Leaving Kupang
Simanderal
Michael Hughes and Ger White
Mon 1 Aug 2011 07:45
|
We left Kupang this morning--Monday--sailing to
Lembata to anchor below the smoking volcano, Ili Api.
We spent nearly a week in Kupang--noisy bustling
city, full of shops and vendors--no time to rest between parties given by the
Mayor, another by the Governor--meeting people etc. We hired a car with
some others--plus driver--and spent a day seeing the countryside, villages etc.
very poor, living in bamboo huts etc. But everyone very friendly, smiling faces.
Visited local museum--this is where Captain Bligh came ashore after his 40 days
in an open boat after the mutiny--fantastic navigation!
Yesterday we visited an orphanage run by Alfonso.
The orphanage was founded by his parents, he now does most of the running with
help from relatives. We were taken to the rice fields that the children
maintain, the small school for the orphans, their animals and vegetables--it was
a humbling experience. There are 92 children from 2 monthe to 18 years, sleeping
3 to a bed in 2 bedrooms--one for boys, other for girls--few possessions. Yet
they were well dressed to meet us, confident and smiling, well behaved and
friendly. Alfonso explained that some of their past orphans had now been
through University, had good jobs and now helped support the orphanage
financially. And the older ones talked to us in English with confidence--despite
the deprivations they all seemed happy and well adjusted--Alfonso is an
unusually caring person.
When we got back to the anchorage, Alfonso asked if
he could see our boat--he had never been on one!! We took him out in the dinghy
and showed him round the boat--his eyes were like saucers!!
All well on board.
|