/api/v1/artist/242/bundle_widget/45492&theme=black"/><br /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><br /> </object><br /></div>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-83013772169622349482010-11-03T17:06:00.004+07:002010-11-03T17:18:13.066+07:00Stay PositiveCos this world swallows souls<br />And when the blues unfold<br />It gets cold silence burns holes<br />You're going mad<br />Perhaps you always were<br />But when things was good you just didn't care<br />This is called irony<br />When you most need to get up you got no energy<br />Time and time shit'll happen<br />The dark shit's unwrapping<br />But no-one's listening your mates are laughing<br />Your brethren's fucking and then you start hating<br />Your stomach starts churning and you mind starts turning.<br />So smoke another draw<br />It won't matter no more but the next day still feels sore<br />Rain taps on your window<br />Always did tho but you didn't hear it when things were so-so<br />You're on your own now<br />Your little zone you were born alone and believe me you'll die alone<br /><br />Feels nice and still<br />Good thing about brown is it always will<br />It's easy, no-one blames you<br />It's that world out there that's fucked you<br />You know less of a person and if God exists<br />He still loves you<br />Just remember that - the more you sink the further back from that brink<br />Maybe you've lifetime scars and you think tattoos might be more fitting<br />But who's picking?<br />Searching for yourself you find demons<br />Try and be a freeman and grasp that talisman<br />Cos your the same as I am<br />We all need our fellow man<br />We all need our samaritan.<br />Maybe I'm better looking than you tho<br />Maybe I've got more dough - but am I happier... no.<br />Get the love of a good girl and your world will be much richer than my world<br />And your happiness will uncurl<br /><br />Stop dreaming<br />People who say that are blaspheming<br />They're doing nine to five and moaning<br />And they don't want you succeeding when they've blown it<br />And you idols - who are they?<br />They too dreamt about their day<br />Positive steps will see your goals.<br />Whether it's dollars or control, feel the gold.<br />I ain't helping you climb the ladder<br />I'm busy climbing mine.<br />That's how it's been since the dawn of time<br />If you reach a cul-de-sac<br />The world turns it's back<br />This is your zone, it's like blackjack<br />He might get the ace or the top one<br />So organise your two's and three's into a run then you'll have fucked him son<br />And for that you'll be the better one<br />One last thing before you go though<br />When you feel better tomorrow you'll be a hero<br />But never forget today. you could be back here<br />Things can stray<br />What if you see me in that window?<br />You won't help me I know.<br />That's cool, just keep walking where you go.<br />Carry on through the estate, stare at the geezers so they know you ain't lightweight<br />And go see your mates<br /><br />I hope you understand me<br />Just trying to stay positive<br />I ain't no preaching fucker and I ain't no do-goody-goody either<br />This is about when shit goes pear-shaped<br />And if you aren't or ever have been at rock bottom then good luck to you in the big wide world<br />But remember that one day shit might just start crumbling<br />Your bird might fuck off or you might loose your job<br />It's when that happens that what I'm talking about will feel much more important to you<br />So if you ain't feeling it, just be thankful that everything's cool in your worldAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-18225559309733604282010-10-13T16:11:00.001+07:002010-10-13T16:12:55.179+07:00Where The Circle EndsNo one even lives here<br />We're too busy crashing our cars every morning in the same house<br />Paving the same roads<br />Unwilling to walk them<br />And even when we extend ourselves, its only to be included<br />In a moment that stands still<br />And so often we don't struggle to improve conditions<br />We struggle for the right to say "We improved conditions"<br />And so often we form communities<br />Only to use them as exclusionary devices<br />And we forget that somewhere man is beside himself with grief<br />And somewhere people are calling for teachers<br />And no one's answeringAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-39770709141081112842010-10-11T23:16:00.002+07:002010-10-11T23:17:14.536+07:00Hello MisterAgain I feel I'm juggling too many things at once. I'm teaching myself how to play guitar, trying to get to the gym 3 days a week, working on photos I have been putting off for ages along with new ones I keep taking, working on school work outside of office hours so I can get a bit ahead with planning and I just started an online TEFL course which has already started chewing up more of my time! A little while back I started to write something as well but I don't really know where that's going at all...<br /><br />Also a new friend of mine, who I feel I am just starting to get to know, will be leaving Medan soon so I've been spending most of my weekends with her. I'm not complaining about her taking up my time at all. If I did I would probably get a few angry messages back saying "bloody this and bloody that you bloody twat."<br /><br />Another busy weekend coming up and I know for sure at least one day will be a complete write off... I'll just have to hope for some magical Indonesian holiday to appear, like they do, so I can have some extra time to knock a few things out the way.<br /><br />Come on indo holiday!!Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-15179449462493546062010-10-08T14:40:00.002+07:002010-10-08T14:45:09.409+07:00127 HoursMy favourite director does it again.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l0GycqTaXwQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l0GycqTaXwQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-18648056626462729742010-10-06T16:42:00.005+07:002010-10-06T17:26:19.829+07:00Big City DreamThe last words I heard before I slammed the door...<br />"You gotta be humble in this life."<br />But my shoulders tell me that ain't right<br />as I race down the stairs and step out into the night.<br />I scan the city skyline...<br />smoking like a neon mechanized Christ.<br />So I walk with intent towards my salvation.<br />Thoughts rise and fall... sharpen my mind into a razor.<br />I try to see into the future.<br />I try to sense impending danger.<br />There's a bum on the corner with his shopping cart filled with plastic bags.<br />Somedays I would wonder how he got there.<br />Not tonight, I don't care.<br />Steam rising up from the gutter...<br />shining in the headlights of passing cars.<br />The sound of distant sirens drowned out by thick concrete walls.<br />My state of mind makes me all alone on this platform in this subway station.<br />If you can make it here...<br />no one will care.<br />I see faces cut by lines of weariness.<br />Intelligent eyes hardened by cynical resignation.<br />I catch my reflection...<br />my face is changing too.<br />I find the reasons while I suffer just like all the others.<br />Up the stairs into a hazy dream.<br />I hear the neons scream.<br />I hear the billboards scream.<br />Fields of concrete stretching infinitely.<br />The industries that made us free...<br />with money to spend on all the wrong things.<br />I get down on my knees. The crowds rush past me.<br />I pray to no one and I feel nothing.<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-87334399529160236352010-10-05T14:56:00.002+07:002010-10-05T17:26:03.908+07:00TRON TRON TRONThe colours are a bit off in this but you'll have to deal with it.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1AwvuirSEAA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1AwvuirSEAA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-67553770498424575282010-09-29T12:06:00.004+07:002010-09-29T13:51:21.653+07:00True GritA remake of a classic John Wayne film. It looks like the Coen brothers will do it justice.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uco41pOKeJg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uco41pOKeJg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Or you could watch the original.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tN-j4GDqjv4?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tN-j4GDqjv4?