The World - One Chicken at a Time

Hi All,

sorry, forgot the obligatory photos!

Anyway, day 2 was a bit better, got some decent work done, may have got myself a traffic ticket - we'll see - They now have a few traffic lights here and I went through a red, in front of the UN police who were taking photo's. Oh well. No one else slowed down even, they are that new!

Anyway, Indian again for tea tonight, only one beer tonight -- after I went to bed last night, had to get up a couple of times to "ease springs" after the beers and found all of the doors between me and the toilet locked.

AAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! No, where could I "go"?

The guest house is pretty Spartan and there are no easy options or window that open etc.

Well, as I was exploring the guesthouse, in the dark, wearing only a pair of shorts and a ridiculous hunched up posture-holding back the flood, I found a door through the kitchen, that was only barred and not actually locked - Phew! Talk about relief!

Anyway, leaving tomorrow afternoon and I should be back in good old, cold, dreary, rotten old Wellington on Tuesday evening.

But brace yourself for another riveting episode at the end of this month, I will be heading to Suleimaniyah in Northern Iraq, another work trip, of course!

Cheers ears

Dale/BoriS

Hi All,
well, here I am in Dili, East Timor again. Just a quick 3 day job and then back home.

I travelled here via Sydney and an afternoon and overnight in Darwin. The flight from Darwin to Dili was definitely something else; I arrived at the airport at 5:20 am, to check in for the 7:00 am flight, and have some breakfast.

Drama #1

Not a good start to the day - I had to prioritise my luggage, due to an anticipated lack of space on the aircraft. Arrrrggghhhh!! OK, work job - clothes come last, so I gave my tools and instruments the "highest priority" and my personals the lowest.

After breakfast and passing through immigration, I realised that I had left most of my money in my personal bag- OH NO! Not good if the bag didn't get to Dili for a couple of days! So after about 45 mins of phoning the airline (no one works at 6 am!) and (unsuccessfully) trying to talk my way back out through immigration, I finally found someone from the airline who could tell me that ALL checked luggage had been loaded onto the aeroplane. Phew! What a relief - I would have more than US$15 to feed myself for 3 days!

Dramas #'s  2 and 3

OK, with my finances secured for the time being, what else could go wrong? I bumped into some NZ Air Force personnel traveling to Dili as well, so had a quick chat, then boarded our aeroplane. Half full, a good sign!

About 20 mins into the flight, the pilot announced that due to a "technical problem" we had to return to Darwin. OK - everyone was tense on landing, but it went well and we were back in the terminal again.

About an hour later, we board again - another aircraft. We line up on the runway, the pilots give the engines the "full curry" and we accelerate down the runway until all of a sudden, reverse thrust is applied and the pilots stand on the brakes - everybody is packing themselves. We stop safely and taxi back to the terminal - another "technical problem".

Another hour (and 2 test flights of the second aircraft-while we wait in the termial), we board. Again.

This time, we are assured, we are OK and will get there. They're right, we do, after the short 1 and a half hour transit.

Dili is green-they must have had some rain. It looks good, from the air. Moving through customs, I pay my US$30 for my visa - exact change ready this time, to avoid "mistakes" with the change. I am met by my our customer and while saying goodbye to the Airforce types, I spot another kiwi - army this time, that I met last time I was here! The world is a small place! We have a quick catch up. Leaving the airport, I bump into another Airforce bloke, who I worked with at Ohakea. I might as well have stayed at home!

It is great seeing familiar faces in strange places.

I quickly sort out some supplies-mainly water, it is at least 30-odd degrees and feels it, a rental car and accommodation at the Backpackers guesthouse. A bit Spartan, but OK for 3 days. Then on the way back to the airport to start work, I stop and buy myself a sim card for my phone-with a dodgy security situation, it is a comfort to be able to call someone if need be.

Then back to the airport to start in on the job.I hope I can fix this one!

Anyway, after a frustrating afternoon, I head back and shower and get ready for a beer and some tea.
--By the way, I brought along a "pack towel" - a microfibre, wonder of modern technology etc - in case there was none at the guesthouse, and forgot how small they were - about as big as a teatowel...All well and good, unless you are trying to get to the shared, outside shower near the bar with no clothes on! As well as that, the ridiculously small size made me feel stupid trying to dry myself after the shower! Note to self - get a bigger microfibre towel next time!

Phew. One anchor beer, Chicken curry, from the Indian restaurant next door and then another tiger beer in the bar, I was shot and ready for bed. Earplugs an essential when travelling; my window (at least I have one here!) opens out onto the aforementioned bar courtyard. It is Saturday night. Music, dancing boozing and I'm in bed at 8:30pm, jetlagged nana that I am.

'Nuff said. Time to get into the next days work now.

Take care,

Dale/BoriS