A flower garden in Rai Kotu

There are two dirt roads that lead from our house to the main road; a small hill runs down the spine separating them and our house is right at the point where the roads join up (however, you cannot drive through only walk); a bit like a horse shoe and we are located on the U bend at the beach. I have decided to take the other road in the mornings to catch a “mikrolet” in order to get to know my neighbours and to walk past the beach, which is always a pleasant way to start a day. There are fewer neighbours on this route as the hill and soccer pitch run down one side of it leaving people to live mostly on the opposite side of the road. I have recently noticed a very small but pretty little garden that a woman is cultivating in her front yard. Included is a small selection of different species including beautiful purple flowers that are quite abundant in Timor but I do not know their name. Some of the plants are protected from the many roaming goats and pigs by old car tyres. Despite her poor circumstances the owner has lovingly created a patch of beauty amongst the dirt and gravel on which her ramshackle home is located. I find this very touching.

Category: Timor-Leste (East Timor)