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-35032097596779878452010-09-21T09:26:00.001+07:002010-09-21T09:27:41.184+07:00The Fighter<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1_zijS_UAtw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1_zijS_UAtw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-3977934246001998092010-09-20T15:48:00.008+07:002010-09-20T16:12:00.286+07:00Jalan Labu (Pumpkin Street in English)The house I live in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pXIxjbiVgUbdcDpYRXcyDl5ghXOJhG4uR99JPlSmjrrZsbBgj287G-wSxUZfv9E0WT4Bo9Wn8dG-dl_EX_lDVTzBafcagXxLn2wva9zAqQhoo_H3fyP3FX8ObEX6b1SkofVrzXmG6rs/s1600/bed.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pXIxjbiVgUbdcDpYRXcyDl5ghXOJhG4uR99JPlSmjrrZsbBgj287G-wSxUZfv9E0WT4Bo9Wn8dG-dl_EX_lDVTzBafcagXxLn2wva9zAqQhoo_H3fyP3FX8ObEX6b1SkofVrzXmG6rs/s400/bed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518916272133780482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIDjiFNo1PUWSkQQld517Q7SbMt2yrQJCRJ74X5nnn7yTMLPVSe3nXec2zwLvq659ramyepEEH43z9giBoS7Agbv51Na_C6RU-urb4zBKng2Xe1kKWH2zP1XE1c5ce4jyv77rs1aB3jM/s1600/chime.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIDjiFNo1PUWSkQQld517Q7SbMt2yrQJCRJ74X5nnn7yTMLPVSe3nXec2zwLvq659ramyepEEH43z9giBoS7Agbv51Na_C6RU-urb4zBKng2Xe1kKWH2zP1XE1c5ce4jyv77rs1aB3jM/s400/chime.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518916278048419570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhkvVnYWfZ1lHoej0SJoy9I4yERu0BCEkpoPdsBI3HIlXbps0EeqKZqseScHLpNMFF1Vfgqre2q1xI-Oxe0qXmXgE5Ex2r_cgq2NCz3Awq1f8lJISxpigSd0kL7wYdsCxoa5UTd155eQ/s1600/bike.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhkvVnYWfZ1lHoej0SJoy9I4yERu0BCEkpoPdsBI3HIlXbps0EeqKZqseScHLpNMFF1Vfgqre2q1xI-Oxe0qXmXgE5Ex2r_cgq2NCz3Awq1f8lJISxpigSd0kL7wYdsCxoa5UTd155eQ/s400/bike.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518916272780997650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2aLZ7wscF72-JA2Pa5KGxNOqo7TopI5UP-SUrwUKMPaFmiLVDaRqb8NzECIkScl6_n-RU7Y80vTRy54_rwvU6Y9ie9PvIXYuD0tJrnmUhDD4qVOXO5s9QaPlAbbB3HGMNGkbM-Tg0Mg/s1600/litter.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2aLZ7wscF72-JA2Pa5KGxNOqo7TopI5UP-SUrwUKMPaFmiLVDaRqb8NzECIkScl6_n-RU7Y80vTRy54_rwvU6Y9ie9PvIXYuD0tJrnmUhDD4qVOXO5s9QaPlAbbB3HGMNGkbM-Tg0Mg/s400/litter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518916284574822866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFrMsU5esHZ0unFjTPEbU-OdDOXciIkYUwQ4HaPf3o_3DTKDm1PwTK0o-CA-ZReY6ZQAGSinziM5dtfNl5OwebnvYIKaTxmstF0G_fO7Id_K6zKcTT4ROT2DYCIzCr6tgyzD3sQYQk4Y/s1600/washer.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFrMsU5esHZ0unFjTPEbU-OdDOXciIkYUwQ4HaPf3o_3DTKDm1PwTK0o-CA-ZReY6ZQAGSinziM5dtfNl5OwebnvYIKaTxmstF0G_fO7Id_K6zKcTT4ROT2DYCIzCr6tgyzD3sQYQk4Y/s400/washer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518920159361282242" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD3SOkBjti3axcKrCyxbXwd5D3t5Cq_lphWvr7f0iVH5ilGeuhFO-x_m-KK6xUwi2dVHZ9lVZf5twmf8IRob3LSJFovwd-UXDF1hl6ZgTU5G2aA_cY8Z4tzI26cv_Ta1P6WMluJsqYJA/s1600/table_football.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD3SOkBjti3axcKrCyxbXwd5D3t5Cq_lphWvr7f0iVH5ilGeuhFO-x_m-KK6xUwi2dVHZ9lVZf5twmf8IRob3LSJFovwd-UXDF1hl6ZgTU5G2aA_cY8Z4tzI26cv_Ta1P6WMluJsqYJA/s400/table_football.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518920151929831538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXU2SDb2ezvzLc5UtG1NZf5cyrr4FfCshjUa2rnJfyF-kfEhcF06hZr0fLkyjRc-p0sv1W21ARXJGJiVNqcgNaT1zs2Ei70C81P1ltD5ftMLv5_qzg4GdH1tmRg_faupXxC36UhMWs2Q/s1600/sink.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXU2SDb2ezvzLc5UtG1NZf5cyrr4FfCshjUa2rnJfyF-kfEhcF06hZr0fLkyjRc-p0sv1W21ARXJGJiVNqcgNaT1zs2Ei70C81P1ltD5ftMLv5_qzg4GdH1tmRg_faupXxC36UhMWs2Q/s400/sink.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518920146748209954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueZEkcQ3ZKdVCpIikUxq2KUXlybhEzsjnnDsipKTZRyFX_Ydn4CvgBrwHy9O-1fWj65XtJyDSHLG9a27is4CBP6vOwfQ5uvXjFgfUcDQCJffiuyTn12zARSxSDR4z5Pcrw2I7uxIYL5Q/s1600/mess.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueZEkcQ3ZKdVCpIikUxq2KUXlybhEzsjnnDsipKTZRyFX_Ydn4CvgBrwHy9O-1fWj65XtJyDSHLG9a27is4CBP6vOwfQ5uvXjFgfUcDQCJffiuyTn12zARSxSDR4z5Pcrw2I7uxIYL5Q/s400/mess.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518920145782979058" /></a>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-86983564704382361582010-08-31T14:54:00.000+07:002010-08-31T14:55:54.615+07:00EmpireSomething to watch out for.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7KfUNiFlo4c?