Flooding in Kudus

Early in January, Philip joined in a trip to flooded areas near Kudus. Here's a few photos from the trip. While Solo disrupted preconceptions of 'disaster' through the subversive actions of kids having an absolute blast splashing in the flood waters, the same discursive norms took a battering in seeing the fishing opportunities that emerged for many along with the flood waters. But then, a quick glance at the group of padi farmers in the middle of their flooded sawah also serves as reminder that floods bring many things in their wake including fish, fun and hard work. But then, without floods, the ground wouldn't be so fertile and the rice wouldn't grow as well as it does. Such is the way of things.

Pundong and Parangtritis

All Philip does on research is hang out with interesting people, check out interesting sights, and generally relax and enjoy himself. Here's a few pics from one of Philip's many mini-holidays as he joined some folks as they visited Pundong (which was badly affected by the 2006 Yogya earthquake) and also Parangtritis which is a beach near Yogya. Ah, the life of a researcher!

Puppy-sitting Heli

Heli is our friends' dog. She needed a home for a weekend. The little bundle of mischief nearly wrecked our garden, nipped our ankles raw, and generally created mischief and strife. Good fun.

How does our garden grow?

Our garden has been something of a fetish of ours since moving into our house. Perhaps it is the pollution of deisel trucks on the roads that makes us want to see green? Or maybe it is the three story concrete walls that surround our little house? Regardless, we need green, like we have rarely needed before. To have life in our backyard was vital. Ask, and you receive, we guess. We asked, and this is what we got.