The view from the plane window.
On the plane.
The rest of us on the plane.
The veiw again.
Well we have finally arrived! After a very uneventful flight (thank the Lord!!!) we touched down in Dili at 7.30 am this morning. For those interested, Dili is half an hour behind Darwin time. First impression when flying over the very thin island of Timor was... WOW! It is the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen! The mountainous landscape and the low hanging clouds combine to create a pituresque vista as you fly over it.
We were met at the Airport by Rudi and Franz, contacts Dad had here. They took us to see our house, which does look much better than the photos, although it still needs some work! Then we went to the hotel we are staying at and had breakfast. The hotel is very nice, and my first experience with Timorese food went well - the omelete I had tasted good!
Then we drove around downtown Dili. This was the most exciting part for me.... I was hanging out the window with my camera as we narrowly avoided accident after accident, capturing all the third world classic shots - four people on a scooter, people standing in the back of moving trucks... it was heaps of fun! Mum says that the traffic reminds here of India... maybe not quite as bad, but close!
We met Rudi's family - his wife, Herna, and daughter, Nala, who is the cutest thing ever! She ran up and hugged Dad as soon as she saw him... gorgeous! They own a shop that sells lots of odds and ends... and i must say that it looks the same as about six other shops on the same road! I dont know how they stay open with all the competition there is...
For lunch we went to a chinese restaurant that had pretty good food... but it definatley wasn't Australian! There was a dog inside and one of the owners was smoking!
We drove around alot, seeing all the site of Dili. There are lots of beautiful beaches, although not many you can swim in because of the tides or the rocks. But definately some nice spots! Us kids are nagging Dad to get a jet ski... we saw a couple out on the water and it looked like so much fun! There are quite a few Aussies around, mostly military people I would guess, but we still got stared at alot by the Timorese. It is wierd to be the odd one out!
We stopped at one of the many roadside stalls and bought a coconut each. My first taste of fresh coconut milk met with approval, although I couldnt drink the whole lot! Its a bit sickly! We also stopped at a supermarket which was right across the road from fresh food markets, and as soon as we got out of the car we were bombarded with people trying to sell us stuff - phone credit, mandarins, and every other thing you can imagine!
While we were sitting down and driking our coconut milk, a Timorese guy came and sat next to us and started talking to us in very good English, which was nice, since neither Rudi or Franz speak fantastic English. He started asking us all these questions, and then asked where we lived and where we were staying now and how much our house costs to rent. It was really wierd... got wierd vibes from the guy! Note to self: do not give out too much personal information!
The amount of scaffoldings around for buildings that are going up is amazing - Timor really is developing. There are heaps of nice buildings around too, most are embassys or defence buildings. The presidents palace is nice... very traditionally Chinese! Well considering they built it.... !
We plan to go to dinner tonight with Rudi's family at a place called the Cas Bar... we know the owners brother and its apparantly pretty nice! We must make sure to cover up and rid-up though...the mozzies are really bad! There are some how getting into our room even though the door is closed... hmmm! We bought an electric fly swat and mum is right this minute trying to go on a mozzie-kill frenzy... but I dont think its working! Dang these cheap gadgets!!!
Well i better go shower! It has been a hot and humid day today... feeling very sticky at the moment!
Signing off from foreign soil! :)
We were met at the Airport by Rudi and Franz, contacts Dad had here. They took us to see our house, which does look much better than the photos, although it still needs some work! Then we went to the hotel we are staying at and had breakfast. The hotel is very nice, and my first experience with Timorese food went well - the omelete I had tasted good!
Then we drove around downtown Dili. This was the most exciting part for me.... I was hanging out the window with my camera as we narrowly avoided accident after accident, capturing all the third world classic shots - four people on a scooter, people standing in the back of moving trucks... it was heaps of fun! Mum says that the traffic reminds here of India... maybe not quite as bad, but close!
We met Rudi's family - his wife, Herna, and daughter, Nala, who is the cutest thing ever! She ran up and hugged Dad as soon as she saw him... gorgeous! They own a shop that sells lots of odds and ends... and i must say that it looks the same as about six other shops on the same road! I dont know how they stay open with all the competition there is...
For lunch we went to a chinese restaurant that had pretty good food... but it definatley wasn't Australian! There was a dog inside and one of the owners was smoking!
We drove around alot, seeing all the site of Dili. There are lots of beautiful beaches, although not many you can swim in because of the tides or the rocks. But definately some nice spots! Us kids are nagging Dad to get a jet ski... we saw a couple out on the water and it looked like so much fun! There are quite a few Aussies around, mostly military people I would guess, but we still got stared at alot by the Timorese. It is wierd to be the odd one out!
We stopped at one of the many roadside stalls and bought a coconut each. My first taste of fresh coconut milk met with approval, although I couldnt drink the whole lot! Its a bit sickly! We also stopped at a supermarket which was right across the road from fresh food markets, and as soon as we got out of the car we were bombarded with people trying to sell us stuff - phone credit, mandarins, and every other thing you can imagine!
While we were sitting down and driking our coconut milk, a Timorese guy came and sat next to us and started talking to us in very good English, which was nice, since neither Rudi or Franz speak fantastic English. He started asking us all these questions, and then asked where we lived and where we were staying now and how much our house costs to rent. It was really wierd... got wierd vibes from the guy! Note to self: do not give out too much personal information!
The amount of scaffoldings around for buildings that are going up is amazing - Timor really is developing. There are heaps of nice buildings around too, most are embassys or defence buildings. The presidents palace is nice... very traditionally Chinese! Well considering they built it.... !
We plan to go to dinner tonight with Rudi's family at a place called the Cas Bar... we know the owners brother and its apparantly pretty nice! We must make sure to cover up and rid-up though...the mozzies are really bad! There are some how getting into our room even though the door is closed... hmmm! We bought an electric fly swat and mum is right this minute trying to go on a mozzie-kill frenzy... but I dont think its working! Dang these cheap gadgets!!!
Well i better go shower! It has been a hot and humid day today... feeling very sticky at the moment!
Signing off from foreign soil! :)
Glad to know you arrived safe and sound. I can now tell everyone that you are finally in Timor when they ask.. not just say 'Shes still in Darwin'.
ReplyDeleteMissing you lots and lots. Have fun unpacking!! xx