Indonesia, Sumatra, Lake Toba, Tomok, 24-02-2009. The quiet foreiger's enclave Tuk Tuk on the bulb shaped peninsula facing Parapat on the main land, might be tranquil and peacefull given over almost completely to agriculture now that all the foreigners that once wandered around its winding and hilly streets, are gone. The village has gone back to its quiet village life where gossip is the main entertainment of the local populace. Tomok, maybe an easy five kilometer walk from Tuk Tuk, is like Ambarita just another small hamlet where women do all the drudgery in and around the house as well as the backbreaking work in the rice paddies - another left-over from their original lineage to the clans of Northern Thailand and Birma....why break your male back and work yourself into a sweat when you can ... read more

Indonesia, Sumatra, Lake Toba, Ambarita, 22-o2-2009. I leave the quiet foreigner's enclave of Tuk Tuk and walk the 5 kilometer to the pretty village of Ambarita enjoying the typical smell of pine trees and the singing of birds. Wooden houses, chicken with cicklets idling around in the undergrowth, a few happy pigs dozing in pools of mud, kids following me asking the usual questions trying to practise their English and hoping for a free school pen, maybe bon-bons or Dutch coins, a couple of scarwny village dogs that can't be bothered to give my Ferringi heels a bit of chase. The whole village breathes an air of neglect and boredom. Ambarita has got a huge souvenir market with junk, junk and more junk spilling out in the dusty street and nobody around to release the bored ... read more

Indonesia, Lake Toba, Samosir Island, Tuk Tuk, 19-02-2009. Nets on the quay spread out in the early morning sun to dry and yellow colored plastic crates full with fish caught during the night, attracting huge number of gulls in search of free breakfast, screaming while flying overhead, diving down during a moment of inattention to steal a fat pike, his mates waiting up there in the air, gliding on their wings, waiting for the bold featherly fish thief, ready to discuss his prize.... I'm waiting for the ferry to depart for Samosir Island while making quick sketches in my scrap book of these winged fish pirates, admiring the freedom they have and the outright disregard they have for us mortal human beings, despicable we are in the beady eyes of a third world gull, just about ... read more

Malaysia, Penang, 17-02-2009. In its heydays the Hong Kong Bar situated in the heart of Penang, was a busy place visited by countless sailors from visiting American fleet ships, aircraft carriers and the like. Sailors from the International commerce whose ships would be moored in the narrow strait between Georgetown and Buttersworth, backpackers on big overland trips with thirsty throats would add to the international rowdy mood. Fight were as regular as the vermin outside in the narrow streets, Somehow the Hong Kong Bar survived it all, the place even got burned down to its foundations severral years ago - arson was suspected and the main loss according to the two Chinese owners, brother and sister, was the blackened pages of the visitor book. Nowadays all the backpackers have moved to the tourist bars where big ... read more

Malaysia, Penang, 15-02-2009. Little India is a Hindu enclave smack in the middle of Goergetown just off Lebuh Chulia, it is an inviting place to stroll around, especially so if you have been to India before!!! Hindu music blaring out of the many Bollywood video stores will greet your backpacker's ears well before you enter this typical Indian neighborhood, chai shops with over-sweetened Indian tea which in India is called Chai, colorfull shops specialised in saris, a tradicional dress for Indian ladies, clouds of sandalwood insence, big red spots cover the streets, a leftover from the juice that comes from beetlenut chewing - ARGHHHH and there goes another big red colored load of spittle coming from an Indian throat hitting the pavement and splattering around waiting for the next shower to wash it away. Countless vegetarian ... read more