According to the sign…
All posts by mattn308
Here be Dragons
On January 28th, we boarded a boat to Rinca Island to search for Komodo dragons in Komodo National Park. The short 2 hour journey took us by some spectacular sights. The water was gorgeous shades of green and blue. The landscapes were incredible to behold. Upon our arrival to the island, we encountered some long-tailed macaques searching for their favorite local snack, the fiddler crab.
Shortly down the path, right under the warning sign, we encountered our first dragon. Rinca Island has over 2200 Komodo Dragons currently living on it.
Soon after we met the ranger who would guide us through the park, we happened upon a large male dragon.
Other smaller dragons were wandering through the forest nearby.
A water buffalo was bathing in a stream. If a dragon bites a big healthy buffalo like this one, it could be a week or two before the buffalo dies. Usually multiple dragons will enjoy the feast.
Per UNESCO’s decision 20 years ago, the dragons are not fed by rangers but hunt their entire diet. Rinca has the dragons natural prey animals, deer, and wild pigs for the adults, and birds and lizards for the juveniles. (PS: did you know they live in trees for their first few years?)
If you visit Flores Island, hop on a boat to Rinca Island or Komodo Island and view these magnificent beasts in their natural habitat for yourself. As the old sailors’ maps say “Here be Dragons.” Only in Indonesia.
Candi Ceto (Ceto Temple)
Candi Ceto is a Hindu temple that appears to float high above the clouds. It is located on the western slope of Mount Lawu. Since it was built in the 15th century, it has a more Javanese architecture than the Indian-inspired temples of the 7th century. One of the traits that make it worth a visit is its many statues representing masculinity. Candi Ceto is still used as a place of worship today.
Ivy’s Kitchen (Taipei, Taiwan)
On January 8th, we had the opportunity to take a cooking class with Ivy Chen. She has been teaching cooking classes in Taipei for over 15 years. We met up with Ivy at Shidong market, where she gave us a fun and informative tour of what the local vendors had to offer. After the market tour, we walked to her home. We chose 3 dishes to cook ahead of time: steamed buns with red bean paste, eggplant with spicy sesame dressing, and vegetarian wontons in red oil sauce. We cooked, chatted, and ate well into the afternoon. The dishes were delicious and not too difficult to make. If you visit Taipei and have a day to spend, please contact Ivy.
http://kitchenivy.com
Sunrise at Mount Bromo
On January 21st 2015, we woke up at 3 AM, hopped into a Jeep, and off-roaded through the “sea of sand” to watch sunrise at the Mount Bromo overlook. The scenery did not seem real. We were high above the clouds near an actively billowing crater. The gathered crowd consisted of people from all over the globe, each anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sun. After sunrise we headed back down. We traversed the “sea of sand” on foot while most rode on horseback to the stairs leading to the crater’s rim.
The stairs were very steep, the air had a faint aroma of sulfur, and the views were unforgettable.
Best Potato Chip Flavor Ever (Happiness Butter)
Early on in our adventure to Japan, we encountered a mysterious yet enticing bag of potato chips.
Made by Calbee, the flavor is called “Happiness Butter.” It is a combination of sour cream, honey, butter, and parsley. “Happiness” is the best way to describe these chips. Sweet and crunchy – a snack food lover’s dream. We looked all over for another bag, but weeks later, were only able to find one – at a reduced price, because they were discontinuing the flavor. Cruel victims of a limited edition flavor? Or had that dastardly pigeon struck again.
Japanese Soft Serve
Today while visiting the Daibutsu (Giant Buddha) in Kamakura, Japan, we happened upon a shop that served some very interesting (and delicious) soft serve ice cream. One of our new favorite foods is the purple sweet potato and this shop had it as one of their flavors! Purple sweet potato, as an ice cream flavor, is much loved in the Kanagawa area. We knew we had to try it. We got it swirled with matcha green tea. It was a treat for the taste buds. We also tried a blue colored “soda” variety. It was sweet and reminiscient of cream soda. Chandra thought it tasted similar to bubble gum ice cream. I highly recommend any of these flavors if you visit this area of Japan.
Fugitive Pigeon: Update
The Fugitive Pigeon was sighted today. It was reportedly staking out an Omamori (amulet) shop near the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) in Kamakura, Japan. I hurried to the scene and was able to snap a photo of the pigeon. By the time I had alerted the authorities, it had escaped. The local shopkeeper said nothing was stolen, but I advised her to remain vigilant.
Nerdy Sights in Akihabara (aka things I like)
Fun sights from Akihabara: Mandarake (an 8 story collectibles shop), the Gundam cafe, and sculptures located inside Yodobashi-Akiba of Godzilla and the Faaram Armor (from the video game Dark Souls 2).
Some of my Favorite Warning Signs
the mint tea drinkers society 