31/01/2006: Second Blog Post From Timor Leste.

Back again!! Well it´s crazy every day here if you venture out and Networking is the key, as one person leads to another: now I even bump into people I know on my daily walks. But am making progress and learning. One thing is the same everywhere: where there are humans, there´s trouble!! There are elections next year and I deeply hope that that does not provoke any violence. Am also told continuously of the governments lack of efficiency and also about corruption issues.

BUT have found really interesting projects we could be involved in, for example this one on the island of Atauro, in front of Dili:

http://www.atauroisland.com/

Surprise: I met the only current turban wearing Sikh living here, who works for the UN, (see photo) and also went to the Indian contingents Republic Day Celebrations which comprised the TV showing of the event which took place in India (first time I´ve seen it!!), good Indian food, and more or less 20 Indians. Surreal, here in East Timor!! Well, they do love Bollywood and Tata cars tooJ

As always, anywhere in the world, the kids are so cute (see photos), charming and innocent! The special thing here is that the ethnic origins are VERY mixed – a bit like what I have seen in Cuba.

I was all excited about going to a Wedding this past Saturday with my friends from the BP Clinic, and we met up on Saturday night, all dressed up (me just a bit more than usual, which means not much). But terrible tragedy struck as a 1 year old baby, agonising because of acute malnourishment, was rushed by my friends (workers at the Clinic) to the main Hospital in Dili. We waited but quickly got the news that the child had died en route…A life here seems to have so little value, and I wonder sometimes what we are all doing with so much wealth in the world and not being able to avoid these tragedies that happen daily in many countries – Aaargh!! Neither NGOs or Governments seem to have the complete solution… So we did not feel like celebrating at all and the sufferings of severely poor countries came painfully into view again.

They seem to expect so little here: it´s another mindset. They need time and lots of steady loving support…

On a more positive note, the local Indians are really looking after me: I am very lucky that being Indian-British-Spanish! I can fit in almost anywhere. I went with two Indian friends to eat barbecued fish on Sunday night, on the beach at “Victoria´s” restaurant – one of the best activities you can do here, and it was really good, washed down with Indonesian “Bintang” beer.

And it´s impossible to forget the warmth of the locals!

Over and out but hasta pronto,
BIG HUGS,
Bal xxxxx

Bal is Ok / Bal está bien.

A huge quake has struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia and Timor. Bal is ok. I was speaking with him. He has felt a long quake struck while he was slept.

Un terromoto ha sacudido la costa este de Indonesia y Timor. Bal está bien. He estado hablado con él. El ha sentido un temblor largo mientras dormía.

Thanks Adrian for phone me!

Fotos

Hola! Son las primeras fotos de Timor. Las iremos añadiendo a un Set llamado Timor Leste que aparece en la barra derecha de nuestro blog (donde pone Flickr). Se ven imagénes de India, de nuestro viaje, pero pinchar y luego buscar el Set de Timor en la página que os sale.

Espero que os gusten!

Tranquila y Feliz.

Hace mucho tiempo que hemos querido ampliar esta foto, tomada por Bal en Buthan.

Esta foto, en parte, ayudo a unirnos ya que fue un comienzo de ver que pensábamos igual, sobre esta mirada, sobre los valores de la vida importantes, sobre una forma de vida (Bal, te acuerdas en el sofá de Fanjul?) ...por eso, ahora me siento así, como el chico de la foto: tranquila, feliz...

Creo que estamos haciendo bien con este cambio en nuestras vidas. Todo el mundo debería conseguir poco a poco vivir lo que realmente le hace a uno ser feliz, siempre con respeto y sin olvidarse de tanta gente que nos olvidamos día a día.

Gracias también a todos los que estáis ahí apoyando la etapa de Timor, sin olvidaros ni de Bal ni de mí. Vosotros si que sois amigos! Un abrazo y besos para todos.

17/01/2006: First Blog Post From Timor Leste.

Well, what can I say??? This country is so so different, with such a painful past and such an uncertain future, all of which make it fascinating (and difficult) to be here.

In a few days I have seen so much and met so many interesting people who are here for many different reasons.

