SIDE TRIP 1: Sumatra, Indonesia

If not for the veiled women, it's as if I never left the Philippines
at all. I am in this tiny fishing village off the coast of
northeastern Sumatra in Indonesia working on a book project. Local
case writers struggle to put into paper lessons learned in community-
based natural resource management.

There are ten of us in the group. Five are case writers while the
rest compose the editorial team and support staff. Next week, we will
meet with seven other case writers in Bali.

This is the first time I am actually staying in a Muslim village for
any length of time. We are staying in a traditional Indonesian long
house owned by a community leader. We sleep on pandan mats on the
floor made of wooden planks that creak like crazy when someone walks.
In the morning, I wake up with aching bones from the hard surface,
reminding me quite plainly just how far removed from the field I had
been lately. There is also not enough rainwater in the tank so we
bathe from an open well with murky water. Now I have reddish-blond
hair. Nyahaha!!!

The village of Teluk Pambang is fascinating. It looks like any rural
fishing village in the Philippines except that in the afternoons,
walang nag-iinuman at walang nagtotong-its. What you'll see are
groups of people gathered in the village square playing volleyball
and spin tops.

Spin tops?! Yes, turumpo. It's hilarious to see 60-year-old granddads
happily playing alongside ten-year-olds. They use home-made tops
carved out of bakhaw trunks. And what fun they have! Yep, one can
still have fun and not spend a cent except sweat. Heck, in Manila
you'd have to pay a lot to sweat in gyms and indoor courts.

(ooops! someone told me horses sweat, people perspire.)

whatever.

morning guys!!!
i really miss being home.

miki

PLAYING SPIN TOPS IN TELUK PAMBANG


BENGKALIS ISLAND, SUMATRA


SHORES OF TELUK PAMBANG