Monday, December 26, 2005

Christmas in Omaha


Posing in her Christmas outfit with mommy.



Opening presents.



Opening more presents.



Examining an elaborate Christmas ornament.
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Friday, December 23, 2005

Indonesian Leftovers

A couple of souvenirs I brought back from the Tiara hotel in Medan:


Mie is Bahasa Indonesia for "noodles". I ask: why not mie?



I may put this up in our bathroom as a warning to guests.


In a related story, I was tipped off to this bathroom sign in Sudan by an anonymous source. Thanks, anonymous source!
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Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Marketing

I've returned home to find a submission from our West Bank/Gaza and Varmint Relations correspondent:


Colon detergent is approximately the last product on earth that I would willingly buy. Taken in the old city of Nablus; let the Nabulsi jokes begin.


Thanks, Jim!
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Monday, December 19, 2005

Turning Japanese


"Eat the funky chicken" -- the Soulfull Yakitori Bar near my hotel.



The streets of Tokyo.



At Oeno Park.



The altar in a minor shrine in Oeno Park.



The entrance to the Toshogu Shrine in Oeno Park. This shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa dynasty of Shoguns.



The Toshogu Shrine.



Pagoda in Oeno Park.


Writing this from Narita Airport waiting for the flight home.
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Sunday, December 18, 2005

A Timely Link

Sushi - a Documentary
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Big in Japan

I'm back in Tokyo on my way home. I changed my ticket so I could spend a full day here rather than just one jet-lagged evening.


Some of Tokyo's crazily-dressed teens coming out of the famous shopping district on Takeshita Street.

What? Why are you laughing?



Sonno joi! The entrance to the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the Meiji Emperor and his wife.



Prayers left by the faithful (and the tourists). I understood that some people worshipped the emperors once, but I was surprised to see how many people prayed here for the intervention of an emperor who died in 1912.



Not sure what these are but they sure are striking, aren't they? On the path to the Meiji Shrine



The famous electronic shopping district of Akihabara. It's like shopping for DVD players in a William Gibson novel. It gave me a headache.


Flying back home tomorrow afternoon.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Aceh

I've just come back to Jakarta from a short trip to Banda Aceh and Medan. Aceh, you may remember, was the area hardest-hit by the Boxing Day tsunami, and it's estimated that about 160,000 people died in the province of Aceh alone. There are mass graves everywhere, and of course many bodies were washed out to sea and never found.

I have been having a lot of trouble over the last few days trying to absorb and comprehend what I saw in Aceh. I don't think I can do it, and so I certainly can't communicate it. But I can show you a few pictures.


This mosque was the only building left standing in its neighborhood near the beach. The wave engulfed the entire mosque. Take a look at the car parked out front to get a sense of how high that is.



Opposite the mosque. While most people have been moved at least to barracks-style accomodations, some are still living in tents a year after the disaster.



We got a flat tire and stopped in a random neighborhood to change it. It took a while to realize that we were right in front of what used to be someone's house. All that's left is the foundation, but you can see where the living room, kitchen, and bathroom used to be.
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Saturday, December 10, 2005

Jakarta

I'm in Jakarta, a place that's so far away that if you went any further you would be closer. To an extent which has really surprised me, Jakarta is a shopping mall town. It's end-to-end shopping malls, with many more under construction. It's far too hot out to walk around much (as I discovered yesterday), so people just hang out in the air conditioned shopping malls instead.


A statue of Hanuman at the National Museum.



Some of the local residents are inclined to make googly eyes at foreigners.


I'm off to Aceh this afternoon, I'll head to Medan on Tuesday and I won't be back in Jakarta until Wednesday.
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Monday, December 05, 2005

Pocari Sweat Update

It really kind of does taste like sweat!
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Japan!

I'm in Tokyo just for the night on my way to Indonesia. I was really excited about this stopover, but after travelling literally all day, waiting in passport control lines, and taking the train into the city, I was exhausted and inclined to just get room service and go to sleep. Then I checked into my hotel, went to use the bathroom, and saw this:


Technologically advanced Japanese toilet.



You'll want to have a closer look at the controls.


I literally jumped up and down twice, saying, "I'm in Japan! I'm in Japan!" I had to at least take a walk around the neighborhood.


The staff at this restaurant were baffled by my inability to speak Japanese, but they were patient with me and the owner patiently mimed for me the correct way to eat udon soup.



The 7-11 itself looked familiar, but nothing in it did. I opted for this sweat drink and the mysterious ring snacks (which turned out to be quite good).


Eight more hours of flying tomorrow!
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Saturday, December 03, 2005

We're Number One!

It was Isabel's first birthday today, and we had a party with some of her little friends.


A cheery one-year old still in her jammies.



Reading a favorite book before guests arrive.



Hanging with buddies Skylar and Pedro.



Pedro helps unwrap a present.



Isabel admires the birthday cake Mommy made for her.
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