When I arrived, after such a long flight (40 hours +) I was tired but I was very anxious to explore, so I hired a taxi for a few hours (one of the few cheap things!) and went looking around and even had time to buy an indispensable work tool: a mobile phone. Dili is a small capital in a all country. You can see the brutal effects of the recent violent destruction and it is obvious that it is very poor – it´s actually the fourth poorest country in the world. There is hardly any economy and the country is trying to find solutions – if properly managed, the promised gas and oil revenues will make a dramatic change to the country´s fortunes. You can also see many people who have been scarred physically by what happened under the Indonesian rule – many people have cuts, burns and bulletmarks on their bodies. BUT what is amazing is that they are extremely friendly people with few signs of bitterness and are very willing to help you out and give you a big warm smile. This makes it hard to imagine that what happened is such recent history - the country was independent in 2002 and the events have been described as one of the worst atrocities of recent times.

The food is fairly simple and tasty and has Portuguese, Indonesian and Asian influences. There is a fairly wide choice of restaurants, alot thanks to the UN´s massive recent presence. But the UN have almost left completely, so many restaurants have had to shut down. Tourism has interesting potential, as it is a beautiful country with great beaches and diving, but this has hardly been developed. You find few tourists, but many NGO workers and consultants.
It is very expensive! For example, where I am staying is one of the better hotels, and it is good, but nothing really special, and costs 80 USD per day, and that´s with a discount! Meals and drinks are similar to Spanish prices, if not more. Being here without accommodation and food expenses paid is not very viable, as you would need to earn much more than an average Spanish wage.

I have only been here since last Wednesday, but have already met many people, including some of my local NGO contacts. At first, it was very daunting and the first day was terrible, as I thought “what am I doing here alone?” and “what am I letting myself in for!” but already I feel calmer, and am meeting people on a social and professional level. As they say – “what doesn´t kill you, makes you stronger”…I just want to do a good job here, and help people live with dignity and joy, people who deserve so much better. Let´s see how it goes.

A lot of things just happen by chance here, so you have to be very friendly and energetic to get things done.
Right now, I am in my hotel room/office organising my work and thoughts: it would be great to work on the beach (in front of my hotel) but it´s a tropical country – very hot, with occasional rain. But I have been walking around a lot, to “feel” the place.
Can´t wait for Estrella to join me here (I miss you!!xxx) and learn how to swim (very very necessary!) , and just enjoy being on a tropical, unspoilt island together, as well as working on such a worthwhile project.
Crazy stuff: they love Bollywood here and know all the actors, and there is even a Bollywood hit song translated into the local language “Tetum”!!
They even have Tata Sumo cars that were apparently donated to the transition government a couple of years ago – they look old even when they´re new!!

Today´s plan:
1) Power Breakfast! Eggs, Bacon, Sausages, Grilled Tomatoes, Toast, Coffee, Cereal, Fruit and Fruit Juice.
2) Visit to see a possible house/office
3) Office work/computer + Calls
4) Cybercafe – it´s very hard to get a fast internet connection
5) Meeting possible future employee
6) See more houses
7) Office work + See a DVD in my room? – “Hotel Ruanda”? (very good copy bought in a pirate copy CD/DVD “Chinese Shop” on the weekend)

Tomorrow I will make a trip with the mobile ambulance of one of the projects we (http://www.intervida.org/) are funding, the “Bairo Pite Clinic” which attends around 400 people a day, with very few resources – should be very enlightening.
Also, hope to start Tetum classes soon.

Thanks for reading. That´s all for now, but will update regularly with text and photos.

Hugs and Lots of Love,

Bal xxx

Ánimo! Tú vales mucho! (From Mataji and Piska)

Quiero poner esta foto para que todos, y especialmente Bal en Timor, tenga la energía que transmite Mataji.

Yo creo que es la persona más cariñosa que he conocido y que quiere muchísimo a Bal.

Mataji is Bal´s grandmum! She is 102 years old!

Por vosotros, Bal y Mataji, va esta foto.

Piska,x

Bal ya está en Timor! Ha llegado bien.

Añado un mapa de Timor, para que vayáis conociendo más cosas sobre este país, que se encuentra entre Indonesia y Australia.

Hay 8 horas más de diferencia horaria con España.

Our new life

Our new life is about to start.