Llong

I think I'm beginning to settle in now. I'm working about 12 hour days.

There seems to be no shortage of work. The work is not difficult, but a lot

of organising needs to be done. The previous finance person left about a

month before I arrived. Currently I am managing the transition from a

spreadsheet based accounting system to an accounting software package.

 

I have been able to get out in the field again, this time out along the

coast to the south of Banda Aceh, to a district called Llong. I threw up on

the way there. The road runs near the coast, but a few times climbs into the

hills to go over a headland. The driver was going fast around lots of tight

turns. I suggested that he stop - just in time! The whole convoy had to stop

(3 vehicles), much to everyone's amusement!

 

So now I have a slight sunburn, from spending the day out there, even though

I wasn't really in the sun for any length of time. I also ate with my hand

for the first time. The worst part of that is not really having good

facilities to wash your hands afterwards!

 

The coastline is devastated. In many spots the road is gone and a new

temporary road in its place. Bridges were absolutely destroyed, as they

weren't built to withstand any kind of pressure from the side. The village

we went to was devastated. 75% of the people died. The village was on the

flats around the mosque (which is partially still standing). They are now

rebuilding but on the side of the flats on the side of a hill. The people

were very nice, and I picked up a few more words.

 

Desa Kareung (village=desa)

Done