After Bukit Tingi things seamed to really settle down, and the novelty has began to wear off. Shifting ruble and bricks has become a part of every day life, washing from a bucket is the norm and waking up a 7 feels natural. Although Bowlin and I have booked 5 days at Le Meridan in Kuala Lumpur… so all that could be about to change.

One noticeable difference this week has been the lack of rain. I think the Indonesian rainy season is begging to wind down and it is hot! And I love it! Unfortunately working topless seams to be taboo.

The other break from routine this week was Thanks Giving. Apparently a holiday that is pretty big in the states. What did it mean to me? I had Friday off instead of Sunday, which was sweet as we left for a visa run on Saturday. I had offered my self up as leader of the miscellaneous cooking team. This included preparing the pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and stuffing, but by the time I’d hauled my ass out of bed everything was underway and needed no further direction. I think knowing when not to get involved is an important aspect of leadership!

So a rather lazy Thanks Giving for me involved little more than a moped ride, which saw Lucy and I have a little crash, and get thrown off a river by the local muslim heavies. I also had to help eat the dinner, which was real treat, and lose miserably in the Thanks Giving quiz.

It was the islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice) as well this weekend, which wasn’t so evident in the house. The mosque was unusually busy though, and our drive to the airport was made a little less dull by the occasional slaughtering of a cow by the side of the road.