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7KfUNiFlo4c?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-58683784926403446952010-08-26T14:15:00.002+07:002010-08-26T14:21:24.846+07:00Radiohead covering Joy DivisionAwesome<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rF9xO2Tpwzs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rF9xO2Tpwzs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-81606726046845838402010-08-21T13:45:00.001+07:002010-08-21T13:45:57.098+07:00Far too long...So in June it was my first time back in Canada for almost two years. It was good to be home and it was definitely worth not telling anyone that I was coming back so I could surprise my family.<br />I showed up at my parents house, had to wait a few hours for them to come home, but the look on their faces was priceless. It was a bit planned as in I told them I would be calling around 10 that evening. That was the time I would get to their house so they should have been waiting by the phone. It didn't work out perfectly which is why I spent a few hours waiting in the backyard but it was still a great surprise for them nonetheless.<br />The next day we drove up to Toronto to surprise my sister while she was at work. I really should have just kept doing surprise pop-ins with everyone I knew, that would have been interesting.<br /><br />It took me a few days to get over the jet lag and get myself moving but when I finally did I was busy.<br />I wish I would have been a bit busier though. I got to see a lot of friends I hadn't seen in a long time but I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see. I'm talking about people I have known for years but just didn't manage my time well enough to see. If any of you are reading this I'm sorry about that, you should know who you are I hope. Come out here anytime and I will show you some amazing places that you won't ever forget.<br /><br />I am absolute shit at keeping in touch with people who aren't in the 'six inches in front of my face' (Pacino in any given sunday, anyone?). I have been telling myself this for years. I get so caught up in the here and the now, always have, that I often loose focus on other people and things.<br />Might have a new years resolution in the works here... Have I tried this one before?<br />I just hope that old friends are still friends and that new ones stick. Isn't that what we all hope for?<br /><br />When I got back to Indonesia I dove right into work the next day and feel like I haven't stopped since. I have been doing my usual drinking/being a lazy sod on the weekends. I bought my first guitar ever when I got here. I have always wanted to play but never tried hard enough to get something going. I talked to a few people about it back in Canada and they kept saying "teach yourself", so that's what I'm trying. Picked up a nice acoustic yahama and have been pickin' away at it every week. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.<br /><br />Got my hair cut for the first time in over a year which was much needed due to the heat here. I'm much cooler these days, in a temperature sense of course. Speaking of hair, last night I made an interesting bet with Tom. Next week we are going to play pool, best out of 9 games, first to 5 is obviously the winner. Loser has to get a perm. The perm was probably sparked in Tom's head by a New Kids On The Block video we saw earlier in the night. So by next Sunday I may have a perm... Shit...<br /><br />Will update this more, I hope. I've said that plenty of times...Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-2654131977568745022010-05-14T12:11:00.003+07:002010-05-14T12:17:05.797+07:00InceptionI can't stop watching this trailer. This looks damn good.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6iNJdb9lfM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6iNJdb9lfM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286714307799895917.post-72041647696306649992010-04-16T16:01:00.006+07:002010-04-16T17:23:19.956+07:00JavaA few weeks ago I headed over to Java, the Province next to Sumatera, to see a little more of this interesting country.<br /><br />My main goal was to meet up with Tom and Charlie in a city called Yogyakarta aka Jogja.<br />After meeting Tom and Charlie there we would rent some bikes and head up to Borobudur.