I need to catch up on posts – so I will make this one mostly pictures. Bowo turned out to be a great guy and accommodated us by keeping on his prayer clothes (he said he felt comfortable with the birds in his mosque gear) and placing a little camera in a cage to hoist up a pole.
The Xena Warrior Princess Bird Farm is the most lavish we have seen – even boasting its own competition field and reception rooms. Bowo was incredibly gentle with the birds and clearly has a lot of love for them.
Fill ‘er up
Reception room with portrait of the general
Talking to Anwar – a Perkutut competition judge
Me with Bowo in front of trophies and crazy horse painting
Lunch
This was some Medan-style Padang food that Kian adores. Medan is where Kian grew up on the island of Sumatra
Beef rendang, fried fish with chili, jackfruit with string bean curry, green chili sambal
Boiled cassava leaves, jack fruit and string bean curry
Cow skin crackers
We arrived at Henry’s at 6pm and began a harrowing 10 hour drive to Solo for our first Perkutut competition. More on that next post.
Perkutut 
Dear Jim and Kian,
I am so hungry for the food in your posts–let’s have a cooking party when you get back!!!
the food has been incredible – i think a cooking party is in order!
Cow skin crackers…hmmm, or is it yummm!
We are just loving all your pics of your adventures – food or otherwise. Your first encounter with the general a couple of days ago read like a scene from a movie.