February 16th, 2009
I don’t do things by halves, so when I’m going to fail at something, I’m going to do it properly. The goal had been to take a year off, travel the world without the bondage of a job, without the certainty of employment.
I lasted a stunning one… week.
January 28th, 2009
I left New Zealand with very similar baggage as I had left with for the first time back in 2005. It has been a while since I have been able approach a check in counter without having to worry about how overweight my check in will be, able to carry, rather than wheel, my luggage. I wasnāt going somewhere to live or to work: I was travelling again.
Gateway to India
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
To India. I have always regarded India as a rather challenging travel destination, and I have had friends tell me how it will be a mind blowing experience. I havenāt spent a huge amount of time here yet, however Iām finding it all veryā¦ easy. Perhaps it is all relative, and after living in Indonesia, there is just a certain degree of inconveniences, communication difficulties and cultural misunderstandings which I take for granted. Sometimes youāve got to squat and there usually isnāt toilet paper. Get used to itā¦ and carry hand sanitizer.
High Court
January 26th, 2009
Summer (southern hemisphere, so this means December ā February) is a good time to be home in New Zealand. The weather is war, itās the holiday season and things generally slow down. Yet, I should know by now that a visit back home is not a holiday. In the three and a half years Iāve been away, Iāve been fortune to have been home 5 times, which has helped me keep in close contact with friends at home. However each time there is a rush to catch up with as many people as possible, and take care of all the littleĀ things that need to be taken care of at home: dental appointment, new passport, buying shoes which fit meā¦
December 3rd, 2007
Two years ago I had my 24th birthday in Banda Aceh. It was a great day, with a trip to the beach with my Indonesian friends and party in the evening with my expat friends. And now, two years later, I’m back in Banda Aceh for my birthday – I would have never guessed.
Virtually all of my expat friends from when I was first here have moved on, however I planned to have another trip to the beach with the same Indonesian friends. Unfortunately the rainy season forced us to stay at home, but didn’t stop us for barbecuing a couple of fish at my house. It was great to see everyone from the NGO who I volunteered with when I first arrived in Aceh.
They had no problem getting the BBQ started – although I really don’t think it was necessary to drain the fuel pump to get the fire started – again! Read the rest of this entry »
October 24th, 2007
I have definitely suffered from the bloggerās paradox ā when times are interesting, thereās no time to blog. And times have been very interesting, which explains why this post is almost a month late.
It actually all started with this blog of mine, through which I managed to attract the attention of Paul Currion, someone who has been working in the field of humanitarian IT since before the field really existed, and writes a blog on the topic. Through this contact I found myself invited to the Global Symposium +5 āInformation for Humanitarian Actionā, which was being held by the UN in Geneva. (Obviously there arenāt so many computer programmers working in the humanitarian sector.)
September 12th, 2007
This Wednesday was the day before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. This makes a huge difference in an Islamic area such as Banda Aceh. From the hours of sunrise to sunset, Muslims must abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex. Typically people will wake up around 4am, before the morning prayers, and take a large meal together as a family before sunrise, and then go back to bed. When the sunsets around 6.40pm, people will immediately have a drink (usually a cigarette too), take some small sweets, or sometimes dates, and then perform their evening prayers before having their Puasa Buka (Open Fast) meal with the family.
The atmosphere has totally changed around town during Ramadan.
The pace at work slows down, as people are having to go through the whole day without eating or drinking, plus they are getting less sleep (the mosque will often broadcast readings from their speakers all night, which also effects the amount of sleep I get).
Also, there are no food shops open during the day, which means that I sadly miss my breakfast of rice and coffee Aceh, and my lunch of Gado Gado. I need to be conscious about not eating or drinking in front of people during the day, and even when I do in private, it makes me feel like more of an āinfidelā as usual (Which is silly of me, because the locals are actually really tolerant).
Toward the end of the day the streets come alive, with an assortment of stall selling sweets and drinks for people to break their fast with. The traffic is crazy until about 6.30pm, at which point the streets are empty, as everyone has gone indoors, awaiting the siren which indicates that they can end their fast.
I do admire the discipline, faith and tradition which is displayed during Ramadan. I canāt imagine it being the easiest thing to go all day without eating, and especially drinking. I have aspired to experiment with trying to fast myself, but unfortunately with everything else going on (especially work), I just havenāt had the spare energy.
Being the day before Ramadan, the office closed at midday, however being a consultant I only get paid for the days I work, so I was still stuck working in the deserted office (queue tumble weeds). At about 6pm my boss came into my office asking, āDid you feel that?ā. I looked up puzzled, and then realized that I probably just missed another earthquake.
August 8th, 2007
Four different beds in four different days, but Iām finally back āhomeā in Banda Aceh. Changing countries has become a certain ritual. First I change the time zones in my watch, phone and computer (my body is still lagging a little this time). Then I change my SIM card. Then the cash in my wallet gets changed over. Finally I change over my power adapters and Iām ready to plug into a different country.
June 6th, 2007
I’m pretty open minded when it comes to other cultures, and different values, but there is one thing which I just don’t get in Indonesia: what they do with their rubbish.
People seem to have a totally different attitudes toward a clean environment. Although the will keep the insides of their houses spotless, there is so much rubbish littered all over the place. Piles of rubbish collect in open spaces and the open sewer, people are quite happy to throw rubbish on the ground, or out of vehicles. It’s been said that in developing countries people are used to all the rubbish biodegrading, and the problem is with all the plastics and other such materials which have been introduced from the West. When I order food here, it is wrapped up in a banana leaf and paper, then put in a plastic bag (the sort they use for everything), which always makes me cringe.
August 31st, 2006
Arriving in Singapore was easy. It just works: the subway, using my credit card, people speaking English, my hotel reservation.
I had to get my Indonesian visa here, and although I found it a little unusual to hand my passport complete with $160 over to a complete stranger, who I met outside a McDonalds, everything worked smoothly, and I had my visa on the same day.
In my quest to buy a laptop in Singapore, I found myself at the Comex computer and electronic expo. I found the 4 massive halls filled with electronics slightly overwhelming. The amount of money that was being spent; the cost of some of the products there. I ogled the plasma screens, with their screens which were so life like, showing the same unbelievable Hollywood movies. But I couldnĆ¢ā¬ā¢t help thinking: where are the donkeys?
