After our massive tour of New England and Michigan, we’ve settled in Tennessee at my mother’s home for a while.

Her home is on a beautiful lake at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, about half an hour south of Knoxville. We really love being here – in most ways, it’s the complete opposite of Jakarta or Manila, and is just what’s needed after those mega-metropolitan cities. It’s exceptionally peaceful and relaxing, with the only noises coming from boats cruising up and down the lake or the hum of lawnmowers in neighboring yards which I find comforting in a weird American childhood way.

There’s all kinds of wildlife around – just this morning we were out on the boat and saw a Bald Eagle soaring above searching for prey.

We have a few plans to get into the local attractions – the Smoky Mountains, Chattanooga, Knoxville, etc. And if all goes well, we may spend a week or so at their home in Indian Rocks, Florida as well – which will be another 11 hour road trip.

I’ll post more frequently now that we’re settled with (fast!) internet. I have photos that I’ll share from our tour around New England, Bar Harbor, Niagara Falls, and upper Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes.

For now, it’s back to reading Shantaram in the sun. Hasta.