A Story about Anna in the Ocean

Having grown along the Pacific Northwest, it is hard to believe that I have never swam in the Pacific Ocean. But I did it! Against my will, as we were bananaboatnig the other day in Bali (so...the other side of the Pacific Ocean...), our driver asked Jenny in broken English if we wanted to "flip up". Jenny thought he meant if we wanted to catch bumpier waves so she quickly agreed. Unexpectantly as we were laughing and being silly...the next thing I knew was that I found myself in the ocean...in shock! Of course we had on life jackets but mine was too big (and old) and I quickly started to panic. After some harlarious laughter (I was so mad), we managed to all pile back on our banana boat and went about our way. Still, it was not my best experience of being in the ocean but I was cursing to myself all the way back...Anna you really need to learn how to swim. Thus this morning was my second try at swimming at the more shallow lane pool. A few gulp fulls of water down my stomach and gasping breaths, I am slowly getting more comfortable with the water and can now do two breaths in front crawl. I am going to throw my kid in the water so they don't have to experience this pain. Nonetheless, just like learning to bike a few years ago...thus continues my adventures in stretching my limits and reaching for the unknown...To redeem the day, salt water does taste kind of good, and parasailing, jetskiing and fly fishing were much more fun than my banana boat experience.

Temples and Worship

There are gorgeous temples in Bali, as there was in China and every other place I have hit. Whether it is against the backdrop of the crashing waves and the sunset (like the Tanah Lot temple last night) or on top of hills (like in China), wherever there is beauty in creation mankind seems to have built monuments of worship to their gods. It is an incredible sight. I watched a National Geographic special on the First Emperor and the Terracota Warriors this morning; it was amazing because I was there! But even more amazing thinking about the power and fear of one man (of death), that led him to create such art works and history, and also cause such brutality. Never have I been more grateful and in awe of my Jesus, who I know is more than mercury or bronze or silver. The dominant religion in Bali is Hinduism and everywhere, in front of every little street shop there are food offerings to the Hindu gods, I am still in shock of it and realizing that there is so much more to religion than my North American eyes.

Thoughts about school

Travelling to SE Asia has been like walking through my textbooks in the last five years. I have had great conversations with locals (bus drivers, taxi drivers, friends, etc) about the development of each country I've hit. The basic questions about the government, economy, social networks and democracy have been some of my favourite part of the trip and I am surprised and happy at the frank and open answers I have received, even when I ask them about their former dictators. Cities like KL are much more developed than I imagined, but poverty also seeps everywhere, even to the four star resorts and city centres. These cracks and glimpes of the life of the common folk are the images I've tried to capture, and what I hope will influence my thoughts as I head into social planning at UT in the fall. My mind is blown away in thinking about how to pursue basic development like education, infrastructure, and healthcare, nto to mention softer things. Sewage treatment is complicated. Water is precious. There are way too many people living in this part of the world for everyone to live like North Americans. I took a bubble bath today in our tropical terrace room and used more water in an hour than who knows what. I don't have a thesis topic yet but thoughts are constantly blowing away my mind.