2015 - SWAN HELLENIC MINERVA - SAMBAWA, Indonesia

This port of call was made in February 2015 & I am writing the Blog in February 2017. I had no recollection of the tour I took at all until I chose the photos for this entry .. I think I had a good time, but I am not so sure about the bulls.

From the deck of the ship .. it seems a very pleasant looking spot ..

Some passengers there, getting a head start in a tender .. looks like a smooth crossing

A prosperous looking place compared to some we have seen on this cruise

The guide for bus #3 .. shepherding his flock across the street .. I think I was on bus #1

We arrive at the Teak building .. .. very impressive ..

Now on our way to the Smithy .. . nice looking houses along the way

Curious youngster checks our arrival ..

I sat a little away from the forge among a crowd of locals who thought we were hillarious

People named Smith got there name from this occupation .. . very hard work by the looks of it.

That was a very pleasant interlude .. now we pass more houses on our way to the pond ..

Here is a Bull awaiting our arrival to see them race.

Lots of kids out today .. looking very smart .. their moms were handing out tasty treats & cold drinks to us..

Now . . are these Bulls Water Buffalo?

TOOT TOOT On the horn .. And .. they're off. Not the Grand National but exciting ..

This little one must have seen it all before ...

I stepped out on to the roadway to see what else there was to see around .. Nice rice paddy & a few folk passing by.

One young girl got chatting with me to try out her English & took this photo of me .. looking not so dapper

Not this one . . another girl

And my guide .. I had noticed very young children driving motor bikes & I asked how old she was when she first did it .. 13 years old sir .. Oh! Last year then?

I still wonder if the Bulls enjoyed that .. I doubt it somehow ..

We must be getting close to fabled Bali now . . next stop perhaps.