Colourful Country

I was at the port the other day when it struck my that Indonesia is like so many other tropical countries, in that it's such a colourful place...



Sadly, it was the gas slick rainbow on the surface of the bay water that made me think of it... But really, the paint choices, the bright, lively colours are such a contrast to the shades of beige that are the "First World". Just stepping into the street is a kaleidescope of colour... the markets or ports are another dimension altogether!




Not to mention nature's palette -- like the absolutely GLORIOUS sunsets!

Langsa or Duku? Duku or Langsa?

Another tasty tropical fruit (or fruits?, I'm not quite sure) that I'd never have known existed!

As far as I can tell, Langsa is in fact the same fruit as Duku... just in a 'riper' phase, slightly more sour/fermented, slightly messier. Although I have had people tell me them come from completely different trees!?



Langsa is ugly and looks like something that might cause you more harm than good... but the only adverse reaction I had to eating it was going around with ridiculously sticky hands for a few hours (I'm told this can be averted with time and practise!)... the skin contains some kind of liquid (like the way I remember the liquid from milkweed) which is impossible to wash off; it just has to wear off with time!

But yummy... and thus worth the sticky hands! As you can see from the picture from Sorong, below, I am ecstatic at this delicious new discovery! (As Martin says, I'm such a dork, but what can ya do???)