Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Deluge

I am always struck by the force of the rain in the tropics. On a tin roof, it can be deafening, yet enchanting. There is something about the force of the raindrops on the roof and the way it splatters onto the concrete with such power. It makes a statement. I'm here! Listen to me!

It has a rhythm -- the sound as it strikes the roof and the way it moves once it hits the ground.

The rain in Dili is getting more and more rare even though we are still in the midst of the rainy season. You can see that the mountains are getting plenty of rain -- from the swollen, muddy streams that flow through Dili and from the thick fog hanging on the mountains south of town.

The rain slows things down -- those on motorbikes take cover, cars slow down and just now a confused rooster started crowing as the dark clouds grew even more dark.

I like the rain. It reminds me of sitting on my grandma's porch on a summer day -- watching the down spout carry buckets and buckets of water from the roof -- as the cows in the pasture land across the way -- kept grazing -- seemingly not to notice.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Pig On the Beach

K-41 or Kilometer marker 41 is a great place to snorkel and dive. Just wade out a few feet, stick your head in the water and you get a WOW moment. Go early before anyone gets there and you'll see zillions of colorful fish -- the reef is always awesome -- with a sharp drop-off of some 40 to 50 feet. The fish love to hang about the wall of the "abyss" as I call it.K-41 is not just a favorite place for snorkelers and divers. Pigs, too, love it as do goats and cows. These two pictures were snapped a couple of weeks ago at K-41 beach.

A Little Bit of Paradise

Turn off the main thoroughfare in Dili, drive up a dusty, narrow road with a green-painted fence made out of tin on one side and a cinder-block wall on the other -- turn right at the tiny banana grove and you've reached this little traditional house.

I'm not sure if the little boy lives in the house, but he really wanted to pose in front of it, so I snapped away.

There are a number of these little places around Dili -- often located off the main roads -- and down an alleyway.