<br /><br />From Medan I flew into Jakarta, Indo's capital, on the 22nd of March. I would spend the night there and early the next afternoon head back to the airport, destination Jogja. In the morning I was left with a few hours before I had to head to the Airport.<br />I heading down to the National Monument which wasn't too far from where I was staying. It was basically this tall ass structure similar in shape to Brock's Monument but much taller. If you are from the Niagara Region you should get the reference.<br /><br />It wasn't much to look at but you are able to pay a few thousand Rupiah to take an elevator to the top. When you get to the top to try and enjoy the view that's when you realize how polluted the city is. As you look around from the top of the tower you can see a fair distance but you also can see where the large parts of the city are heavily polluted.<br />By this time I was swimming in a pool of my own sweat. I had all my gear with me while I was strolling around the monument because I was heading straight to the airport after. I still had some time to kill so I took a walk through the diorama museum they have under the monument and learned about the country I live in.<br /><br />There wasn't much else to see around that area so I headed for the train station nearby which has buses to the airport. I hoped on after being told it was only 50000 Rupiah. I saw everyone else was paying 20000. When the man came around collecting money he still asked me for 50000. I told him everyone else is paying 20000 so I will be doing the same. He just smiled and took my 20000.<br /><br />My friend Christie said the bus ride was going to be a possible hour and a half to two hours because of crazy traffic. The bus got there in a little over half an hour. I was way too early for my flight. So early that the check-in counter wasn't even open.<br />I was glad I brought a book.<br /><br />Finally my flight took off and I was headed for Jogja. I got there about 3ish and Tom was at the airport waiting. He had already hired out a bike so he drove me to the guesthouse him and Charlie were staying at.<br />It was a solid guesthouse. I didn't have to pay all that much and the place had a pool that was never busy. We took full advantage of that one for sure.<br /><br />I was pretty beat that day after being up quite late the night before but after some decent food and a cold beer I got my energy back. Tom, Charlie and I felt we should go out that night because the following day was Tom's birthday. We headed to this "must go to bar" in Jogja which was just like any other average Discotheque I've been to so far.<br />It wasn't too busy so we just hung at the bar having some drinks and a bit of dancing. Tom got really into as he always does and at one point was dancing on the bar for everyone. Pulling a few new moves I hadn't seen yet along with a few of his classics.<br /><br />The next day I hired a bike out in the morning so we could ride up to Borobudur. The ride was nice and we got there in under an hour. We spent pretty much the whole day there. We arrived early afternoon and didn't leave until the sun was going down. We stayed that long because we wanted to be on the temple for when the sun was setting.<br />Before the sunset we had the hecklers chasing us around trying to sell things. They were really aggressive but I still don't think as aggressive as China. We ducked into a market area to get away from them and grab a light meal.<br /><br />The sun was on it's way down so we walked back over to the temple. We took a few good group shots of us in front of the temple then we thought we should start back up the temple. As we get back to the stairs we notice a ton of people are coming off it. The security tells us they are closing very shortly and we had time for a few more shots. We get to the top and as we do another security guard is telling us we have to leave. We snapped a few shots each and he kept saying we could pay him some money to stay a little while longer. He wanted about 150,000 (15 dollars) I believe. He called it a "sunset ticket."Charlie told him he was corrupt and we left, not getting any real good sunset shots.<br />We did however find out later that there happens to actually be a SUNSET TICKET, which if you buy at the gate is about double the price. The security guard was offering us a good deal but we didn't know it.