Exploring
As for visiting the villages, the only challenge right now seems to be the road conditions. It is getting wet, and I've had to wade out in the mud to lock the hubs of the Hilux a few times. However, I've only been stopped once so far. A few days ago we tried to get out to the Lero I desa, but a nice size tree lay in the way. Due to the slope I couldn't get around it, its girth made it impossible to get over, and its weight kept me from pushing it out of the way. So, I backtracked to Chai and asked if they could remove it. I'll have to check it out again in a day or two.
I've only taken two days off since I've been here. I've used both days to make my way to the coast to take a dip in the ocean. Last week I took the truck south past Illiapa, down a small track through a tiny coastal village till I hit the water (literally). I shifted into 4-wheel drive, turned right, and took off down the white sand beach for about a mile or so to lose the hordes of children that followed me out of the village. I stopped where the sand turned inland to form a rocky cove lined with cliffs and palms.
I was almost able to finish my lunch before the first group of die-hard children found me by following the tracks down the beach. I spent the afternoon swimming, reading, sunning, sleeping, and entertaining the ever growing crowd of village kids that hung around to watch and laugh at my every move. They were completely fascinated by the truck, so I let about fifteen of them climb in the back and gave them a wild ride back to the village. A damn nice way to spend a day.