Earthquake!

Tweet I was sitting at my laptop when suddenly everything started to shake. There's the strong sense of helplessness -- one's life out of control -- if just for a few seconds.

I ran to the doorway and waited -- there were no aftershocks.

Seconds later, the neighborhood erupted in a clanging sound as residents began banging pots and pans -- as a way to let the gods know, or to remind them, that humans are on Earth and the gods should have mercy.

The quake felt like a five, but apparently, officially, it was a 4.8.

Small World

Tweet I never thought I'd be drinking Georgian wine in Timor-Leste.

Yet, the longer I live here, the more I come to realize, that in some ways, T-L is a microcosm of the world. It's due in large part to the United Nations presence here.

At the small dinner party, last evening, where I was savoring the Georgian vino, I was surrounded by a gentleman from Mozambique, an Azeri, two Georgians, two Americans and our Japanese hostess.

I happened to mention to the Georgian couple that I knew an Abkhazian couple -- living in Timor. Abkhazia used to be a part of Georgia and broke away and has since been recognized by Russia as an independent state. There is often tension between Georgians and Abkhazians, but I was curious if this Georgian couple had encountered them in small-town Dili. "No, but it would be great to meet them, " replied Ana. She seemed quite serious. Timor-Leste is, after all, neutral ground.

It reminded me of my time in Georgia teaching journalism to Azeris, Georgians and Armenians. Azeris and Armenians don't get along because of Nagorno-Karabakh -- but, in Georgia, they got along fine -- Georgia was neutral ground.

If the world were neutral ground -- and we could all drink Georgian wine -- we'd probably all get along much better.

A River Runs Through It

Tweet The weather in Timor-Leste has been weird for the past month. It's the dry season, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature. Incredible rain storms have been occurring at all hours of the day -- today was no exception -- except this was heavy rain -- non-stop for about two hours. Streets turned into rivers. To get into our compound you had to wade through water up to your knees.

Timorese colleagues say it's been years since they've seen rain in July in Timor.

Dark clouds are again stirring as I write this -- looks like we're going to get an encore performance.

The Fourth in Timor

Tweet The US Embassy in Dili celebrated the Fourth of July on the 2nd with a big party and a big cake!

Think Snow!

Tweet These were taken in February '07 in Ala Archa Park, in the mountains, outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Big Boat Little Boat

Tweet A US Navy warship off Dili in late June and a Timorese fishing boat. These little boats can be spotted all around the coast.

Frank Rich on McChrystal

Tweet Here's a great opinion piece on last week's Rolling Stone article.

MTV in TL

Tweet MTV came to Timor-Leste tonight to generate awareness about human trafficking. Half a dozen bands and musicians played to a crowd estimated at 20,000. The main event was an Indonesian rock band -- Superman is Dead.

Intense Look

Tweet This guy lives in a cage with four others on the grounds of the Posada in Baucau -- the nicest hotel in the country.

Fallen Statues

Tweet The last time I was in Baucau, these statues were still standing -- at least I think they were. Now, they're a place to rest.

Brackish

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Water and Sky Just Off Baucau

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Stroll on the Beach

Tweet This man is taking a walk on a beach near Baucau -- Timor-Leste's second largest city. Baucau is about a three hour drive east of Dili, the capital. The road is not bad.

Sailing

Tweet I had the pleasure of joining a dozen colleagues on board the Vega to watch the sunset last evening. The sailing ship, built in Norway in 1893, is a beauty -- as you can see. The mast is actually older than Vega. It was taken from another sailing ship when Vega was constructed more than 100 years ago. Vega's currently anchored in Dili harbor.
Captain Shane Granger says his mission over the next two weeks or so is to provide humanitarian assistance to Timorese people -- in the form of medical and educational supplies.
The ship is 85 feet long and has three suites. Its cruising speed is 6 to 8 knots.
For more than a 100 years, Vega ferried cargoes of bricks, building stone, iron and cement.Hans Peter Christophersen, the head of mission at the Norwegian Embassy, presented Captain Granger and his partner Meggi Macoun with official Norway caps. Granger says his dream is to obtain Norwegian registry for his vessel.

Romain Gary aka Emile Ajar

Tweet I'm reading Promise at Dawn and it just might be the most beautiful book I've ever read. I don't write these words lightly.

The book, which is autobiographical, is a love story between Gary and his mother -- and yet so much more -- philosophy, adventure, self-discovery and lots of humor.

Romain Gary's descriptions are so unique. For instance, he recalls the first time he sees the sea and the profound effect it had on him. "I am unable to think of the sea as a mere 'it' - for me she is the most living, animated, expressive, meaningful, living thing under the sun. I know that she carries the answer to all our questions, if only we could break her coded message..." Page 104.

The book is full of observations like this.

At times, I laugh out loud -- as he finds humor even in tragedy.

Gary paints with words. The book is a work of art.