Metzger’s Dog by Thomas Perry

Metzger’s Dog (1983) has a bit of a cult following.

A surprising and quirky story.

Leroy Chinese Gordon (Wonderful name!) is a bit of an idiot savant, minor criminal, tool and die guy who lives in Los Angeles.

He has lovingly hand-built his own anti-aircraft gun and mounted it in the back of his Ford van.

He has two close friends who have particular skills (lockpicking and sharpshooting) and who comprise his “gang.”

He has a beautiful (Of course!) and smart (Surprisingly!) girlfriend named Margaret.

Chinese himself is ruled by his roommate, Dr. Henry Metzger, a cat.

The Nature of Things review

While stealing cocaine from a University lab, the misfits grab a locked box — which happens to contain research papers.

The CIA desperately wants the papers back. They assume the Russians stole them, using the cocaine as a cover story.

Meanwhile, Chinese has problems selling the cocaine.

AND there’s a vicious junkyard dog, a huge, black brute that wants to kill the gang. Until tamed by Dr. Henry Metzger.

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo

First in the Kate Burkholder series. … I might continue on.

In Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries.

But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. A young Amish girl named Kate Burkholder survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer . . . but ultimately decided to leave her community.

A wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as chief of police. Her Amish roots and big-city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She’s certain she’s come to terms with her past―until the first body is discovered in a snowy field.

Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past―and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.

Amazon – Sworn to Silence (2011)

It was adapted into a TV movie called An Amish Murder.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’d go back to the Gili Islands

As it turned out, I only got 2 nights on Gili T (Gili Trawangan)

BEST stop in Indonesia, so far.

The highlight is having NO MOTOR VEHICLES. What a relief after Bali.

It’s mainly known as a party island for Aussie youth — but it’s quite peaceful once you leave the main tourist streets.

I prefer the quieter western sunset coast.

Actually, I stayed at one of the most infamous party hostels. My Mate’s Place. It’s excellent.

Terrific free breakfast. Superb restaurant.

Most people get here from Bali by boat.

Surprisingly popular are sunset horseback rides.

I’d definitely go back. Perhaps rent a place for a month.

Gili T dawn. No photo editing.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Visiting Ubud, Bali

You might recall Julia Roberts here in Eat, Pray, Love.

The small city of Ubud has developed a serious tourism industry, promoted as an arts and culture centre.

More than three million foreign tourists each year, many of those NOT YOUNG. (Youth are on some beach instead.) I saw many families with young kids, as well.

Ubud is inland amongst rice terraces.

Highlights for me were:

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I twice went walking in the local rice paddies, as well.

My favourite restaurant there, Sweet Orange.

Even better was a splurge for steak and mushrooms at Funky Chunks. Cost about CAD $15.

Traffic is terrible. But I did like Ubud.

Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud, Bali

I really enjoyed the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary at the very heart of the small tourist city of Ubud.

Over 1000 well-fed Balinese long-tailed macaques are interesting and sometimes hilarious in a beautiful park setting. Over 100 tree species.

Ancient looking, moss-covered Hindu structures give this place a mystical charm.

Click PLAY or watch a video of my visit on YouTube.

There are three 14th-century Hindu temples inside, off-limits to tourists:

  • Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal (Main Temple) – dedicated to Shiva  .
  • Pura Beji – a holy spring temple used for purification  .
  • Pura Prajapati – associated with cremation rituals and burial practices  

Monkeys may climb on you or grab loose items like sunglasses, snacks, or phones.

In fact, one unexpectedly jumped on my head!

Another tourist tried to get the photo, but wasn’t quite quick enough.

Happily, A.I. can recreate the incident exactly. It was exactly like this. 😀

Little guy probably thought I was a God. 😀

Of course I was worried about getting scratched or bitten — but it doesn’t seem to happen often with these macaques.

They are mainly fed sweet potatoes. But corn seemed most popular while I was there.

One thing obvious is how mothers dote on their infants.

Locals dislike monkeys as they cause a lot of damage. But for this tourist, it’s …

Rick Steves – Travel Badass

On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer (2025) is selections from 23-year-old Rick’s 1978 journal on the “Hippie Trail“.

It was no “Magic Bus” experience. They did this trip the hard way — independently.

They didn’t have the first Lonely Planet guide, rather only the first BIT  (“Bible of the East”), a free half a dozen or so duplicated foolscap sheets stapled together with no cover. 

Rick’s posted travel photos of himself and best pal Gene reflecting on how the journey through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal changed his life.

My own travels in Europe 1976 in an orange Volkswagen van were a piece of cake compared with the Hippie Trail. I had no interest — though a High School friend, Ian Baird, did end up in Kathmandu drinking Chai and eating pie on Freak Street. He got quite sick as did almost all the westerners who tried that adventure.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Scandalous Behavior by Stuart Woods

Another great, hilarious, fast-paced fantasy adventure.

Stone Barrington somehow buys 2 huge new historic estates in England.

AND 2 new expensive motorcars — as you and I would do. 😀 Bentley AND a Porsche.

As usual, beautiful women fall into his bed almost immediately.

The bad guys are particularly inept in this one.

This is #36 in the series.

Amazon

The First Gentleman by James Patterson & Bill Clinton

I enjoyed the first 2 books in this collaboration:

  1. The President Is Missing
  2. The President’s Daughter

So was enthusiastic about The First Gentleman (2025).

I’d say it’s the best of the three. And it would make a good TV mini-series.

The President of the United States is up for reelection.  Her husband is on trial for murder.  

Is the First Gentleman a killer? 

A pair of investigative journalists set out to answer that burning question about the NFL star-turned-political spouse. 

Arrived Bali … 🤔

I’m not really the Yoga / Beach Bum / Party Harder kind of tourist — but how could I avoid Bali forever? 😀

… are you concerned for the eldest backpacker on the beach?

NO WORRIES. I had a Spa give me a Bali makeover. Now that I have a man bun, I fit in better with the kids.

For advice on this super popular island, I relied most on The Broke Backpacker, Will Hatton, and his team — many of whom live in Bali.

I use Broke Backpacker quite a bit deciding on hostels around the world.

Will opened Tribal Hostel in Canguu and recommends it as a good starting point for first time visitors. He promotes it as a digital nomad coworking environment.

Tribal Hostel

Pretty much everyone in the public areas here is on a laptop. Seemingly doing something important.

I popped open my MacBook Air and edited my Bromo Volcano VIDEO.

I believe this makes me officially a legit YouTube creator. 😀 Working out of Bali is a requirement, I believe.

August is highest season in Bali — but there still seems to be next day accommodation everywhere.

The restaurant at Tribal is quite good. If consumed by some project you are working on online — you can chow down while keeping at it. 😀

From the hostel I walk parts of the 10 km-long beach a couple of times a day.

Surf lessons are popular here. Beginners tend to get drowned quickly. NOT ME, of course. I stay dry and use A.I. to create a totally believable image of me mastering the surf.

One slight problem is the number of dogs running free.

There’s no shortage of lean beach bodies. Drop-in at the fitness club across the street is CAD $50!

Everyone is out on the beach for sunset. Many enjoying dinner and drinks.

A tourist trap, for sure. But that didn’t bother me. Traffic and second hand smoke are the biggest hassles.

Though Indonesia is mostly Muslim, Balinese Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of the population on this island.

Looking to join me?

Walk down the beach until you see the Statue Gajah Mina (fish body and elephant head) ➙ turn inland a few blocks and you’ll find the hostel. 😀