<br /><br />We rode back to Jogja that night. We took a dip to build up a hunger and then went out for food. We went to a restaurant we saw the night before that offered a few interesting dishes. They had Shark on the menu, which Tom and Charlie were both interested in trying. I was up for something I knew I would like so I stuck with something simple. I did end up trying there shark though. After doing so I wish I had ordered it. Don't pass up shark if it's on a menu.<br /><br />The next day was our last full day in Jogja. We took our bikes around the city popping into different areas to do some shopping. The city was a little confusing as far as getting around but Tom seemed to have a handle on it so I just followed his lead. After being drained of energy we headed back to our guesthouse area for a beer. Tom and I knew that in the city you could find places that serve Kind Cobra and we had been talking about it throughout the day. After our beers we popped back into the guesthouse for a cool down dip. After that Charlie was pretty wiped so she went to bed. Tom and I still had our cobra mission to take care off. Tom also heard about this coffee that is worth trying in Jogja. The called it KOPI JOSS. It's coffee that they serve up with a burning bit of charcoal in it. We found a sweet spot that overlooked a bit of the city. Anyone can pull up and grab a seat on these mats on the sidewalk and enjoy the view and order some food or drinks. We tried the coffee and were both thoroughly impressed by the coffee. Imagine the taste of burnt coffee. It's damn good.<br /><br />After that we hoped on our bikes and headed to an area near the train station where we heard the best Cobra would be. Everything around that area was closing down so we had no luck there. We booted around the city for probably a good 40 minutes looking for snake and exploring. We remembering seeing a restaurant near our guesthouse that did offer King Cobra so we headed back that way.<br />They had two options for King Cobra. I went for the steak and Tom, the satay.<br />We both had rather large portions of Cobra and we both really enjoyed it. I can't really compare it to anything I have eaten but if you get a chance, try it.<br />The next day I was heading back to Jakarta and Tom and Charlie were heading to Bandung.<br /><br />I got back to Jakarta about 1 o'clock in the afternoon and found myself a guesthouse to stay in. I was meeting up with my friend Christie later in the evening to grab some dinner and not much else. We had some dinner in this kick ass buffet in one of the 10,000 plazas in the city.<br /><br />Christie was a great tour guide, she took me to places I wanted to see and to places I would like to see. We did a bit of shopping that day in a few plazas, some better than others. Later on we heading north to check out this crazy packed market that was in a shell of an old plaza.<br /><br />When we both got sick of shopping we headed a little further north to see 'old town' Jakarta. It was a pretty cool part of the city but we didn't stay too long, I think because we were just a bit worn out. We headed west from the 'old town' to the waterfront area to grab some dinner. We had dinner on this boardwalk restaurant and watched the sunset. It was a cool spot. Ended off the night just taking it easy and having a beer and going to see a movie. I was off the next day back to Medan.<br /><br />I really enjoyed my trip. Jogja was amazing. I would really like to go back there again some day. Jakarta was alright as well. I can see why people can be drawn to it from other parts of Indonesia. It's the big city life. It was definitely still Indonesia but I felt like there were splashes of Toronto here and there. It made me miss back home a bit. I'll live.<br /><br />Ever since I have been back in Medan it just feels like it's been non-stop. I had a ton of exams to mark when I got back to work along with other things to take care of. I am just now feeling like I'm back on track and ready for the few weeks ahead. Busy weeks of course.<br />My goal for this weekend though is to just kick-it old school. Watch a few movies I have been meaning to see and just take it easy. We'll see how well that works out.Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775742171096191790noreply@blogger.com1