Brick wall

Today I feel like I've hit a brick wall. I'm so restricted with where I can go and I hate having to rely on people to do things for me. My little mate Esbi is waiting eagerly with the dominos but 10 minutes in he's bored and wanders off. Dion is heading to the village so I order a few things like deodorant and cigarettes and hand him all my loose change which over here is 1000 and 2000 notes. I'm learning a lot of Indonesian but when I'm trying to hear people speak it's so difficult because some people speak with a very dramatic accent while others are very softly spoken and the way I hear the same thing said by two different people they could be saying something totally different. In the afternoon a couple come up from the village for lunch. I point out a few of the key areas to watch out for things and out of the corner of my eye catch sight of the 2 hornbill. They manage to get the best photos yet and pass them onto me. It's the most clear siting we've had and is beautiful because I can just watch this beautiful bird while someone else takes the photos. In the evening I'm brought a portion of cake it's like a rice pudding base with a blachmange top. I've also upped my skills of mosquito squatting and am pretty much professional. Later in the evening I'm told it was Esmis birthday. The difference for me is incredible. The money and fuss we make is ridiculous our kids are spoilt way too much at home and don't even realise it. I go to bed with a heavy heart that we haven't even sang happy birthday to Esbi but I'm sure he's none the wiser.Read more