We live in the high jungle of Tembagapura - 7,000ft or 2,000meters - a cloud forest in a deep valley surrounded by mountains and rain, rain, rain. Tropical right? In December we started our vacation by going to the very hot and dry island of Sumba, located southeast of Bali. This is the island where D and I first met in 2001 and where we still have many friends from that time. Then we decide to spend Christmas and New Year in Hilo, Hawaii with the highest recorded rainfall in the 50 united states and very tropical! Finally, we ended our holiday with a taste of winter in South Korea.
Here are some highlights from our week in Sumba with friends:
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| East Sumba waiting for the rains to come... |
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| Rambu Maru and her son Umbu Daiz. A fun evening of watching and playing badminton and pingpong! |
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D & Margareta at her husband's tomb in the traditional village of Prailiu, Waingapu.
This is the place and family that I had my homestay experience as a student in 2001. |
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The children of Puru Kambera village, the nearest village to where the student program was located in 2001.
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| Rambu Henjang and I wearing the traditional sorongs she made. |
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Boiling water and roasting peanuts in Ata's kitchen. Their family home burned down a few months earlier.
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| Breakfast our last morning with Henjang and Ata. May God's Kingdom come... |
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Snorkeling off the shore of Pantai Camara Pondok Wisata.
Highlights from Hawaii:
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| The Spinelli's in Hilo! |
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Octopus! |
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Mom and Dad Mitchell snorkeling in Hawaii!
Dave's Birthday Celebrations in Hilo! |
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| Sparkles, YIPPPPEEE! |
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| Thank you Mom & Dad Mitchell! |
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| Climbing Mauna Loa New Year's Day |
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Brewing up something special for a very special guy!
South Korea:
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