Steve says they could make a simple change to the way they do their solar here..put the controller between the panel and the battery.. you should show them I say. He was reluctant, too hard to explain but I think my Indo is up to it.
Aagh says Irina we tried that. We ruined 3 controllers with the rain. Then Milton says to me in Indo – better on the roof. (the Panel). I have at my house on my roof.. he points at the wire, and controller. That’s inside with battery.. oh, I see Milton does understand but Irina doesn’t want it that way. So they will continue to move panels around the yard. Plugging and unplugging. Having to check so the battery doesn’t explode.
I thought they didn’t know but it’s just all running to the beat of Irina’s drum.
Nowa the cook, asks if Steve can speak Indonesian. Yes, I say but he is quiet. Doesn’t talk much. She cackles, sama sama. She points to Milton. He doesn’t talk much. She and I, sama sama, kindred spirits. Bercakap,cakap, we say fingers miming chatter.
We are heading off to the ferry in Milton’s nice quiet slow one engine boat. I say to Irina, do you like the boats? No, she says I feel a little sea sick . How funny I think, to come live here when you have to use boats for everything. And then there are the long ferry rides. It turns out in Russia Irina was a chemist. You can retire at 55 and then she came to stay here forever. The war means because she is out of the country she has lost her pension.
With Irina. Note; the yellow notebook at the ready for Indo words.
Cal and Jenni are now the last pair standing the remaining survivors at Sunset Beach. For them it is another day to lay in a hammock with their kindles.
We are now performing in the public boat. The performing was a typo but it is correct. We are the only bule/ foreigners
The boat is from Wakai on Togean Island to Ampana back on mainland central Sulawesi. About a four hour trip.
Most travellers go on the fast boat. Pleasant out the back on bamboo slats. We chat. Show the food we bought at the harbour. Burasa, rice in banana leaf..The Bugis man tells us its the traditional Makassar/Bugis food for sailors – it lasts a long time, three days for going to sea.
We also have lelampa; of fish and rice mixed, also steamed in banana leaf. Absolutely delicious.
The Bugis man (in the Muslim hat) buys gold. He asked about my ring. How many grams. He got out his scales. I took off my ring . He had his sanding block, whet stone and little bottle of acid(? )He weighed it: 3 grams 1.6 billion rupiah per gram. 480 dollars.
That’ll probably get me home if I need to. I should keep his contact. Just in case.
Its hard to resist a little midday snooze on the boat laying on the bamboo decking.
And they smoke and smoke.
I finally ate my burasa..slight wasabi ish taste 4 for 50 cents..
Oh and now my bugis friend has questions I can’t understand. They are coming thick and fast. He is loud and enthusiastic. Ending with how much does it cost, the plane, the trip.
Oh I don’t want to think about it in English let alone talk about it in Indonesian
Oto to my left questions why we put our old people in homes. It is bad, they are lonely, we should look after them. They should have people with them when they die.
Steve is sitting with a chap who as a joke introduced himself as Canberra. He is involved in conservation and working on a project removing crown of thorn starfish and had been to Australia.
I did a very quick drawing of him
