Friday 2nd August
So pretty but
what are they?? Do they have quail, in
West Timor??
Today has been
a very busy Kupang day and Pete is saying he is so exhausted he can hardly
move…it is just on 8.30 and I think the tribe is preparing for bed…
We are very
wussy tourists…
We left at 10
for a tour in a big black car with a driver nameless but very competent in the
slow but scary traffic) and a guide, (Ayub), who got so tired he fell fast
asleep in the afternoon as we drove up to the waterfall…
We drove hither
and yon around Kupang. My first
impression of rubble and riot was reasonably correct:
We also drove
past some lovely houses, in delicate colours, with beautiful details and
woodwork but…our driver stopped for nothing and nobody.
Our first stop
was a big market. We hopped out of the
car right into the meat area…never my favourite part of a food market… I delicately
followed Pete and John, who were enthusiastically examining various cuts of
meat. I managed to keep from breathing through
my nose, or even from breathing at all, if it comes down to it. But…I was waylaid by some cheery chaps who
insisted on having their photo taken in the following manner:
I smiled nicely
and kept moving on down into the fruit & veg section.
Oh and fish…so
many fish!
There were
almost as many children at the market as there were fish, and their parents
clamoured for photos to be taken…
First up was a
group of cheeky schoolchildren:
As the children
and their parents stepped up, an oldcodger came and stood in my way, beaming
invitingly – I could NOT pass him by!
We bought lots
of fruit and veg, carefully spacing it all out so that as many stalls as
possibly got a bit of money from us.
And the dearest little girl, seriously posing all alone in the middle of her stall:
Our next stop
was the museum, a sparse affair with a few undated statues and carvings –
possibly VERY old indeed. Or maybe not… And the skeleton of a blue whale which
came to a sticky end and washed up on the beach at Kupang. Ayub was a boy at the time and he still
remembers the stink…
Next – a bit of
a jaunt into the countryside to go to see some beautiful musical instruments
(sasandos)… A young bloke was playing most beautifully when we arrived; it
brought tears to my eyes - so melodic and haunting. He moved quite swiftly from Indonesian folk
music to…Country Roads, then Jesu Joy of Man’s Desire and…as we left…Auld Lang Sine. I didn’t get a good photo of him but I did
get a lovely one of his young brother – there are ten boys in the family, all
of them proficient down the line in playing various Indonesian instruments.
Thee was a
busload of children outside…all wanting to be photographed, with much giggling…
We had lunch at
a dismal touristy restaurant – nowhere near as nice as the night market, or the
yacht club…and then set off for the waterfall.
We had to be
back to Teddy’s Bar (yacht club) to get a bus to yet another location for a
rally briefing meeting, which we were assured would be from 4-5.
They lied…We
didn’t get back to 2XS until after 7.00 by which time we were slightly
hysterical with Kupang Overload…
BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY
Last but not
least
Birthday
greetings to Jeff Thomas, father of four, husband of one, WINNER in many ways…
I first met Jeff when he turned up at breakfast, aged 21, and
stayed…forever! He is a wonderful
friend, son-in-law, father, husband, and we are all very lucky to have him in
our family.
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