The answer to the Monday 09FEB09 question was Tirtagangga, Bali.

We had 12 replies and only 9 correct answers!  (I warned you that it was a toughie!)

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My original plan was to go to Irian Jaya, now known a Papua, which is the western part of New Guinea.  You know: head hunters running naked through the virgin rain forest jungles!  Ooooh... sounds like fun!  Unfortunately, I ran a little short on funds to buy a plane ticket from Bali to Jayapura, which would have be my jumping-off point for the interior.  Well, I still had my ticket to Bali, via Hong Kong, so I figured I might as well still go.  so there Loren goes  ... no real plans ... except for the fact that a friend had told him about this wonderful little village in eastern Bali.

I arrived in Denpasar and made my way Kuta: the local tourist trap on the coast.  You have heard about it.  It is the place where all the Aussies go to create chaos.  Fortunately, it wasn't during a school break so it was pretty quiet there.  During the 4 days there I "kitted" myself by buying hand-dyed Batik sarongs, sandals, short-sleeved white shirts, and skeeter coils!  I could have been mistaken for a local if I hadn't been white and 6'2"!   I had really gone "native"!

While I was there I met a young man and his sister that both worked at a local warung (ie: cafe, bar, and/or store type of combination) and he turned out to be pretty nice kid!  One afternoon I was showing him some American paper money:  $100 bill, no reaction ... $50 bill, no reaction ... $20 bill, now that got his attention!  He definately knew what that was!  Whats a twenty to us?  Nothing.  So I gave it to him.  What I didn't realize at the time was that that was a month's wages for him.  I now had a friend for life.  Literally!!!!  He took me up to his family village, up by Tana Lot Temple, where I had to sit on this chair on a verandah while I got formally introduced to his entire family ... and then all of the local villagers too!  If it hadn't been so serious, it would have been funny.  Well, I had got me a "boy" and I hadn't even meant to.

As the time came to leave Kuta he piled me, my duffle bag, and him on his little 150cc motor bike and took me first to Ubud and then to Tirtagangga.  Can you imagine my bag, him, and big ol' me wearing a sarong all piled on this little scooter and weaving like crazy folk through traffic?  It must have been quite a sight!

I arrived alive and he turned me over to a "relative" who then became my "boy".   (I knew I would have to pay him too, but it is worth it.  He only got a 5 though!)  I was pleased with my choice.  It was just a wide spot in the road with this beautiful water palace and temple.  I got a nice bungalow on the hillside overlooking the rice terraces toward the ocean for only $6 a night.  Want a papaya?   Somebody would go get me one right off the tree.  Coconut?  No problem!  Guava? Sure thing boss!  The bungalow even had heated water!!!!  (The water did smell a tad bit of water buffalo dung but who cares.)

While I was there I did climb the volcano to see the temples,  also got to go to a "baby ceremony" which they hold when a child survives to 6 months, went to a local temple service, and conned the "guys" into holding a "dance" ceremony for me ...

... maybe I will tell you about that tomorrow!*

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*I spent an hour and a half typing this all up (I'm a slow typist, especially when I have to think!) and then the site crashed on me and I had to start all over!  I was NOT a happy camper!      This time around I did it on wordpad and just copy/pasted it here!  Now I am all typed out!

I entered for today, 2/10.

Question for WEDNESDAY 11FEB09:  (#13)

(This one is soooooo easy!  Even a person befuddled by acute Choco poisoning can get this one!)

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In 1999 Loren found an airfare offer he couldn’t resist and jetted off to this “mystery City”.

      It is one of the world's most important business, financial and cultural centers and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contributes to its status as a major global city.  It hosted the 1908 and 1948 Summer Olympic Games and will host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Its population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 languages are spoken within the city.  As of July 2007, it had an official population of 7,556,900 making it the most populous municipality in the European Union, with a population more than double that of its nearest rival.  Although there is evidence of scattered Brythonic settlements in the area, the first major settlement was founded by the Romans in AD 43  following the Roman conquest.  Around 61AD, the Iceni tribe led by Queen Boudica stormed this first city, burning it to the ground.  The next, heavily planned incarnation of the city prospered and superseded Colchester as the capital of the Roman province in 100AD.  At its height in the 2nd century, the Roman City had a population of around 60,000.  By the 600's, the Anglo-Saxons had created a new settlement called Lundenwic approximately 1,000 yards upstream from the old Roman city.  It is likely that there was a harbor at the mouth of the River Fleet for fishing and trading, and this trading grew until the city was overcome by the Vikings and forced to relocate the city back to the location of the old Roman city to use its walls for protection.  Viking attacks continued to increase, until 886 when Alfred the Great recaptured the city and made peace with the Danish leader, Guthrum. 
      Plague caused extensive problems for the city in the early 17th century, culminating in the Great Plague in 1665–1666. This was the last major outbreak in the country, possibly thanks to the disastrous fire of 1666. The "Great Fire" broke out in the original City and quickly swept through its wooden buildings, destroying large swathes of the city.  The Blitz and other bombing by the German Luftwaffe during World War II killed over 30,000 inhabitants and destroyed large tracts of housing and other buildings across the city.  The city is too diverse to be characterized by any particular architectural style, having accumulated its buildings over a long period of time and drawn on a wide range of influences.  It is, however, mainly brick built, most commonly the yellow stock brick or a warm orange-red variety, often decorated with carvings and white plaster moldings.  Many grand houses and public buildings (such as the National Gallery) are constructed from Portland stone. Some areas of the city, particularly those just west of the center, are characterized by white stucco or whitewashed buildings. Few structures pre-date the Great Fire of 1666, except for a few trace Roman remains, the "Tower" and a few scattered Tudor survivors in the City.

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WHERE IS HE?


PLEASE:  REMEMBER NOT TO POST YOUR ANSWER HERE!!!!

(You still have until midnight PST to answer the previous question!  If you are having troubles ... don't worry ... each question contains several clues that you can use, in like a google search, which will lead you right to the correct answer!)

  Well heck almighty! I had the drinks all set up, cut little umbrellas & bendie straws. I waited and waited, no one showed. The ice was melting and I sure didn't want all that good liqour to go to waste, so I starting sipping, sipping, slipping, spipping, spissing, isippin  .......

*I spent an hour and a half typing this all up (I'm a slow typist, especially when I have to think!) and then the site crashed on me and I had to start all over!  I was NOT a happy camper!        This time around I did it on wordpad and just copy/pasted it here!  Now I am all typed out

Doesn't that just make you want to mess in your cookies.   
In for Wednesday. And a finale thank you very much for the cool MOC and making me wake up and think, it felt good to think abit.

 

I am in for Wednesday!

 

I'm in for today 2/11/09

Answered for Wednesday (2/11/09)

Humph. I ate a raw lizard in the desert outside of Piedras Negras....

Army Survival Training ??????   

   I entered for today 2/11  and the bonus entry.

Thank you for  a fun MOC!!

Now I could really go for a tropical drink and some conch salad and fritters!! 

I'm in for 2/11

  Bonus entry in. Thanks for the great MOC and the daily entertainment that you provided.
  Well done Loren!

Bonus Entry in! Thanks for such an interesting MOC - I learned alot!

Bonus entry in.