Price of Banana Skyrockets in Dili

The government started locking down the Dili city two weeks ago (early March 2021) after finding out the first Covid-19 local transmission case. To prevent spread of the virus, the lockdown immediately limits social and economic activities within as well as bars exit from and entry to the city. Only essential and emergency related traffics are allowed with a so-called tight protocol. It allows essentials to be transported and being accessed in the market.

The lockdown affects the local food market as well. After the first week of the lockdown, the local food supply in the traditional markets started scarce. As far as I go out and observe, the stock of fruits, vegetables, tubers, legumes, and others started to phase out in the first week. Some of fruit street vendor stalls are even empty completely. I stopped by onetime and asked, they said “no banana anymore coming from vicinity and municipal areas.”

As a regular buyer of banana, I started to recognize the price difference last week. According to my experience, the normal average price for a bunch of banana is $1.5. The maximum is like $2.5 for a healthy and fresh look one. This morning, I went to the traditional markets including the fruit market at Lecidere and found out that the average price has gone up to $2.5. Another, I found a larger and fresh look banana and it was $5. 

I used to bargain in the market, and there was a room for bargaining most of the time. I often could still get it reduced after the negotiation. However, for this time, the vendor jokingly told me that there is no time for bargaining anymore. $ 5.00 is a fixed price for this damn good banana.

We laughed together (of course in a social distance manner). I then asked the vendor again “Do you think you will low the price once we come to the normal live? Yes, he said when there are more bananas.” He meant that if the normal supply resumes, then the market will set itself to the normal price. I hope that the Covid-19 can get controlled, so that we all can get what we afford.  

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Japanese Airplane Crashes in Lore, Lautem

The War World II effect was also felt in East Timor. East Timor was under the colonial, Portuguese rule during the War occurring between 1942-1943, some Timorese were being bombed and killed. The killed Timorese were the aides for Australian military who was the main enemy of the Japanese military at the time. In a more sustained local suffering, I heard from my village grandparents, the Japanese military forced them to serve in building shelters or housing and infrastructure in order to facilitate logistical distributions.

Fortunately, the War ended, and thus the suffering also stopped. The WWII left a lot of footprint in physical forms as well. There are so many tunnels, roads, compounds that the Japanese military built. It is all now becoming historic assets. Those assets need to be preserved for tourism and educational purposes. I am afraid; however, the government is able to go that far in preserving the historical assets located sporadically all over the country and that being out of sight and reach as time goes by.

One specific remnant that drew my attention is a Japanese WWII military airplane crashed in Lore, a village in the South side of Lospalos, the capital city of Lautem municipality. The airplane crashed in the forest; the color of the airplane is white. However, it is now being eaten up by mosses to about turn green entirely.  According to the source I contacted to, the exact name of the location where the airplane crashed is Raka, Lore - Lautem. It would be interesting to find more sources to tell about the story, and if get a chance, to visit the location. Japanese tourists who visit East Timor should be more interested than any other tourists, right?

Lastly, I must admit that I have not confirmed fully whether it is real. A Facebook friend posted it, I asked him, and he said yes it is real. Then I texted a friend who is from the village also said yes. I could not wait until confirmed, I go ahead to share with those of you who read this blog, by the way with an expectation that you might be interested to visit one day either for the sake of curiosity or for a predetermined purpose. If you happen to confirm the reality of the photo, please let me know so I can edit the content, or even delete if it is totally fake.

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Trail Shaped by Nature

“When left alone, the nature eventually takes over.” This is what happens to the circular road right at the toe of Cristo Rei’s statue hill. The road was progressively damaged by waves. I remember the first damage occurred years back. It was just news without intervention until the road paralyzed and is totally out of service. Ever since the road had not been in use and impassable by cars.

Some people complained for this long abandoned road never came back to open because it could be an alternative route for them to go to Hera, and on to the East side of the country. Dili residents similarly have limited options to go farther of the coast line of Cristo Rei. They have to park the cars in the other side and then walk to Dolok Oan.

The abandoned road has shaped a new character and serves new functions.  Trees and grass have outgrown the used to be asphalt and concrete surface. The trees getting taller and the grass getting thicker in the rainy season. It is a new space for birds, and other animals to live in. The sound or birds quite relaxing; while walking, you could also see the sunlight shines through the tree canopy. This has shaped a new character of this area as before.

This nature-shaped character made the road is not for cars anymore but people. People go there for jogging. It is a place to go farther if you want to be alone; it also becomes a fishing spot. Locals and even foreigners go there for fishing, both day and night times. The road severs the new functions.

Since the abandoned road could also provide benefits for the environment, and the people, what do you think that this place should be for? to restore the function by rehabbing the road to bring back the cars or Keep as it is now for people to enjoy the nature, and their leisure time? I will leave it for you to answer if you are from Dili. 

** Hope this gives you and inspiration