Kandui

Kandui is where we are based when we are out in the Mentawais. It's like white bay without the people, boats and bars. Oh, and there's a bunch of breaks right around it, great snorkling and, as you can see, amazing sunsets. Chris has a special friend on the island named Batman. Thier first encounter was more like an attack but now they're buds.

Padang, Sumatra

Padang is our home port. It is where we hang when we are not in the Mentawais. Everywhere we go curious people want to talk to us and sometimes we are even followed by packs of kids getting out of school. I even had an old lady market vendor check how firm my tomatoes are! To get to town you must either ride on the back of a maniac moped or in an opelet, which is a tricked-out psycadelic mini van crammed with people. Our harbor is filled with colorful squid boats that light up the night. Food here is very flavorful and spicy, at times petrified. In the caribbean pelicans and tarpons eat fry, here it seems to be a dietary staple. Forget fish and chips, here its just fish chips. And be careful walking around town, the sidewalks are hit and miss with open sewers. If you take a walk along the seawall, you can find vendors with bags full of turtle eggs. Home Sweet Home.

Nias

We had a crazy stop in Nias, trying to find fuel and money. We were soaking wet but so was everyone else, and they were still smiling, so we were too.