Hot sun, gentle breeze

It was a nearly perfect day. The sun was dying, a gentle breeze was blowing not enough to make the palm trees sway but enough to make the beachside walk refreshing.  Children were splashing in the water. Most were boys. Most were naked. When they came close to the sidewalk, I wasn't sure where to look, and was grateful for my sunglasses.


I walked downtown. Earlier I checked with Janu, who reported that Independence Day events were in Lospolos this year. Celebrations rotate between the districts.


So it was nice to see people out enjoying the day.


When i got close to the ferry terminal, I saw one of the most sensible lineups ever. People were orderly, and in the shade. There were gaps in the lineup wherever there was sun, i.e., between the trees.


Unfortunately my intended lunch spot was closed. Bowls and Rolls didn't have a sign in English. It was just locked. So I went next door to Gloria Jeans Coffee and got a panini. It's the first sandwich I've bought in East Timor. Any other time I've been temped, the sandwiches have looked like they have cheese on them. This one didn't, and it was delicious.


The walk home wasn't as glorious. Not far west of the lighthouse an SUV clipped a motorbike. The woman was wearing a helmet, but seemed to have suffered an eye injury. Her passenger, a girl between seven and nine, had no helmet and a bloody lip. The SUV stopped. The man driving didn't get out, though his female passenger did.  A passing police officer stopped just after I did. I was about 50 feet from the accident site, and heard it, but didn't see what actually happened. I assume the SUV clipped the bike because it had skidded sideways and I saw driver and passenger get up.


It's the second accident for which I've seen the immediate aftermath. Surprising, since driving doesn't seem that safe to me. People don't seem to use their mirrors, and the centre line is too often used to centre the vehicle.


I made it the rest of the way home without incident, although I saw a few people selling fish, and that reminded me of something I've been meaning to tell you. A couple of days iMessage in the past two weeks, I've seen cars with fish hanging off the passenger side mirror (the true reason for side mirrors is revealed). The fish will be strung on a strip of coconut leaf (leafs loofed through the gills and mouth) and these loops are collected on another loop and tossed over the side mirror.  I'm not sure whether someone is selling individual fish or has bought the whole string and do ant want to stink up there car.


Often I see individuals holding such strings of fish, and it's obvious that they are trying to sell them. It's just not as obvious when the fish are accessorizing a car.