Borrowed some equipment from the hotel and hopped off the dock. (Day 29) The coral here is in very sad shape, but the crystal clear turquoise water is wonderful. Standing on the dock sipping some coffee after breakfast, I could spot seven or eight different species of fish just like that. Also, there had been…
Masjid Baiturrahman Banda Aceh (Day 21) This mosque is the heart and center of the city. My hotel was just around the corner, but I did not go in the first couple of days. It was Friday, and then Saturday was a holiday. So, I saved it for the morning of the last day before…
Good morning! From Casa Nemo, Sabang, Pulau Weh. (Day 23)
Medan. Under the tracks behind Hotel Kama. (Day 17) You can see some amazing street art in Indonesia. When I went to Semarang a couple times it was truly amazing. They have an art college there. Jogjya, too. Here are a few from a series of railroad pillars behind my hotel. Feels very NYC to…
First stop in Medan: Grand Mosque of Medan (Day 11) The evening of my arrival, as I wandered about looking for something to eat and just checking out the city, I just barely caught a glimpse of the spire atop the minaret. First, first stop. I have not had a chance to visit many mosques–before…
The woodcut-style and strong design of this wheat-paste poster on a bus shelter in front of the State Museum of North Sumatra caught my eye. (Indonesian cities are great exhibits of graffiti, street art, and protest art of all kinds great and small. Jokowi is instantly recognizable on the right. And, his administration’s road and…
Roads Traffic is bad. Everywhere. In the country, two lane roads, twists and hills, farm vehicles, and people in a hurry make for slow progress or sometimes some really hair-raising overtaking. On Batam, they are expanding some of the two lane roads into six lanes, but as soon as you hit a town or village,…
 Stops: Telaga Punggur Pulau Batam, Batam View Beach Resort, Hang Nadim International Airport (Days 6-10) From the port, I got a Gojek to my hotel. Gojek is kind of like Uber on steroids. They provide everything. Most rides are on the back of motorbikes, but I always get the cars even if I don’t have a…
Stops: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal Singapore, Tanjung Pinang Ferry Terminal, Teluk Bakau Pulau Bintan, Telaga Punggur Pulau Batam (Days 3-6) Bintan Island is Singapore’s backyard. It’s an escape valve. Just a short boat ride away are white sand beaches, cheap holidays, and a sort of walled garden gated community of resorts–Club Med, Banyan Tree, and…
First stops: Haneda, Changi, Chinatown, Court, and Ferry (Days 1-3) Late arrival at Changi after a super strong headwinds added 45 minutes to our flight time. That is some crazy strong wind. I could see the next stop and where my beach side hotel will be as we approached at sunset. S’pore is easy. Get…
