Great Picture Hi...there, I would like to say that your picture is such incredible. For long time I was looking for the history of Ambon ( Maluku), The first time I went to Ambon when I was 8 years old because my father was Ambon and my father's family still living in Ambon until today but I never know that ambon has so many fort from the colonial. I would like to say thank you for all your picture that you guys put it in the web.
i was there... Hi,
I was just browsing the net and i came across this blog. It was strange because when i was reading it, you mentioned something about the students from other countries staying in Cakra learning their culture. I was amazed and i feel excited when you mentioned the Philippines. I was that student from the Philippines!!!
And strange enough, old memories came back and I remembered chatting with a couple. I am not sure if it was you but i have a strong feeling that it was you... I was there from August till December 2006
Just want to share... :-)
VERY GOOD I STAYED This March I will be going to Solo again with my friends, I tried to make a reservation email address : Cakrahomestay@yahoo.com but could not reached them. My trip to Solo dated on the 25 March to 28 March 2011, I am trying hard to find a way to contact them, do you have their correct email address? Pls help me. Your great help are very much appreciated. Thank you.
Siti Zaliha
solo homestay The Cakra homestay is certainly a great place to stay with the bonus of listening to the gamelan at night.
Cheers
Barry Acott
Australia
www.barryacott.com
Great photos! Wow, you've really captured the essence and feeling of the Turkish market!! I love the colour and feel of the Turkish markets, especially when you haggle and feel like you've bought a bargain! Even more impressive is that even the Turkish is spelt correctly! What kinds of things did you buy from the Market?
Hello William,
I just finished reading Giles Milton's "Nathaniel's nutmeg". Giles wrote a very nice book, with a lot of historical insight (..not a period for us Dutch to be too proud of in today's perspective..), about this very interesting era, which made me search the internet for some pictures of Banda and the fortresses.
I found your blog a well written summary of what happened some 4 centuries ago on these tiny little islands, and enjoyed the good pictures that give me an impression of what the place looks like these days.
All the best,
Henk
Such life... Dive. Sea. Beer. Book. Lounge. Pure bliss indeed.
What a great blog. Wonderful pictures, too.
And yes, the Philippines is a bit far from the SEAsian trail but it does offer some surprises.
And there are more islands, seas, beaches to discover.
Gorgeous story thank you for posting this well crafted and beautifully illustrated story of your travels through this region. I just happened upon it while looking for maps of Vinh Long after reading a story set there, and it's wonderful to see it brought to life through modern eyes.
Assisting Aboriginal Communities I read your post regarding your encounter with Aboriginal people and the reaction of locals. I spent 6 years working in several outback towns as a Bank Manager. As a "city boy" and having travelled and lived overseas, I was troubled with the difficulties I saw that faced Aboriginal Communities. I soon learnt however that my initial impressions, very similar to yours, were changed several times over the years however the nature of the problems remain.
The first thing to caution is not to make any generalisations. I am fortunate enough to have developed many friendships with our first Australians and I note that each individual has a different outlook on life. I have met many very successful aboriginals, self made people with substantial financial assets. It is interesting, that most of these people do not share any empathy with their people. They have a "western" outlook in which theyfeel if someone wants to get ahead they should get up and do it. I find this a sorry position and one which I feel has been created by our society in general. On the other end of the spectrum has been decades of wasted money, often controlled by the communities themselves, but money that has shown no benefits. I can attest to houses being built and provided free only to be pulled apart and burnt as fire wood when winter came. Or business loans (grants) being made to indiviuduals and communities only to have the funds wasted on other things other than business. And there are problems in mixed communities. My wife is a school teacher and when we lived in Boulia (population 225 with the aboriginal population of 2 tribes at 175). Most people had jobs but incomes are low for everyone. However the aboriginal children were given paid grants for dance classes, art activities, concerts, lunches, sporting activities etc and the white children were not. As a result, many poor white children missed out because of colour. I am not saying that aboriginals have it better, far from it,they have a poor existance in many parts of the country however ther remedies the government provide have rarely worked. There is no easy solution however as an elderly aboriginal couple told me when I visited them in the Northern Territory, it was better in the Mission Days. They said that whilst they would like to change many things, they did benefit from the nuns teaching them, showing them how to live in white mans ways and teaching them a trade. Very non-political these days but we do need to find a better way to help our fellow Australians up to a better way of life. Not the life we say they should live but the life they want to live but with financial security, health care and pride. If only I knew the answer.
Thanks for the story! Hello Will & Alex, found your travel log while surfing the net! Thanks for such kind words! Really glad you have enjoyed your stay here with us! Hope to see you again!! Love from all Bubbles staff!!
beats a microwave meal it all sounds unbelievably exotic from where i am sitting (in the Classics Faculty). Glad to have caught up with you, have a very Happy Christmas! What beast will you cook to mark the day?! love Helen
Australie - Great Ocean Road Bonjour William et Alexandra. Nous venons de regarder vos belles photos. Helas nous ne comprenons pas le texte. Bon sejour en Nouvelle Zelande.
found you again Thanks to Alex's intervention I have now located your blog again, I am so behind! I particularly like the snogging morays and the no durian sign. I hear you are among mashed potatoes currently - much like myself only difference being that I am having them in a dank room with drizzle and 13C outside, hmm. Love, Marie
Uncle Ho It seems that you got there just in time before he goes back to Moscow in September for his annual overhaul!.
Keep it up - we seem to have had a rather long wait for this one!.
Lots of love to you both.
Interesting geology Hey, i think it looks like a Jewish 'finger'. ho, ho. And can we see some more pictures of you two, please?! You look v sweet on the deck;)
love Suzanne x
We live to travel - and we travel to live. We've been exploring the globe together for the past 13 years - and there's still so much to see. In March 2013 we moved from the United Kingdom to the other side of the globe - our new home is Tasmania and we look forward to getting to know this gorgeous part of the world.
... full info
Michelle Maria
non-member comment
Great Picture
Hi...there, I would like to say that your picture is such incredible. For long time I was looking for the history of Ambon ( Maluku), The first time I went to Ambon when I was 8 years old because my father was Ambon and my father's family still living in Ambon until today but I never know that ambon has so many fort from the colonial. I would like to say thank you for all your picture that you guys put it in the web.