Kuliah

The first photo! This is my uni (kuliah in Indonesian) with Gunung Merbabu in the background.

Photos Be Damned

So far, I have been too self-conscious of looking like a stupid bule (this means 'whitey') tourist to take photos in this crazy city. Egotistical I know. But I slip right in to the local disdain of fat-thigh whiteys wandering around the city in khaki shorts with cameras draped over their multi-pocket cargo shirts (apologies to any readers who fit this description). What I need is an accomplice to follow me around and do my dirty work... You know, take photos of those happy happy little kids splashing in the flooded street, or McDonalds packed to the brim with Jakartan elite nibbling at Big Macs as if they were the finest truffade.

So, words will have to do for the moment. Photos will come later when I figure out how to take them without damaging my sensitive wannabe-local vanity.

Jakarta Delivers

Today the clouds above my hotel in Jakarta cracked open with furious thunder and lightning to release so much water that in 20 minutes my street became a river. The kids from across the road took off their shoes and jumped in, while the cockroaches scrambled up walls to get out. Three hours later and the torrent has vanished.