Random Observations and Happenings

• Instead of speed bumps/humps, there are speed gaps. To save asphalt, there are narrow gaps (about a foot wide) of unpaved areas that span the entire width of the road. Or even better, on the road down to the coast, villagers have set up barriers with empty oil drums and wooden beams, so speedy cars have to slow down and zig-zag its way through speed traps.

• Last week Peter Pan, the most famous band in Indonesia came to Banda Aceh and performed in the stadium (about $2 per ticket, and no ticketmaster service charge!!!) I wanted to go but had a conference call with DC office that night =( But I heard that the crowd was segregated into men and women (since Sharia Law is enforced here) But at least the crowd wasn't split so the men were in the front and women in the back.