Tuesday December 16, 2008 - Bajawa to Ruteng I guess Christmas is approaching fast because as I sit here in Ruteng, perched on the balcony of the very kitsch Hotel Rima, I can hear Christmas carols and hymns being performed down the road. It sounds live though I cannot be completely sure, either way it makes for an eclectic mix of cultures. This hotel is a painfully overdone replica of a Swiss Alpine Chalet, all timber, tacky flashing fairy lights and steeply peaked rooflines. There are the usual Indonesian noises and smells such as two stroke motors, garbage and honking horns. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Sunday December 14, 2008 From now on I’m going to always sign off early on my days entry and predict an lazy night because when ever I do I inevitably have a bloody huge one haha. I was home so late again last night I was locked out of my hotel for what must be the fourth time now. I can tell you are all wondering just what happened so let me fill you in. After finishing yesterday’s blog I ordered a feed here at Camellia. Well I tried to place an order but the restaurant had gotten quite packed since [View Full Entry]

---

---

Friday December 12, 2008 - Sunset Cottages I was up early enough this morning to get all my chores done and be ready for our 9am departure as planned. It was hard though let me tell you. Firstly it was raining that sort of ‘sleep in’ drizzle with grey skies and cool temperatures that always makes it hard to get out of bed, secondly I didn’t really want to leave and thirdly as previously discussed I’m basically a lazy bugger. Sure some more company would have been nice here, but even on my own I have loved every second spent at [View Full Entry]

---

---

Monday December 8, 2008 - Larantuka I woke up fairly early at Kartika. Comparatively speaking that is, the residents of Larantuka probably thought I was dead but I refuse to consider 7.30am anything but early even if the locals rise with the birds for some strange reason. I took my time getting everything well packed into my backpack so that it would suffer minimal damage should it be subjected to tonnes of luggage thrown all over it on the bus. By the time I was done my growling stomach left little choice but to check out and wander down to Virgo [View Full Entry]

---

---

Tuesday December 9, 2008 - Sunset Cottages (approx. 25km east of Maumere) From the moment the rhythm guitar kicks in I get this eerie feeling… like this is my song. I bet it seems corny to you all, but I don’t give a fuck really. I’ve dubbed it the ultimate anthem for my trip, well at least until I find one better suited, maybe there will be several in the end; after all this is a long odyssey I find myself on. The song is ‘Maybe One Day’ by The Toothfaeries. I don’t know how easy it will be to find [View Full Entry]

---

---

Saturday December 6, 2008 - Larantuka I didn’t really get up to a lot today. After last night I really needed to clear the cobwebs out of the old cranium so I took a long leisurely walk from my hotel out of town along the beach. I found a pleasant shady spot and just relaxed for an hour or so and then made my way back. Nothing too exciting but just what the doctor ordered really. I felt much better on my return and after another bucket shower. The power is out all day today. Some sort of maintenance again so [View Full Entry]

---

---

Wednesday December 3, 2008 - Kupang Damn my head was pounding so bad this morning I ended up getting woken up by its racket. While I waited on my painkillers to kick in a little I lay on my bed in my jocks trying to let the cool from the air-con wash over me and help me feel a little better. Small groans kept escaping from my lips every time I moved too fast and when one of the dudes from downstairs knocked on my door it sounded like someone was taking to the timber with a sledgehammer. “Yo” I croaked [View Full Entry]

---

---

Tuesday December 2, 2008 - Kupang I was exhausted last night after our marathon bus trip but still found it difficult to sleep. Hope I’m not about to cop another bout of insomnia. Frustrated with my tiredness and apparent failure to rest properly I got up fairly early and sat out in the open walled restaurant at the hotel. It was a miserable morning with strong winds and heavy rains. I got a terrible coffee and some nasi goreng for breakfast while I waited on Tav and Meags to show up. I tried to get some writing done too but the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Sunday November 30, 2008 I slept for ages last night. It’s the first time since I left Boomtown I have slept through to late morning and boy was it good. The air conditioner is working like a little champ and my room was like a walk in cold room at your local BWS when the domestic staff woke me by opening the door again at around 10.30am. I’m not even fazed by the cleaning ladies anymore. I waved and invited her to join me without even opening my eyes, patting the spot beside me on that giant bed prompted a sharp [View Full Entry]

---

---

Saturday November 29, 2008 I wonder as I sit here in ‘One More Bar’ just how much bandwidth at any given point of the day is taken up with porn. There are two army types sitting up from me slightly to my right who think they are being subtle and yet look exactly like what they are; two randy blokes watching porn on the Internet. It’s not just ya run of the mill porn either, from what I can see of ‘skin heads’ screen it involves multiple people and animals. Yes it is creepy, heavy-duty porn that has ‘flat top’ drooling [View Full Entry]

---

---