Trust Us!!

With a name like this, what could go wrong?

Dinner with Ume-chan

Glenn, Angie, and Tomoko Umeda at the Intercontinental Yokohama

Coke and Love Puppy

I've got to admit, I thought this was some kind of weird Japanese special edition can.

I mean, could 'love puppies' and a 'happiness factory' come from anywhere else?

Angie, Garr, and I found this today when I bought a Coke in Japan and thought 'what the hell'?

It turns out, though, to be a global campaign - as evidenced by this commercial.

I don't know what to say. The ad is cool enough, but finding this image on my coke can is slightly disturbing.

More Monkey Business

That's no way to make friends...

Despite the fact that I love the monkeys of Ubud, and that they seem to like me, I meet an occasional monkey who got up on the wrong side of the tree.

Just like humans...

Waiters & Waitresses of the World #1

Laras at Kajane Ubud, Bali

We meet so many outstanding waiters and waitresses during our travels, that I decided to honor them with their own series on CameraFood.

Today is the official start of Waiters and Waitresses of the World.

Laras lives and works in Ubud, Bali. She served us lunch as part of an trekking package we received with our stay at the Kajane Villas in Ubud. She's a smiler, with an easy laugh.

She started laughing when a gecko barked during our lunch, admitting that she doesn't really like the little lizards.

Monkey on my Back (again...)

My new friend in Ubud's Monkey Forest

I always have to visit the Monkey Forest to say hello to my funny friends there.

I was crouched down, getting some nice shots of a mother with her baby, when this guy climbed up my back, sat down on my shoulder, and started grooming me.

It's not the first time. The monkeys seem to think I'm one of the pack.

The men who work in the forest don't take too kindly to it though. They feel the need to chase away my little buddies.

Angie wasn't with me, so I had to take this 'blind' photo on my own. He's sitting on my right shoulder...

Chasing the Goddess

Evil Rahwana approaches Sita, disguised as an old man

When you think you've seen it all...

We've been to Bali 10 or so times, and we've seen 50 or more dance shows there. We never expect to be surprised, but then we see something new.

The surprise can be as simple as a different mask, new props, or an alternative approach to Hanuman (the monkey god). Last night, we saw all three of those in an excellent performance of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana.

We also saw this beautiful woman play Sita (Rama's wife). Now, all Balinese dancers are stunning. The Balinese have perfected the art of make-up, such that every dancer becomes an embodiment of the Balinese ideal of beauty.

But this woman was extraordinary. Every expression, every gesture, every movement was pure femininity. When you witness this flawlessness - like a goddess (or a Balinese Angelina Jolie!) - it is hypnotic and a little intimidating.

Fortunately, my camera wasn't intimidated...

THIS is a tropical rain...

Downpour at our pool (Kajane Villas, Ubud, Bali)

I haven't decided if private villa pools are the ultimate in decadence or the only civilized way to live.

I'm voting for the latter, but it feels like the former.

One underrated aspect of having a pool is watching raindrops dance on the surface.

We sat on the patio for an hour this afternoon, listening and watching this tropical shower.