Newsflash: Rumours are abound that backpackingbadger has become a surrogate citizen of Indonesia following reports that her stay is close to exceeding three months. Experts monitoring such physiological matters as sweat production have noticed a marked increase in perspiration, allegedly due to the fact that she is currently working on a farm while simultanously getting beaten up by surfboards.

Ok ok ok. Yes. It's been a long old while. I've been enjoying the sumptuous delights Indonesia has to offer - so here's my top Indo moments so far:

1. Being quasi-adopted by a charming sea-gypsy family in the remote Togian Islands - Lazy days were spent snorkelling in crystal seas, cooking authentic Indo food, teaching English to the multitude of kids and trying my hand at spear fishing... we went hungry that night...
2. Communing with sharks, manta rays, a rainbow riot of fish and corals and the magnificently surreal Mola Mola with the lovely Saf on our many underwater odysseys.
3. Standing up on a surfboard! That's literally about all I can do at the moment - but what better way is there to spend your morning than being pummelled mercilessly by Mother Nature?
4. Chatting away to the wonderfully welcoming locals in my broken but passable Indonesian - it's the best language in the world! The verbs NEVER change!!!
5. Cruising around the hills on my trusty moped with just the warm breeze, imposing volcanoes and luscious green rice paddies for company.

Indonesia is a huge, amazingly diverse country and I've had a great old time exploring some of its gems - I've been to the elaborate funeral ceremonies of Tanah Torajah, called in at a sea-gyspy wedding (lots of booze there...), visited some fascinating villages in remote Flores, got stared out by a hefty Komodo dragon and sat around with a bunch of local dudes and Miss Solomon Islands (very random) drinking their toxic (and allegedly aphrodisiac) local arak while watching England getting annihilated by the Germans... luckily I don't remember too much of that last one...

So I'm currently calling Zahara Urban Farm my home - a rustic and homely place in the heart of Bali... I've been doing lots of earthen building, stamping around on mud, baking fresh bread in the cob oven and enjoying the laid-back pace of Bali life...

My path's taken a few unexpected twists and turns, but the next step is to head North... Back into China and then some cowboy action in Mongolia! Woooohoooo! xx