Asia Final

From: Dan Trumble
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006
Subject: Trumble - Asia FINAL

Okay, this will be the final mass email like this for this trip. I go to West Africa (Burkina Faso and Ghana) in September and might try to provide some updates from there. Let me know if you prefer to not be included on these types of messages. Some folks enjoy them, some probably not so much.

A few interesting things:

No surprise here, but rice is a huge part of the diet. I was in Indonesia almost a full week and had rice at all but maybe 4 meals. Rice was usually an option at breakfast as well (and an option I often took advantage of).

In a previous message I had mentioned the blue busses that provide public transportation in the part of Indonesia where I was. Many of the busses have things on the windows saying one thing or another.

Here’s a sample:


In the Philippines Jeepneys are used for public transportation. What is a Jeepney? See this site for more information: http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/Philippines.html.

Here are some Jeepeny pictures:


Indonesia is the country with the world’s largest population of Muslims. The part of Indonesia I was in is not as predominantly Muslim as some other parts but because of the laws regulating what Muslims can eat and drink, it is important for sellers of food and drink to make sure that Muslims know whether the products meet the Muslim requirements or not (no pork, no alcohol, maybe other stuff that I don’t know). The word for food that is OK is “Halal”.

No pork in these drinks:
Can I interest you in some Fisherman’s Pizza?

A catch of shrimps, squid and tuna on a bed of Don Herico’s crab fat sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, red and green bell peppers and spring onions.

Finally, I had never been snorkeling before but there is some real good snorkeling near Manado, Indonesia (where our East Indonesia office is). I have now had myself a snork.

The bottom (note blue starfish)

Have a great day.

Thanks for letting me share,

Dan