Water not enough and then far too much!

Been a busy week for me this week, as tomorrow I start my making my way to VSO for training for a week and then I have a month swanning around Bali and the local tropical islands with my bezzy mate Anne. Yippppepeeee!

So this week I have dine than the last five months all together. I have finished my reports for VSO, I am confident on the mot

orbike and driving it all over the place. So on Tuesday morning I set off at 6.30am with Mark and Anouk for the 4 hours drive through the mountains

between Ruteng and Bajawa. Was a tad anxious as if anyone knows about Flores it does have loads of mountains, which makes for a very twisty and turny drive. However the journey was great, had to stop periodically to stop the a

ache in the nether regions, but apart from that nothing bad happened. No falling, no stalling. The only thing that did happen to me was a flat tyre in entering Bajawa, and it happened right in front of the garage, I get the feeling in future I may not always be so lucky.

The reason we all escaped

off to Bajawa is that Mark and Anouk have worked with a local NGO in establishing a water project, in a little village called Leke. So now families have access to water in the back yards, instead of having to walk 3kms up the mountain to get water. If you have seen my facebook page you will have already seen the photos. It was a phenomenal occasion and one I am not likely to see again any time soon. We all danced, drank the local brew, ate mountains of rice, got to eat the buffalo and a pig. Listened to a lot of speeches, sweltered in the heat, so found a nice cool house to sit, eat and sleep in the afternoon. Normally it rains in Leke in the afternoon, and it did rain a bit when we ft, but on the whole the weather was fantastic.

However then the next day we needed to return back to Ruteng. I could not get my bike to start in Aimere (Opps I had run out of fuel) but of course I went through all the other options, has the spark plug gone, maybe the battery - but no simple enough the bike needed a drink.

Again Journey beautiful and uneventful until 21kms outside of Ruteng, and then the most tremendous thunderstorm. Lightening, thunder, when you are in the mountains you definitely sound like you are closer to the action in the heavens. So they return was a bit slower. At time we had to stop and take shelter.

Just to give you some idea this is what the front of my house looks like when there is very heavy rain.

The fridge has arrived - but then I lost my bank card!

After taking my 1,700,000 rupiah out of to bank to buy my fridge, all was good. I walked away from the bank machine and went to the fridge shop. My desired fridge was still there, I managed to get a written quotation and sort out the delivery. Then the rain started, so I stayed in the shop had a conversation about parties and dancing and of course all essential questions in Indonesia, are you married, how many children, what religion, where do you live - however they did need to know where I live, otherwise they wouldn't be able to deliver the fridge. So I drew a little map, as I am the person with no address. On my little map was Hotel Rima, The church with pink and yellow walls, my little wooden bridge over the drain, Personally I think I excelled and I should consider a future as an artist. After this lengthy discussion it was actually decided it would make much more sense i I just jumped in the van and gave directions. Considering I do not know my left in right in England it was an experience. So I had the craziest 15 minutes in the van, whilst the man driving was smoking, eating and talking on the mobile phone. He then sent a text, and then he typed my phone number into his phone, as it was on the details from the store.

Anyhow got to my place and van driver became action man, he bundled the fridge on his back, he climb's up the little muddy hill in front of my house in his flip flops and landed the fridge in my kitchen. THEN DISASTER - The fridge plug does not reach the kitchen socket. The kitchen socket is about two millimetres too high. However problem is solved fridge is now in the living room until I buy an extension cord. Anyhow paid fridge man, who I later know to be called Paul, and got the fridge on so I could have cold beers that evening with Mark.

Night with the beers a nice success, obviously night life finished about 9pm so I go of to bed, and Mark returns home. Then I start getting loads of text messages, what have I had to eat, am I lonely, do I need company all from a number I do not know. You guessed it, it was from Fridge man. He was brave as he also tried texting the next day, but today I think he has given up because of lack of responsiveness.

Two days later I look or my bank card. I then I remember I did not collect it from the bank machine when I left with the money from the fridge, so I trundle off the to bank on my bike and report it lost. No problem. Another one will be delivered in about three weeks. Also bank staff inform me I have to go the police and report it lost. At the moment I do anything just to stay out of the police's way, as I have heard some horror stories. Luckily Jenny from Bali was here for two days so I treat her to a trip to the local police station.

How many policeman does it take to fill out a form about a missing bank card. 5. One to put on the official stamp, one to fill out the form on the computer, one to look for paper for the printer, One to offer general advice to the one of the computer who does not seem to confident with spelling and another to watch as having two white people enter the police station was a big event.

So I go through the story of the bank card numerous times, only for the police to say I lost the card on the way home. I get to sit next to a quiet Indonesian lady who I was reliably informed was a robber. However despite the hiatus,the form only took 30 minutes. Not bad at all. Had to answer those questions for the form that are very important, married? children? religion? - my god it is just a bank card that I have already had blocked at the bank!!

