Interior Decoration

While I was in Afghanistan, I got caught up in the craze to buy carpets and furniture, but that means I finally have some of my own stuff to brighten up my house. I was happy to see that the table made it with just one scratch. So much time passed between buying the carpets and getting them in Timor that I had forgotten what they looked like, but the one I put into the study was a great choice. I have another rug in the master bedroom, and one more that I don't actually have a place for, so it's still rolled up.

Arrival in Timor-Leste

After more than 24 hours of flying, I arrived at my new post, Dili, in Timor-Leste (East Timor). I was thankful to know a married couple also assigned here, and they took me to one of the most famous landmarks in the city during my first weekend here.

The top photo is the statue "Christo Rei," erected by the Indonesian government prior to the war for independence. In a reference to the Portuguese influence, it is modelled on the "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Brazil.

The two photos below show the beaches on either side of the statue. My house is near the right-hand edge of the lower photo. I can see the water from my upstairs window.

Sights in Bali

After Hong Kong, I also had an opportunity for a layover on the island of Bali, known as "the island of the gods," and it was certainly quite beautiful.

I decided to take a one-day tour to see as much as I could, and it was great. The top photo is a traditional Balinese temple with a "split gate" entrance. Looking closely, it appears that the gate started out as a single piece of architecture that was split in two to make the gate. I was surprised to find out that the Balinese are Buddhist. I just figured they were Muslim like the rest of Indonesia.

The second photo is from the Balinese "barong" dance, a story of good versus evil with people, a tiger, and a monkey for comic relief. The costumes were unbelievable.

The third picture is of several rice terraces. Just gorgeous landscape. We stopped at this location because there was a lot of traffic going towards the usual tourist location, and I'm glad we did. The guide and I had a chance to meet a couple of the farmers, and they were very nice and got a kick out of having a tourist come by.

In the last photo, the woodcarver is crafting intertwined people from a single piece of wood. The quality of carving at this shop was just amazing. I didn't buy anything because I wouldn't have been able to carry what I wanted on the plane, even if I could have afforded it. Maybe when I go back.

Sights in Hong Kong

On my way from Illinois to my current assignment in Timor-Leste, the trip was long enough that I got a couple of layovers. The first was in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, I was in the final stages of a cold and the beginning stages of severe jet lag, so I didn't take much time to see the city. I was happy to get these photos on the one day I really felt like going outside. The top photo is a statue of Bruce Lee on Hong Kong's equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. While I was there, I saw the Chinese junk in the lower picture. Very cool.

USS Midway in San Diego

I remember a trip from Orange County down to San Diego which was the first time I ever saw an aircraft carrier in real life. The size was unbelievable. While finalizing the purchase of a condo in San Diego, I had this view of the USS Midway from my hotel. When I found it was a museum, I had to check it out. It was definitely interesting to see the inside of the ship, but there is no way I could have ever served in the Navy. The ships just don't seem to be designed for people my height.