Well, here's a little story for those that have been asking about life and work in Timor Leste.
This morning at 6am, I'm having my morning coffee when one of the East Timorese Army guys comes over and lets me know he'd like a chat.
He tells me that the little stray that was brought to the base by the UN police (they caught it wandering the streets in the capital city of Dili) has escaped.
No news there, I think... that happened last week.
The stray, Martina, has a tendency to get out of her pen.... she was living in the dam at the back of the local refugee camp for a while, but we re-caught her. The next day she was gone again.... back to the dam where goats, dogs and chickens come to drink... not to mention the little kiddies that like to play down there.
I think she likes the company.
Today she has left the dam, and gone into the refugee camp. The walk must have been tiring (probably chasing dogs, a favourite activity) and she has dozed off at the side of a house that one of the guys from work lives in.
Once again, I've been asked to go down and assist in catching her... seems I have the much needed rope (which is better for tying her up than strips of palm frond), and a car to carry her back in.
I thought it might be better to just walk down.... its not too far.
Anyway, the boys lassoo her (coincidentally, "lassoo" the word for animal trap in the local language), tie her up and I get to carry her body back as she is a strong wee beast. Seeings as I weigh twice that of a local bloke, it seems a fair trade.
An interesting walk back to the base... a lot of traffic stopped as Martina is the national 'sacred animal'... pretty much the only 'shared mythology' between all the ethnic groups over here.
After that I clean up, and off to work... a multitude of things to do before going on annual leave.
Did I mention that Martina seems to be able to climb the fence around the her pen.
In the photo she looks small, but the perspective is a bit out...there are three guys holding her, and she is lifting herself off the floor and trying to get into the front seat of the Landcrusier with me.
There are 3 "pets":
Antonio, a 4.5 meter aggressive monster,
Maria, a quieter 3.5 meter one, and
Martina, the 1.5 meter 'new' girl.
The photo is from when we caught her last time.
