Lanterns in Hoi An

Hoi An is in central Vietnam near the coast, and was one of the few places not effected by the war...today it is a very quaint little fishing town with great restaurants and really old buildings...

Lets Have a Vietnam Week in Photos

Vietnam is one of my favorite places to take photos. I have had three trips to the country and have enjoyed every minute of each trip. The food, people and scenery is some of the best in Asia...a great place for photography. So, this week, along with some daily news, I will feature some of my favorite photos from Vietnam...

I got home late last night which is unusual for a Sunday night. The Java Jazz festival was this past weekend. I didn't even know it was in town until my neighbor (Who spends a lot of time with Kayla) asked me late Sunday afternoon if I wanted to go with him...he had an extra ticket. I jumped at the chance, and so happy I did. It was one of the best things I have ever done in Jakarta. The music was fantastic, and there were many famous jazz artists from all over the world playing. They had 16 stages...I stayed until 11:00, so watched jazz for a good seven hours, and could have stayed longer if I didn't have to work this morning.

I just got back from my softball game (we lost in extra innings), so I am one tired puppy tonight...

Two Dads and Two Little Girls

It was a day of rest for the Mommies...The Dads (Butch and I) took the long drive downtown to the local putt-putt golf course, gave the girls a couple of clubs and balls, and we were off to a wild adventure watching two three-year olds putt their balls around the 18-hole course. Quite the sight...

After a tough round of golf, the girls wanted to try their luck at fishing. They have little ponds around the golf course that you can fish. If you catch a fish, you must buy it...luckily, no fish were caught...but they had a good laugh trying...

The future LPGA golf champion ponders her next shot...

Mid March House Update

Some more progress was made on the house. Some of the things done this week...

Windows and Doors continue to be stained.
Balinese Gazebo finished
Outside of house almost finished painting
Many lights installed
Plans for railings, bridge and roof of master bedroom terrace complete
Windows in Kitchen raised a few inches higher
Wood floors upstairs starting to be installed
Some landscaping done

Below is a view of the house from the back...

Tika staying busy buying and planting plants...

The wood floor in my office starts to go in...

The front of the house is finished with its painting...

A worker finishes planing the last floor board of the gazebo...

Tsunami 2004 Remembered

I thought a few photos from Aceh would be appropriate for the last day of "Indonesia Week".

About 5 months after the devastating tsunami, I traveled there to take photos of children for the book, Letters From Aceh. The book contained letters written between children at JIS and children in Aceh. The letters in the book are incredible...they will bring tears to your eyes...all the proceeds from the book went to build a new school in Aceh which is open and running now.

The three days I spent in Aceh were probably the most emotional three days I have ever had. The destruction was unreal...difficult to fathom. However, the people were incredible. Despite losing virtually EVERYTHING in their lives including family members, I never once heard one person complain....in fact, we were greeted with big smiles, laughter and optimism. The Indonesian people are perhaps the most resilient people in the world today.

I remember talking with a little girl (whose photo is on the cover of the book) who had watched her mother, father and brother swept away by what she called the Big Black Monster. She was able to run to a tree and climb it when she saw the monster coming. She stayed in the tree for two days as she was afraid the monster would come back. When I asked her how she could keep smiling after witnessing such an event, she said, "Sir, life goes on...I will see them in heaven...I have to stay happy". She was only 10 years old.

This is one of my favorite photos I took while there...it really illustrates what that little girl said...

Life Goes On...

This little girl and her brother lost their entire family...

The Komodo Dragon

These guys are big...and they can eat you...why we were standing only inches from their drooling mouths, I will probably never understand, but it was cool...

Red and White Day

Today, the last day of Indonesia Week at PIE, was Red and White Day. The kids had to wear the colors of the Indonesian flag...

In the gym, they had a mock Balinese wedding....complete with Gamelon...

Tika spent all of yesterday and last night shopping for fruit to decorate her booth of fruit. She wore her Balinese outfit...

New Exhibition

I was asked a couple of days ago to send the photo below to be printed for a new exhibition in North Jakarta featuring the top 30 photographers in Indonesia. Not sure how the top 30 photographers are chosen, but what an honor to be considered along with this group of professionals. The print will be one meter in height....that is a pretty big print. Since my underwater camera is the D70, I had to do some pretty hefty upsizing to get a one meter print...hope it comes out well...The Exhibition will be this month...

At PIE (Pondok Indah Elementary School), it was Beach Day ...
Kayla was not feeling very well (she has a bad cold), but still managed a half-smile for me this morning before school with her "beach dress" and "beach hat"

Working in the Rice Fields

Today, it was hat and sarong day...Kayla had to wear a hat (see below) like she was working in the rice fields. So, I am featuring a couple of photos of some rice fields (sawah) in Bali...

The Highlanders

So, today started "Indonesian Week" at Pondok Elementary School...Kayla and Tika wore matching Javanese outfits today to school.

I gotta say, I am pretty lucky to have such pretty girls in my life...

For the blog, I think I will start out East and make my way West in Indonesia this week in photos...
Below is one you may have seen before...
a group shot of some Papuan chiefs at a funeral...

How About an "Indonesian Week" ?

It is "Indonesian Week" at Pondok Indah Elementary school this week, so I thought I could feature some photos from Indonesia in the blog this week...

So here is an opening photo taken at Palau Kri in Papua...one of my favorite places in the world...

Last Day of Africa Week

Ok, this concludes my little experiment with "Africa Week" in the blog...

The photo below was also taken the same day in Savuti (similar to the photo I posted a few days ago). I like the casualness of the lions...they are so cool, like there is not a worry in the world.
...nice to be at the top of the food chain...

This photo is way over "photoshopped", but I think it is cool...and a nice ending to
"Africa Week"