Modernization is coming!

Ahhhh! Oh noes! Well, actually, not oh noes. In fact, you could say this is the complete opposite of oh noes. Just recently, a Alpha Midi opened its doors to the public in my town. This is the closest thing this town has to a convenience store. The inside is all nice and air conditioned. they have a refrigerated section, they sell things that in the past would have been a 6 hour trip to Makassar to get. . . so yeah, complete opposite of oh noes, but enough talk! Let us see some pictures!

The store! Modernization looks soooo ominous.

Some kind of meeting. Probably discussing what to do about the crazy foreigner taking pictures in their store.

Awwww yeahhhhh.

Shin Ramyun! OMG I had forgotten you existed.

Look at all those things to choose from! Usually in this town you just get to choose "item a" or "item a."

Even more choices, this time for drinks! Ahhh! I can't handle all this choice!

Thousand Island!? They don't even have salad here.

ICE CREAM!!!

Oh yeah, be mad that you don't have Salmon Teriyaki potato chips.

Batman cologne spray! Smell like vengeance!

Buttercup, that picture is soooo not you.

Apples all the way from America! They are still crispy too!

 Local residents making choices they have never had to make before.

In Indonesia, cheese is cheesy.

They have shaving cream! Holy crap! I was so happy I could not even frame the picture correctly.

Canoe Races

My counterpart knew that I used to be a rower, so he offered to take me to go watch a canoe racing event that was being held right in town. This was totally nice of him and I totally appreciated that he would keep in in his thoughts like that. However, the one thing that I kinda did not appreciate about this was that I got a phone call at 8 in the morning telling me that the races were about to start right now. I had went to bed at 4 the "night" before. Indonesians really have no concept of the idea "staying up late." That or I have no idea of the concept "going to bed at a somewhat decent hour." Ah well, that is culture shock for you. Anyways, on to the pictures!

Canoes!

Getting aligned at the start line.

The yellow flag brings stability to all who touch it.

At the start line.

And off they go!

Just as a side note, you can catch crabs in boats like these too. I saw it happen many times.

The national flag was the half was point.

Around they go.

The way back is always the most exciting part.

This guy pulls out into the lead!

But that other dude is catching up!

Look at how happy he is for winning.

Yep, soooo happy.

The boats, going home after their race.

This dude is not as happy as that other dude.

There was quite a crowd.

What color is your boat!?!?!?

Look at this big hole!

Kids playing at the beach.

Boats waiting to be raced.

Lol, silly kids, that is not a boat.

So many people! Usually this place is completely dead.

Being a spectator can be dangerous at times.

Sometimes I get shoved to the back.

There is always something magical about a starting line waiting for boats.

There is that flag/half way point.

The view was nice too.

That boat looks suspiciously non-traditional. (it was a race for traditional boats)

Like a boss.

To your lanes.

We have alignme. . . ahhh, close enough. 

Still not quite there yet.

But who cares for sissy rules like that? There is a race to be won.

Seriously, it was a beautiful venue and day.

Some manner of filming boat.

Banner! Everything in Indonesia has got to have a banner.

The regent. His face is everywhereeeeeeeee.

A crowd!