However quick discussion about premiership football, Wayne Rooney, Old Trafford etc etc, Then I thought in a minute they will want money or their 'administration fee' but it didn't happen, they just let me walk out with my little report of my missing bankcard.

So walked up the road with Jenny, feeling thrilled and had the best veggie lasagne made by Anouk.

How hard can it be to buy a fridge!!

Well I won't bore you with the paperwork process you have to complete before you have permission to buy the fridge.However I have now visited both of the shops that sell fridges in Retung.I have idetified the cheapest. All good so far. Then in Indonesian I clarify the cost of delivery included in the price. Then the fundemental question,what is your address? Now here is the issue. I do not have a clue I live between a church and a simpanto shop, cross over a little bridge just the right size for holding a motorbike, walk up the muddy hill until you reach the house in front of you, Ah ha I do not live here,but if you walk around the corner and through the garden you then reach my house. I drew a little map to assist the people in the shop.All sorted, so I went off to the back to withdraw my 1,700,000 rupiah, but now I cannot remember my pin number for the life of me. Fuinnyhow these little things can be so infuriating.

But the good news is my bike had an issue with it's fuel supply,all sorted now and it rides really well. Unfortunately on my right leg I have a massive bruise from when I nearly came off the bike which has frightened me a bit, but if I want to get out and about I have got to get used to the bike. Hopefully I will not have to visit a garage for the next few weeks, as I have been twice a week in two weeks, and it is quite a challenge. People are not used to women riding motorbikes so going to the garage involves loads of people laughing behind your back, and talking in the local Manggarai language so you cannot understand. Quite honestly sometimes just leaving the house is a challenge due to the amount of hassle from everyone.

So I am off to the shop for tupperware tubs,and the market asI fancy some eggs and tomatoes with my rice today. Then the fridge will have to happen on Monday when I find my PIN number,

Floods and cooking oil.

Well this week has been remarkably quiet, but busy at work, I am in the process of writing reports for international donors, and trying to set up an exhibition for International Disability Day on the 3RD of December. Not been helped by the fact I am not feeling on top form, bit of an upset stomach and reoccurring headache, and nearly fell off my motorbike the other day.

But I did have the shock of my life last week when we did have a heavy down pouring of rain. A drain behind my house must be blocked. As I opened my front door only to realize my little house was surrounded by water. The house next door to me got totally flooded, thankfully Indonesians do not focus too heavily on furniture or internal furnishings or it would have been devastating. The thing about living on a mountain was their was so much water, then it stopped raining and drained away straight away, the only things remaining was lots of mud. I am now sitting in the internet cafe putting off the inevitable hours of hand washing I need to get done, as loads of my clothes are covered in mud.

The next issue I have is MINYAK TANAH I can't find any. Basically cooking oil. It is hard to find and when I find a shop that does sell it is habis (empty) - so it feels like I am searching for the holy grail. All I want is a fried egg!

Kupang and sinking ferries and a fabulous school choir.

Well I have arrived back from Kupang and I have received over 200 e-mails enquiring into how I am , so thank you everyone for your concern, and I am sorry I could not access an Internet any sooner.

As people in England seem to know better than people in Indonesia Volcanoes have erupted, their has been an earthquake and a Tsunami, which has created absolute devastation to parts of Indonesia. This has not affected Flores.

However what has affected Flores is two ferries full of passengers sinking in Ende and Maumere. This happened on Saturday 23rd of October. The same time I boarded a ferry with the school choir on a trip to Kupang. We had not heard of the incidents at Ende and Maumere before departing. 100's of people have died and families have been devastated. I arrived safe and well in Kupang, although very tired after the 24 hour crossing.

So arrived safe and well in Kupang with the school choir and our dancers. We stayed in the Sekolah Luar Biasa in Kupang (School for outside normal). I was told this was a new school with only five pupils. So had the shock of my life when I got out of the bathroom on Monday morning, to walk across the school playground in my Sarong and hair in a towel, only to find hundreds of children in the school playground. The kids looked at me and I looked at them....I really was not expecting a load of children to turn up. The last thing the teachers and children of the school expected was to have a half naked Bula walking across the school playground at 7am.

I survived my week of eating boiled rice with a bit of veg and fish for breakfast , dinner and tea. Must adit had had a funny effect of my bowel movements. Especially since I ate some fruit and drank some green tea last night. I think I must have lost a lot of weight in one night. I shared my room with the children and the teachers, and I cannot believe how well behaved children are in Indonesia. We spend hours doing nothing, but the kids did not complain and found little things to do to entertain themselves.

