Urban transport

North Jakarta, January 2010.

Hardware shop

North Jakarta, February 2010.

Four lane road with vehicles

Jakarta, February 2010.

Imelda kisses glass

The Filipina hero of eccentric moves strikes again. Now at sweet 80 Imelda Marcos starts campaigning as congressional candidate for the national election on 10 May 2010. Her campaign began in Batac, Ilocos Norte, where her embalmed husband rests. Her trademark taste for the theatrical may bring her back into political life.

I can’t wait for her next move when she brings Ferdinand out of his coffin to take the seat in congress together. Only in the Philippines as the locals would say.

Photo from the net as I wasn't invited to the shamelessly political photocall held at the mausoleum in the basement of one of her homes up north in the Philippines.

Sunshine in Penang

George Town, Penang, Malaysia, December 2010.

Dangerous drive

Denpasar, Bali, February 2010.

Facing the wall

Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, January 2010.

Young beauty queens

Bali, February 2010.

Islamic beauties on the beach

Bali, February 2010.

Bali surf

Riding the wave.

Waiting for the encounter.

Bali, February 2010.

Rural head work

Lamboya region, Sumba Island, February 2010.

Knife fashion

West Sumba, February 2010.

Mother and daughter

East Sumba, February 2010.

Lot's of snow this year: Merry Indian belated Christmas

George Town, Penang, Malaysia, December 2009.

Shopping bike

Somewhere on Sumba Island, February 2010.

Visibility?

Somewhere in West-Sumba, February 2010.

Paris walking

Close to Bercy Village, Paris, December 2009.

Jakarta man

A day in January 2010, 9:17am and later, Jakarta.

Racing sewing machine

Jakarta, January 2010.

Shoe repair that comes to your house

Jakarta, January 2010.

Dead 12 years and still enjoying family life

Basically, we are longer dead than alive. We know that, but ignore it. The people from Sumba are very well aware of it, and prepare accordingly for life in the afterworld. So the former rajah of Pau and his younger brother. The rajah died 12 years ago, his brother 5 years ago. Both were still in their family house, waiting for proper funerals to take place. In the meantime, the rajah in seated position was wrapped in 200 pieces of ikat, the traditional Sumbanese woven cloth, his wrapped corpse put in a wooden cabinet itself covered with ikat. His brother as a Christian was also wrapped in ikat, but in a reclined position. As the daughter of the rajah opened the wooden cabinet where the corpse was, she immediately put a small table with some betel nut on it for the dead to enjoy.

Nobody knows when the funerals can take place. Funerals request a huge amount of sacrificial cattle (chicken, pigs and buffaloes) as well as a proper grave. The huge tombstone was already bought, but still had to be carved and moved to the village (70 km away). Upon arrival in the village, it would be dragged to the burial place in the traditional way, by men moving it on logs. The family would have to cover the costs and the meals for all workers involved. Plus entertaining hundreds of people. The rajah and his brother could well enjoy their sirih (betel) for a few years more…

East Sumba, February 2010.

Ancient times meet modernity

Solar power it is!

Lamboya region, Sumba Island, February 2010.

Free the bird

Kuan Yin Temple, George Town, Penang, Malaysia, December 2010.

Betel nuts

Chewing betel nut (or sirih in Indonesian) is one of the favourite occupations of the Sumbanese, men and women, young and old. Three elements are required: a nut from the areca palm tree, some lime, and a leaf or the fruit of the betel vine. The nut is cut into pieces and put into the mouth. Then the betel fruit is chewed a bit to cut it open, put into lime and put into the mouth. The reaction of the lime with the betel fruit makes for abundant, reddish saliva. Old people may require a small areca nut ponder to replace missing teeth.

Chewing betel nut is a social activity. Offering betel nut to a guest is welcoming him in the house.

... and the winner is...

Sumba Island, February 2010.

PLA climb

Chinese wall 1985.

After the plastic meal

Anyway, Penang's hawkers are the best!

George Town, Penang, Malaysia, December 2010.

Pinky on the road

What brand is it?

When was this vintage car built?

George Town, Penang, Malaysia, December 2010.

Chinese Buddhist Monk shows the way

Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia, December 2009.

Guncycling

East-Sumba, February 2010.

Live dog food

Dog meat can be ordered in some warungs (eateries) on Sumba island. Sometimes it's worth to check out the garden or the back of the restaurants.

Sad life!

Sumba Island, February 2010.

Jakarta runners with two friends

Jakarta, February 2010.