First few days in indonesia

I was selected as shelter manager to work with Oxfam-GB for Tsunami response in 2005 Nov.

It was the first time for me to go to SE country.. i was reaching Medan [Main airport in Sumatra island] in morning at 11:00am and my flight to Banda [main city of Aceh province] which was worse hit by Tsunami was at 5:30.

I had flight from delhi to KL to Medan,,, Malasian Airlines.

it was smooth journey... KL airport was really impressive.. big and well organised..

i enjoyed inter-airport tram....

i reached to Medan.. i was suppose to collect the tickets for my domestic travel Medan to Banda... it was well organised by nana [the adm. lady of Oxfam indonesia].. the international airport was small and congested .... next to it is domestic airport.. again small and congested... too many people..

the most obvious thing on airport is smoke... you feel like you are in smoky coal engine.. it is difficult to breath..

i had to wait long hours on medan domestic airport.. the check in was not started.. ...

i stretched on one of the wooden benches and fell a sleep for an hour...

i took a walk around waiting lounge.. .i could buy biscuit and coke... to feed my hungry stomach.

the time came when gates open for the check in.. i walked up to the "Garuda Indonesia" airlines.. I was asked by a lady to show me the ticket.. i did.. she said.. no.. you cant be this.... and i said what????? yes i am this !!!!!

she said you cant be manish.. i said i am... :) then she explained that my ticket was booked as Mrs. Manis ..... i was laughing.. i explained the lady that i am Mr. manish not MRS. "manis" ...

she too was laughing,, and explained the reason of confusion.. in bahasa indonesia "manis" means sweet.. so the adm. lady thought manish cannot be name of male guy!!! and she booked me as Mrs. Manis..

good introduction to the local language!!!

finally all set... i had to pay extra charges for my luggage..... i completed formalities.. got the boarding card... waited in lounge .....

finally i boarded for Banda... the nice aircraft.. it was 1.10 hrs flight.. i was reaching by 6:30...

i was excited and curious to see the damage caused by Tsunami..

during the landing time when altitude was lowered i could see vast area under Tsunami devastation.. the land was shanked.. it was very obvious sea ingration..

i came out... i saw a man holding oxfam pla card... he greeted me.. i set in car.. we had to pick up few other regional oxfam staff.. ms. Allison and Lillian.

I reached office.. met zubair [HR manager] an Afghani.... he explained me about my stay and all..

i moved to oxfam house no-10 .. far away from office....

i was too tired... i fall a sleep immediately without having dinner..

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next day i rached office early.. i had to meet staff and all... i had to go thru induction ...

it was very nice half day induction on various dept. i met lots of people.. .. including some of my old colleagues from darfur ,Shemeles.. i met lots of Indians. joseph, anand, jaimon.... i came to know that Gaurav is in calang too... so i knew there are atleast 6-7 indians in staff...

joseph took me to the house no-1.. where shemeles, joseph, thomas [bangladesh] and anand were living.. they cook for lunch too.. it was fun.. joseph is a very nice guy and he love cooking ... thomas is good in chapati.. anad cook egg curry extremely well.. ... so it was fun to join them.. and have nice lunch.

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