While I spent most of this past weekend working feverishly trying to make sure everything I set out to do is finished by the time I leave I did take some time to enjoy some of the many sights available to those who are inquisitive and/or adventurous enough to explore. As I have done in the past here I did somethings for at least the second time and in doing so became richer for the experience.
On Saturday, while the crew I regularly golf with were off elsewhere, either on leave or working, I still went out and got in 9 holes. I hit the links by myself and my caddie but soon caught up with a group of 5 Indonesians. As usual I am unable to remember their names but still we enjoyed one another's company for several holes. At that point a group of 3 fellow Canadians caught with us so I joined them with the intent of helping the former bunch proceed a bit faster and slow the others down!
One of the new group is Carey, a former resident of Thompson now in Sorowako on contract, after retiring. And of course the other two I have forgotten their names too! A life long affliction I might add and not one brought on by age. As it turns out they had taken a different path through the course and this was their 9th and final hole so we didn't stay together very long. As it turned out Ron and Susan Capstick (pictured here) and originally from Sudbury (Ron being another Inco retiree hired on contract) were just teeing off, so I joined up with them and played holes 2 through 5 again in order to get in my 9.Ron has taken full advantage of all that Sorowako has to offer including trying to get in a round right after work every day the weather permits. I'm sure he was a reasonable golfer anyway but through much practice he does very well and made me very envious of the way he could hit the ball! And Susan was no slouch either! Regardless of my jealousies I now feel much better prepared for the upcoming golf season back in Canada. Hopefully I won't become too rusty by the time I get to swing a club again.
After the game I showered and then took a drive to Wawandula to pick up a few things at the market. And of course dropped by Diane's Boutique to check things out there too. As it turns out she has expanded into a much nicer shop immediately next door to her previous one that is both brighter and roomer. I swear I am getting worse than Janice when it comes to looking at fabric but the designs and colours are just so amazing its hard not to be impressed.On the way back to the dorm I saw once again a common sight here, and one I have mentioned previously and that is female passengers on the ubiquitous small motorbike riding "side-saddle". For once I picked up my camera and took a snap to record the sight!
Yesterday I went on a nature hike with one of my other New Zealand friends, Andrew Osborne. We took the same path Richard Jones, one of my other New Zealand friends, and I had taken two week previously when we walked over the hills to Wasapunda. What was different this time is that Andrew and I in effect took some time to "smell the roses" as the focus of the trip was to enjoy the myriad flora and fauna. While many species I have no idea what they are a few I was able to recognise, such as tree ferns, a hold over from prehistoric times as they are well represented in the fossil record going back hundreds of millions of years ago.The inset life is especially varied with many different butterflies and damsel flies (the more delicate version of dragon flies). It is amazing the variety of colours the latter come in with the orange and yellow ones being the more memorable ones. But that pales in comparison to the variety of colours and patterns one sees in the different butterflies, and we didn't even see many of these really as Sorowako apparently is very famous for its myriad butterflies.
Of primary interest though were the birds. While we saw several small flocks of parakeets they were too speedy to get a good look at but their call is very distinctive. And while I didn't get a good look Andrew did of a kind of Hornbill endemic to the Island of Sulawesi. But I sure could hear him as they make quite a raucous sound. One other species we were able to identify was a "white-eye", about the size of a small thrush with a white ring around each eye. If I ever have the opportunity to come back here I will have to try and remember to bring my binoculars!
Along the way we came across some of the local peasant loggers who carry out illegal logging which in reality is the way it should be done - very selective, taking only the largest mature trees and leaving the rest to grow to full size. Far better than the clear-cutting so prevalent in Canada. It is amazing though what they can do with just a chain-saw! They cut down the tree and then right there proceed to convert it into boards of amazingly uniform thickness! One thing that was very obvious to me, as I have a chain-saw powered saw-mill is that they don't use rip chain as I had been recommended to use but instead use conventional cross-cut chain. It results in much larger cuttings and I would say is also much faster. But most importantly it really doesn't affect the quality of the cut surface! While running through a planer certainly would help it wouldn't be by much! On our way back we got rained upon a bit but the heavy shower was more to the north of us so we didn't get very wet, but hey, what do you expect when in a "rain forest" area! The walk back was done pretty carefully though as the road was pretty slippery.
And this draws to a close the latest chapter in my adventures in south-east Asia. I begin the journey back to Canada first thing on Friday morning, with Andrew being on the same flight as far as Jakarta so it certainly won't be boring! By the way, his nick name here is "Mr. Bean" yet, as he himself acknowledges, "but Mr. Bean doesn't talk!". A real pleasure to be around! I have met so many fantastic people out this way, whether it be the very affable and adventurous New Zealanders or the many happy and friendly Indonesians! This place will always have a special place in my heart.
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