It's about 19h00, night has fallen and the clouds that gathered during the late afternoon after a super hot, bright sunshiny day, are letting their precious cargo of water fall on the roof of my container in large plops. It's still incredibly humid, so for one accustomed to rain and cold, this takes some adjustment. Some of the storm is even trying to seep into my living quarters!
Given the metal nature of this container in which I live, the feeling I currently have is of being inside a washing machine with the water streaming down the window and the sounds of the torrential rain outside. I may delay the 100m dash to the restaurant situated inside this compound (thankfully, given the curfew that settles over Dili as the sun sets). Especially now that the thunder seems directly overhead. The solitude of the storm is very different to my 'normal' Friday night habit of curling up on the couch with the latest rerun of Friends or whatever is on TV. There isn't much by way of TV here. We do get the Australian equivalent of Fox News which seems obsessed with Al-Quaeda and game-shows.
Just before the sunset, I went for a walk along what serves as the main road that runs past teh hotel's compound. Earlier I had noticed the streets lined with flowers stuck atop bamboo poles every few metres. 
Also the city was a hive of activity today with literally bus- and truckloads of people (especially schoolchildren) descending on Dili from the various bairos or townships/informal settlements. Dressed in their best, the schoolchildren in neatly pressed uniforms and herded together by their teachers, my interpreter Reis explained that they were all waiting for the Cross. 
In this very Catholic country, the annual visitation by Mother Mary literally brings the traffic to a standstill. For kilometers people lined the street and when eventually the large wooden cross made its way down the street, people vied with each other to help carry it on its way for a short while.
A huge procession, slowly wending its way down the street. On the sidewalks the Australian army in fatigues watch on warily. On the island in the centre of the street, UN police clad in navy blue take pictures of the crowd with digital cameras smiling as they pass by. For all the strong presence of various police agencies, the crowd is peaceful (or maybe because of the police presence?)
At least this Friday Mother Mary seems to have stretched her hand over the citizens of Dili..On my way back, after the procession had passed, I saw little boys taking the bamboo poles, dropping the flowers on the ground and start chasing each other. Boys will be boys?
Speaking of which:
I got punched in the stomach today!
I was given the opportunity to lead the morning warm-up in the conflict resolution workshop I've been attending with these Martial Arts Groups. So we did some of my aikido warm-up exercises and the yoga sun salutations (which the Nepalese facilitators enjoyed). I tell you, in a humid climate like this, those sun salutations heat one up very quickly!!!!
Then I thought I would do some ki exercises to illustrate how to become aware of one's centre and to take back one's power - even in the face of an attack. The reaction was amazing. I think these martial artists were really stunned and intrigued by how such a little movement or action, a non-violent one at that could completely neutralise someone else's power.
Then I asked a karateka to punch me in the stomach. And he obliged. I can see why he won competitions.
I then asked him to punch again, harder this time... But moved out of the way, just in time, with my index finger ending up in the soft area just below his neck - to illustrate that I could choose to harm him...Or do ikkyo just to control him. He let out a yelp as I applied ikkyo which added to the dramatic effect.
I think now everyone wants to learn Aikido. I think the exercises fitted into the general flow of the workshop - where they had been talking about defining conflict, analysing it and responding
to it. I think the physical metaphor of the martial arts with which they are very familiar brought an added dimension to the session. And I had fun. I think they did too. It's not everyday you get to punch a facilitator in the stomach.
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