Sights, Sounds and Smells II
By: Kathy Mueller
Information & Community Outreach Manager
Banda Aceh, Indonesia
The other day I wrote mainly about the sights of Banda Aceh. But if the sights are all you see, you’re missing out on a lot of this coastal city.
Close your eyes and you’re awash in a symphony of sounds. The hum of the generator, working overtime to keep us somewhat cool in the oppressive heat. The whirl of the motorbikes and scooters as they weave their way in and out of traffic, and the honking of the cars as they swerve to avoid them. In this city, anything goes on the roads. Speed limits are a foreign concept, and driving lanes are just a suggestion.
At sunset and then again before dawn, the call to prayers at the local mosques, as the mainly Muslim population observes their daily prayers.
I was up early this morning, sitting on my balcony, taking in the breathtaking view of the mountains, enjoying the blissful silence. Then slowly, the birds began to wake, the crickets and roosters joining their chorus shortly after.
One sound I will be comfortable never hearing again is the shrill of the earthquake sensors. My house is equipped with the gadgets that will alert me to a tremor in time to get out. In the most earthquake prone zone in the world, it’s highly likely I will hear those alarms again, and in reality, I’m very thankful that they exist. For now though, I prefer the very annoying and seemingly never-ending buzz of my morning alarm clock.
Information & Community Outreach Manager
Banda Aceh, Indonesia
The other day I wrote mainly about the sights of Banda Aceh. But if the sights are all you see, you’re missing out on a lot of this coastal city.
Close your eyes and you’re awash in a symphony of sounds. The hum of the generator, working overtime to keep us somewhat cool in the oppressive heat. The whirl of the motorbikes and scooters as they weave their way in and out of traffic, and the honking of the cars as they swerve to avoid them. In this city, anything goes on the roads. Speed limits are a foreign concept, and driving lanes are just a suggestion.
At sunset and then again before dawn, the call to prayers at the local mosques, as the mainly Muslim population observes their daily prayers.
I was up early this morning, sitting on my balcony, taking in the breathtaking view of the mountains, enjoying the blissful silence. Then slowly, the birds began to wake, the crickets and roosters joining their chorus shortly after.
One sound I will be comfortable never hearing again is the shrill of the earthquake sensors. My house is equipped with the gadgets that will alert me to a tremor in time to get out. In the most earthquake prone zone in the world, it’s highly likely I will hear those alarms again, and in reality, I’m very thankful that they exist. For now though, I prefer the very annoying and seemingly never-ending buzz of my morning alarm clock.
posted by KB at 10:02 AM
2 Comments:
Hi Kathy,
You be careful there in Indonesia.
I think it is amazing to see a person do a complete 180 in careers. You had so much in your career here but you 'had to' go and do what you did. The only way I can describe it is that you have come to the realization that this is your calling in life.
Maybe you were called to do this work after your experiences in Africa a couple of years ago, and you gave us the great reports on the news here at home.
Anyway, good luck in your new endeavor. I will be keeping track on your blog.
best regards,
Bent
Kathy,
You have passed the initiation into the Indonesian experience. It is as enavoidable as the sun rising when you travel outside the sterile confines of the western world. The wonderful adaptive ability of our bodies will protect you from future exposures from that particular little nasty. And, like your brush with this nasty little bug your expeience there will make you a stronger resilient person.
Your blog brings back some wonderful memories of the sights and sounds of my trip to Thailand and makes me anxious to return to my African experience in Kenya. I return there on Dec 3rd for an all too short trip to visit my African brothers and sisters.
Peace be with you and bless you for hearing the calling that we are our brother's keeper.
Wayne
Post a Comment
<< Home