LAURIE We arrived in Chennai at nearly midnight but that doesn't mean it was quiet. There was an enormous traffic jam outside the airport, horns blaring, everyone trying to shove in a nd getting nowhere. There were people everywhere, waiting for their friends or family, touting for taxis and hotels or asleep on the ground. And it was so hot and sticky. Welcome to crazy India. We found our driver quickly but we had to wait for one of the other people from a different plane. So we waited and waited but she didn't appear. We were so tired and hot. We got quite grumpy. After waiting more than an hour we gave up and went to or hotel. So we didn't get to bed till 2am Indian time or 4.30am Singapore time or 6.30am Blue ... read more

First week travelled to Bakau with Bebe and her brother in law, Francesco. He drives safely and does protection. I made them fix the brakes before we travelled (Even though it made Bebe have a day off work - guilts but hope ok)... You may have heard that two tourists had an altercations with young Timorese but not us, we are being looked after. Right now, it's dark in Dili and I will be picked up in a few minutes by someone else who speaks Tetun as a way of protecting me (they don't want me to walk anywhere after dark -- not long since they did have curfews. We are going to Hatubulicio tomorrow Monday with Bebe and Francesco again. We will stay with Alexandro (Mary Waterford knows him) until Thursday. Hatubulico is located near ... read more