We arrived safely in Kupang, Indonesia on Saturday morning, 16 October after a three day ‘motor’ across the Timor Sea and Indian Ocean.  No wind to speak of for much of the passage and had to rely on the old diesel to get us here.  These things happen though.  As with all places we arrive at, we were keen to get off Laroobaa and find out where we actually are – culture, people, local info ,language and the like.  Our second morning saw us up and eager to get off the boat straight after breakfast.  We hit the shore where the ‘boat boys’ carry the kids and the dingy up the beach and look after it for us for the day.  We took a left turn and headed up the street where we were passed continuously by scooters with up to a family of six on them, to locals walking, to the ‘Bemos’, which are the outlandish minibuses that blast out music as loud as they possibly can and are painted in the brightest ludicrous fashion possible.  The locals all ride the Bemos so we did too.  We jumped in one and blasted up the street for some three or so kilometres and got off with everyone else at the beginning of a local market.  A particularly large market with great atmosphere.  We looked around a short while and tried to buy a belt for Guy but the stall owner would not budge on price so we moved on.  In all these countries (other than Australia) we have discovered there is a local price and a tourist price for everything.  Indonesia is a place where bartering is expected.  We soon found ourselves in the company of a polite young Indonesian man with really good English.  His name is Umbu (Cornelius) and he studies English at Kupang University (something not alot of Indonesians are able to do).  It turns out he has a rich Aunty who helps with his Uni fees.  Umbu became our tour guide (of sorts) for the day.  He ensured us that we was not interested in helping us for money but wanted to practise his English.  He also said that the market we were in was not frequented by tourists very often and this would seem to be correct as we did not see another white face in the market the whole time we were there.  The kids caused an absolute stir amoungst the locals who continuously touched the kids on the face and arms.  Many asked to have photos taken with them and some women would come and press their faces to the kids’ faces and sniff them.  We have been told this is a way of ensuring good luck for the sniffer (not sure about the sniffee).  We lapped up the attention anyhow and our helpful friend Umbu guaranteed us local prices!  He arranged for us to go to the Monkey Caves – a tourist attration here in Kupang – and with the help of a second scooter driver we set off.  Umbu, Guy and Hugo on one scooter, Juliette, Simonne and their driver on the second.  At the Monkey Caves the monkeys were a delight.  Playful and cheeky, with some shy and others extroverts.  Some pregnant and one other with the smallest baby in tow (only one week old).  The monkeys would come and take peanuts out of our hands, catch them when we threw them and scamper about picking up any that dropped on the ground.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  Umbu was terrific and spent the entire day with us including lunch and dinner which we were happy to pay for.  Kupang is inexpensive to eat out in.  Last night we bought four main dishes (the kids shared one) and paid the equivalent of $4.00AUS total!!!  A great day in Kupang.

Local maket - Kupang

Scooter ride to Monkey Caves

Guy making friends at the Monkey Caves

Kupang Harbour as seen from Laroobaa