whip fight festivities con't

yes, there's more to a whip fight than the actual whipping (as if it needed anything else).

stick dancing. it's sort of like a combo of twister, chinese jumprope and a lemon twister.

there's also music at the whip fights. GONG music.

joren blends in like NOBODY'S business...

joren, his sideburns and beth

the people in southeast asia (particularly rural indonesia) chew something called betel nut. it's a yummy combo of a little twig with a pinch of lime (as in limestone) and a small leaf. it produces a. lot's of saliva b. red teeth c. a buzz of some sort which surpresses the appetite for people working in the fields all day. we tried it. wow. it reminded me of chewing on, well, a twig, comet, and a small leaf.