Rain seems to be very topical at the moment. I know you guys in the UK have been having your fair share. We are at the start of our rainy season and its been non-stop rain for three days. We rely on rain here for cooking, showering and cleaning and it all collects in a tank called a mandi. Normally a mandi is the size of a normal bath but ours is the size of a mini swimming pool. It holds 18,000 litres. We were advised as part of our cultural briefing not to get into your mandi!
A few weeks ago before the rainy season the mandi was nearly empty and we were desperate for rain. Staff were bathing in the local spring, the washing was being done in the local river and water was heavily rationed. I’ve learnt I can get washed in half a bucket of water.
We’ve put in some gutters to collect the rain but also improvise in whatever way we can.
We all got soaked but it was fun and now our mandi is nearly full.
Something else very common to Nias is the pigs. This is in total contrast to our programme in Aceh where the largely Muslim population find pigs disgusting.
We often see pigs being taken to market by their owners except its more like the pigs taking their owner for a walk. ….
A few weeks ago before the rainy season the mandi was nearly empty and we were desperate for rain. Staff were bathing in the local spring, the washing was being done in the local river and water was heavily rationed. I’ve learnt I can get washed in half a bucket of water.
We’ve put in some gutters to collect the rain but also improvise in whatever way we can.
We all got soaked but it was fun and now our mandi is nearly full.
Something else very common to Nias is the pigs. This is in total contrast to our programme in Aceh where the largely Muslim population find pigs disgusting.
We often see pigs being taken to market by their owners except its more like the pigs taking their owner for a walk. ….
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