Two Extremes, In Photos

These past two weeks I went on two trips.  The first was to Komodo Island and Bali with our family, my mum and our family friends.  The second trip was to my friend's village.  I keep trying to write a blog post to process the two extremes I have just experienced, but words fall short.  Both trips were beautiful and life changing, in completely different ways.  Words fail, so I will let the pictures tell the story...

Trip 1: Komodo Island and Bali

Yes, Pat was there, too.  He was behind the camera.

This photo doesn't do it justice, but we sat and watched as thousands upon thousands of flying foxes flew from the mangrove over to a nearby island for their food.  

(Sorry to the animal lovers out there...). At Komodo Island, the owner of our boat had arranged for goats to be fed to the Komodo dragons so we could see them come out and eat.

Balinese fire dancing.

We snorkeled in the coral reefs, and swam with manta rays (didn't manage to get any pictures of them, though).

In Ubud...

Two days after arriving home in Jakarta, I packed my bags again for another adventure...

Trip 2: Indramayu

I had the incredible honor of joining my friend, Ner, to visit her village in Indramayu.  

After a five-hour bus ride reminiscent of Harry Potter's Night Bus, we arrived.

Ner works as a maid in Jakarta, sending her earnings home to pay for her younger sister's schooling, and saving up to build a house for her mom.  After seven years of saving, she had enough money to build this house.  This was Ner's first time seeing it.

Before the new brick house was built, this was Ner's family's house (the walls are made of bamboo and let in the rain).

Here Ner is cooking in her new kitchen.

Ner and her sisters...

...and her mom finally agreed to have her picture taken.

Two trips.  

One was full of family memories, good friends, beautiful sights, incredible food, and enough fun to keep us going for quite a while.  The other was deeply honoring, soul-enriching, and life-altering.  I am thankful for both.