Another week closer to home leave...

Greetings!
I had a quick flyover and re-read of my recent blogs and decided I would write something halfway positive today...perhaps because it is Friday, perhaps because I have actually had a few good days this week.
First up, I have been feeling well again and whatever bug plagued me for a number of weeks decided to pack up and leave (but NOT without a fight).
I no longer eat local lettuce or water-rich vegetbales unless I know where they come from and that they have been washed and washed and washed and washed...you get the picture.
I have also restricted myself to only frequent eateries that I am 100% sure of in terms of the quality they serve. No more "let's try this new one tonight...what's the worst that can happen?" (well, now I know).
Even the lettuce at times half hiding under food for garnish purposes now doesn't stand a chance anymore and gets removed before the first fork hits the plate.

Here's a fun experiment, next time you're in a Timorese restaurant (whether it serves Asian or Western cuisine, this works for both): Take your paper napkin, moisten it a little and give your table a quick wipe. The results will not only surprise you(the napkin will generally come up BLACK!) but will also from then on respectfully heed your mother's advice not to have your arms on the table while eating. Oh, and if a piece of food drops of your plate: trust me, leave it there. The 10 second rule boils down to miliseconds here in Dili and unless you have superhero-like reflexes, you should leave that piece of food alone!

But enough of that. I have had some great meals in the last couple of days.
One at my favourite indonesian 'rumah makan', about the only one I go to frequently, have tried everything and have NEVER gotten sick!
If you ever want to look it up, here are the directions:
Driving on Comoro road from the airport you eventually pass Landmark supermarket on the right. Approximately 200-300m after that on the left is a small front of shops: An electronic service centre (or something similar), a mini store and two eateries.
The one on the right usually has a small sate grill outside and fills the area with delicious smelling smoke. It's good, but the one on the left is better!!
It has a sign above it that says "Asian Food" and you can easily identify it by the stainless steel containers (opposed to plastic bowls and plates) in which the food stored in the display cabinet is kept. It's run by an indonesian woman who is always delighted to see Westerners appreciate her cooking.
My tip: try their BBQ chicken. You won't find better in all of Timor!

Another good meal I had this week was of course at home as I finally managed to cook something that turned out tasting like it should, despite my limited cooking facilities and different ingredients: Ziti with homemade tomato gravy & parmesan, served with a ribeye that tasted fresh and tender. Yayee!!!

Lastly, I made the effort and drove down to the beach and paid Dili Beach Hotel a visit:
Sundried Tomato & Pesto Pizza was the name of the game; and what a pleasant surprise that was, too! Just about the perfect pizza by any length or any standard.
It won't be the last time I make that trip!!!

All in all not a bad week; I have decided to put the proverbial (not literal) blindfold on and ignore all the stuff that gets under your skin here.

"It's life Jim, but not as we know it!" Where's Scotty when you need him...

This afternoon I will stock up on movies, buy a bottle of good old red wine, close the curtains, lock the door and pretend I am in a holiday resort. Apart from the helicopters, roosters, motorcycles, screaming kids, leaking aircon, cockroaches, the dust and smell, I should almost succeed, too!

Oh, one more trivia question for you: What did they used to call (and still do, I presume) the local lettuce? Sewage Weed!! (lettuce, as we know, grows only in VERY moist soil. Where in a dusty, dry town like Dili do you find that sort of moisture...? You guessed it....)

Signing out until Sunday with the prospect of marking another week of my calendar.