More Observations of Indonesia, two book reviews, more pic

The view of the river as our group starts the float

More pics by David T and two Book Reviews of the same book: Indonesia, Etc, by Elizabeth Pisani

A much younger Pisani, closer in age to her early years spend in Indonesia in the early 1990s as a  Reuters journalist

THB had no recollection of having read the book 5 years ago, even though he liked it. Sooooo many books under the bridge in just 5 years.

Book Review #1 (2015, in its entirety): Indonesia Etc., Exploring the Improbable Nation, Elizabeth Pisani: a pretty decent eclectic primer of the recent history and vastness of Indonesia, told from POV of a itinerant traveler island hopping. Recommended

Probably closer in age when the book was written in the early 2010s

That's it, short and sweet. Now the book review from 2020, re-read after getting back from Indonesia. DB also read it after our return. 

Book Review #2 (2020): Pretty much the same as the first time, using more words

Indonesia Etc., Exploring the Improbable Nation, Elizabeth Pisani: basically, an excellent explanation of what you see when visiting Jakarta, Bali and a few other non-industrialized islands. Many people living a life un-imagined in the 1980s and many living the same life pre-1980s all the way back to the 1500s. Highly recommended if you are soon to go to, are in, or have just left Indonesia

And, another repeat of a book review, this one of a 2019 Highly Recommended book, a full book on a place Pisani visited in Indonesia in 2011 for a few days (and a few pages). Of note, for thousands of years the Indonesians did not have to work for very many days a year to sustain themselves for the entire year:

The Last Whalers, Three Years in the Far Pacific with a Courageous Tribe and a Vanishing Way of Life, Doug Bock Clark: Masterly told, the story of a small tribe, maybe 1500 total combined living in the village on an island in the Savu Sea and ex-pats, the Lamalerans are dealing with an ever infringing modern world on their primitive subsistent hunting of whales as a means of survival. Much larger topics are gently addressed as part of the deep reporting on village life: conservation, merging of different religions, honoring the livelihood and territorial claims of indigenous people, integrating widely disparate sub-groups into a nation. If you travel to any “under developed” country, this is a great book to read while there, especially Indonesia. Very pertinent when THB and DB will be in Raja Ampat early next year.  

Ring of Fire, and Indonesian Odyssey: 5 TV episodes by the Blair Bros and a 6th episode in conversation with Lawrence Blair

Pretty typical "island" with an overhang over the water, and lots of similar vegetation from island to island (no matter the size) and not much blooming

Our Planet: THB is back and has wrapped up all 8 episodes. Remember, the last 10 minutes of episode 4 highlights Raja Ampat and THB thinks was filmed at two of our best snorkel spots. The two bright spots on the planet: Raja Ampat and Chernobyl. Without humans, the area around the explosion and melt-down of one of the reactors has been regenerated with wildlife. It gives a glimpse of what life might like in 20,000 years (though most of the nuclear meltdowns are unlikely to be covered with massive tons of concrete)

The band tuning up and getting plenty of help from kids under 10

The 12 cruisers and many of the off-boat support crew + a few of the crew enjoying part of a day off