Fretlin election campaigning in Los Palos

The ministerial elections are pretty close and all the parties are touring the districts drumming up support. Fretlin is one of the bigger parties in Timor-Leste and they draw heavily on their association with the resistance movement, especially the armed wing of Fretlin ‘Falintil’.  

Hence the use of a 50cal machine gun perched on a Hilux as the mascot!

People are bussed, trucked and driven in to town from all of the outlying areas and the events are huge. The warm up party for the Los Palos campaign lasted all night. I drifted off to sleep at about 2am (the grounds are close to my house) and when i woke at 6.00am (i hate roosters) the music was still going... wild.

I’m not a fan of the rallying technique here and am happy to admit it. Huge crowds of young males screaming and chanting together immediately overrides any possible discussion on policy or merit of different parties and the feeling of the mob movement is ever present. In saying that it would be a blast to be hanging off the back of the truck tearing into a town painted head to toe and screaming songs with 3,000 friends...

Marching girls and birthday cake

Timor-Leste turned 10 on the 20th May 2012. It’s had a rough start for a country and has many hurdles ahead but that doesn't mean it's not full of beautiful and happy people. Most of us don’t appreciate the modern history of Timor-Leste and the impact that it has had which seems unfortunate considering it’s one Australia’s closest neighbours. I recommend reading this for anyone interested; A Dirty Little War

I wish I had marching school girls in knee high white stilettos at my 10^th birthday party. I wish I had marching school girls in knee high white stilettos at my 11^th birthday party. I wish I had marching school girls in knee high white stilettos at my 12^th birthday party. I wish I had marching school girls in knee high white stilettos at my 13^th birthday party. I wish I had marching school girls in knee high white stilettos at my 14^th birthday party. I wish I had marching school girls in knee high white stilettos at my...

This is a collection of the family who own the house I live in. I rent two rooms off the back of their guest house (directly behind this Kiosk). Amaa is the ghostly figure behind the counter... both Amaa and Apaa have made me part of the family.

I’ve got no idea who this is. I should find out. It’s a great photo; piecing look into the camera with no forced smile. Handsome man...

This is Apaa. Friendly and jolly man...