Funny Stuff (2)

Uses for Mopeds:

I only thought that I had seen a lot of Mopeds in Thailand. About 50% of the vehicles there are mopeds. Bali on the other hand I’d say about 80% are mopeds, but it doesn't’t seem to hinder the owners in any way. Mopeds are used for transporting all types of things. Here a partial list of what I’ve seen;

1) A family of five
(Note standing baby and Sidesaddle mom above, we were traveling at 55km/hr. Nice Helmet!)
2) Six spare tires (two around the waist)
3) Ladders. One was at least 12’ in length. (This feat requires two passengers).
4) Rebar. (Just drag the excess).
5) Your Pet
6) Donut, Ice Cream and Sandwich Merchants
7) An open umbrella, to keep the sun off of course.
8) Surfboards
9) An entire sheet of plywood. (This one was a little sketchy).
10) A Ten year old driver… with friend.

I had been thinking about getting a pick-up but in the face of high fuel prices I’m going to reconsider. Maybe just a moped.


How I know we’ve been away too long:

The kids are a really good litmus test of what we’ve been absorbing on this trip. Lately their games have changed quite a bit. During the last few weeks in Thailand they were playing a game called "Buddha and the Monk". (Or that’s what it amount to anyway). Basically one got to be Buddha (See Insert) and the other did everything for them. This usually meant getting food and rubbing their feet.

Another game they had been playing was called “Legend Spa and Resort”. This game amounts to taking bubble baths (with all the bubble bath solution they could find) and ordering room service while bathing. Both the kids have had numerous massages and are actually getting very good at giving them. They are likely ruined for life.

Musically, Barrett is getting interested in drumming. She recently collected 8 coconuts, hollowed them out, arranged them in line and started beating them with a stick. The sound was surprisingly good. However, after a couple of days of this she asked for drums for Christmas. I told her they don’t celebrate Christmas here.

Rylan has now dropped tennis as his favorite sport. Surfing has taken its’ place.Day one we had to keep him from paddling out too far. Day two he couldn’t resist, made it past the break, got hammered, and immediately started out again. He is very excited to “get tubed” by the wave.

For my Baja Friends,

Just when I thought the Los Barriles "Donut Guy" had the best business plan around we met his match. Driving a Moped in a somewhat remote portion of Bali we came up behind this guy (See Picture). As we get closer we realize that what he's packing is Donuts. Donuts! The only thing that will keep Larry off the water. Smartly displayed facing backward were all types including Rylan's favorite, chocolate sprinkles. Once the kids saw that, it was all over. We honked a few times, that didn't work so we passed and flagged him down. The merchant took it all in stride, as if that was the whole point. No macaroons, but the donuts did the trick.

Check out that rig, nice paneers!

We’re coming back soon.