The children attended church twice on the Sunday and sang for the congregation, and they performed two shows, as well as meeting with the very important guy incharge of the Manggarai offices in Kupang. They had dinner with the Bupati, and what was so nice is on these formal occasions they were treated as equals and with respect.

The on the last day the best thing in the world. After weeks of waiting I got to go to the beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye to Mikal.

Well on October the 16th Lau, Danny and myself in 'travel' to see Mikal, a volunteer who is coming to the need of her placement. Of course this was a time to reminisce, talk about ow things are going, and as all good volunteers know a good time to go and see how many things can be pillaged so you do not have to buy anything for yourself.

I got plates, knives, forks and spoons. Some Hot Chocolate which was disgusting and out of date and made me vomit. 100's of DVD's (and they work) and a map of Flores, which is out of date, made in 1993, but this is the kind of thing which is impossible to find here.

First shock we had was Mikal explaining that she received water once a week, so she has to be quite careful with her water storage. Also she had to contend with scorpions and Geko's the size of mini Komodo dragons.

I was excited as once again I thought I would see the beach. On arrival Mikal explained the unfortunately the beach was 17 km's away. However plenty of beer was drank, we had the option of tequila but opted out as none of us wanted to be sick of the journey to Bajawa the next day.

Membangan sistem dan prosider keunangen. To develop sistem and procedure finance (literally)

So I was all excited about the possibility of seeing a nice beach. I was sooo wrong. First I left Ruteng with Sister Lydia at 3.30pm in the afternoon. Already know this was going to be an issue as the journey to Ende where the plane takes off is seven hours away. I had started work on the same day at 7am in the morning. So after my seven hours in the car, listening to music that can make your ears bleed, guess how much of a bad mood I was in when I arrived in Ende! Yes you have guessed it, a foul mood. 

So shared a hotel room with the sister I was accompanying to Sumba, next morning woke rather early, as the Sister got up at 3am to watch the television which happened to be positioned by my head. At 7am had to ride on a back of the motorbike to the airport. Which was fine, except I was the only white person around for this flight. So I was a tourist attraction once again. But the things that really caught me off guard in Ende is that you have to get weighed before you get on the plane. Now I am not the smallest lighted person in the world, and knowing the Indonesians I taught this has the potential to get very embarrassing. However all the airport staff were very good when thy saw the scales tip over 100 kilos. (Which is really unusual in Indonesia) However the sister accompanying me had a dance and a jig whilst laughing and shouting at the top of her voice to everyone who would listen about my weight. (however I was quite pleased it is the first time that I have been weighed since leaving England and I have lost nearly two stone) weight I really did need to loose. I just hope I can loose a bit more. 

So we get on a small plane, kind of one of those planes they do not let into British air space as they could potentially crash at any moment. But in comparison to England and Europe where everyone runs for the seats on the plane, here people are really polite. They wait for mothers and children to get on the flight first, and the infirm and then the sisters and priests, and then the rest of us. The flight was about 30 mins, and as we traveled over Island of Sumba I could see white beaches and crystal blue waters. Glad I saw them at this time, as I never saw them again and my week was about to deteriorate. 

So I arrived in Waitabula, the sights include a cathedral and a hospital and the Bishop of Sumba lives here too. My accommodation, was my own room in a house, with the other participants of the course, I think 14 in total. However Sumba is very hot, and we had no air conditioning. Their was 3 squat toilets and mandi's between 14 so things got a bit frought at times. 

The food was brought from a local rumah makan and motorbikes in every meal, and it was absolutely gorgeous. I love Indonesian food so much, I am going to have to have some serious cooking lessons before leaving here to learn how to cook some of this dishes. Even boiled vegetables spiced up I love, especially those dished that involved aubergines. YUM YUM YUM!

The next day the course started at 8am. And then I realized I was in trouble. The course was from 8am through to 5.30pm in accountancy and the course was all in Indonesian. Now I am very keen to learn the language, but this was overkill. So I sat quietly in the corner and did understand some of the discussion. but then at about 10am the sun entered the sky and everyone in the room started to boil. No air-conditioning! The people in charge of the house had to go and buy some more fans whilst we all melted, but tried very hard to look as if we were concentrating. This continued for five days. 

Now I am practicing my Bahasa Indonesian, however being in a house with no escape, with only Indonesians for company was really hard work, especially when the sister I went with became ill.  So a massive thank you to Arnold who saved me, he could speak a bit of English, but was also very, very, funny! 

Very big thank you to the bloke who organized for me to have a beer on the last night too! It was so nice. 

Also thanks to the Bupati of Sumba who had an impromptu visit from me and a group of other trainees at the end of the course, and was very nice and pleasant. He is new and people were preparing for his party. 

We also went to visit the Bishop, but unfortunately he was busy.