Hello All,
Greetings from Banda Aceh..... I trust all is well on your side of the world. The last few weeks here have been pretty eventful. A couple of us had started playing pick-up basketball on the local court and got really into it which was pretty funny for guys our age. Sort of regressing a little into our childhoods and clinging on to something that we at least find familiar over here. Anyway, we ended up entering a tournament playing younger local Indonesian teams. The first game we lost and had two guys injured, but it was a lot of fun. I am only just coming to terms with not being able to move and play like I used to. Almost naturally I seem to be up to the cheap old man trick to get an edge on the competition - nothing to bad just the old stiff arm or trick shot. You have to out smart these young high flyers! Anyways, we did win one game but had we made it to the championship we would have been guaranteed A GOAT! That's right the winning team got a fat one and the runners-up got a skinny one! I was only stiff for a couple days following...And the other team invited me to play pick up with them....If I can keep in shape I'll be happy, but this near 30 yr olds glory basketball days are a distant memory :(





Thursday was a Hindu holiday. It was kind of surprising to take off both Chinese and Hindu holidays because it is a predominantly native, Muslim population. But I hear there is diversity across this large country and - as I was told - one thing all Indonesian have in common is the need for another day off! ;)
So it just so happened that my friend Nye (who helped arrange my job here) is leaving to go back to Canada on Friday. So we had this great party for him....There was lots of people both expat and national staff. Gersie whose house it was did a great job with the food and ambiance - candles and data projectors an lots of laughs. Bon Voyage Nye!
Today I am goign for another haircut here. My first experience was magical. Not only do you get a nice clean cut here but you also get a back and neck massage. I think my hairdresser really liked my balding head and he massaged it for quite a while. It felt really good, so good that I felt seduced up even to the point of him clasping my head with his arms and CRACKING MY NECK! I was a little taken back and images of my neck hanging limp were running through my head when he CRACKED THE OTHER SIDE! All for the equivalent of 1US dollar!
Well, that is about it for over here....would love to hear how things are back home. I wish you all the best!
yours, Nolan