A few faces from the Tengger Highlands

A few portraits of the people from the Tengger Highlands, where I hiked last month for several days - staying in the homes of locals or camping outside.

How many people can fit on a little motor scooter?

Alternate title: The 125 CC Honda Supra - the Indonesian SUV.

Independence Day Portraits - II

From the cute, to the beautiful and dignified to the outright weird (yes, that bottom picture is a man in a Muslim veil pretending to be a pregnant woman) all were present for this year's Independence Day celebrations.

Noah rides the puppy

What could be better than a huge puppy to ride...oh yeah, a 50 cent price for a big loop around the store.

We had a nice family outing down the hill.

Hanging out on the curb, blowing bubbles and chatting

Portraits from the Independance Day parade - I

The friendly local witch doctor

Nothing astonishes a crowd like becoming entranced, eating glass, cutting one's self and driving nails into your nose! His full-chest tattoo of a bat was quite impressive as well.


This local spiritual power person exhibited his displays at Independance Day this year. Women swooned and children cried and the rythmodic music played as he swayed, growled like a tiger, crawled and cut himself and did other acts of self-mutilation to prove his power.

Passing by the festivities, I stopped in awe, and then snapped a few pictures before Noah began screaming in terror at this bloody dislay.

Postscript: The next day this man admitted himself into the hospital. When I asked someone local why his power was not strong enough, I was told that somebody had obviously cursed, vexed or otherwise broke his power on purpose or that a stronger spirit was present which disturbed his power.

It's rough being cute and huggable

Noah running around the neighborhood

The Crater - Bromo

Portraits from Mount Bromo

Noah swimming in the mountains

Out and about in rivers and rice fields

ALETHEA'S BIG PARTY 4 - guests

Praying for Alethea's health and future

What a better excuse to hold a party than to praise God for a new child and pray for their health and future.

Alethea's big party 3

At Alethea's celebration we even heard traditional music and traditional dance.

In Ranu Pane village

Tengger Highlands and Lake Kumbolo

Mount Bromo, Mt. Mahameru and Lake Kumbolo