A special visit

Here are some photos from various things that happened this week.

An RNZAF Hercules stopped by twice, the first time to deliver supplies, the second time to pick up any Kiwis in Timor who wanted to go back to New Zealand. Andy and I had been contacted by the ambassador to ask if we were interested, but since both of us have a job to do in Timor, and unfinished business in Australia, we politely declined. It was touching to hear ‘keewee ait wun sux’ on the radio though.

In this photo you can see the humidity momentarily condensing into cloud at the propeller tips.

Later in the week I had a sit-and-wait at Atauro Island. This is where the client wants to go somewhere for a short visit and then come back and are willing to pay for you and the aeroplane to wait for them. Aldo came along and we did some maintenance work at the airstrip, removing the bigger rocks and bushes that were starting to grow. After that he was keen to collect a particular type of seaweed from the beach (local delicacy).

Beach at Atauro Island

Finally, we had our first proper afternoon rain on Thursday and Friday this week! This will eventually become a daily occurrence as we get further into the wet season.

CB (cumulonimbus) thundercloud forming to the east of Dili (seen on our way back from Atauro)