The Adventures of Sunshine Gypsy: Namatanai

The next few blogs are all going to be about a trip to Namatanai where I stayed with two sisters, Melanie and Belinda, for 3 weeks. Instead of write one really long blog I’ve decided to write several short stories in no chronological order.

Melanie is a doctor and Belinda is a construction manager and both are here volunteering at the Namatanai Hospital. They invited me down to stay with them and help out in the hospital. We never really discussed how much time I’d spend with them so I packed enough clothing for a week… and 3 weeks later I finally made my way home. They have an adorable kitty, cleverly named Kitty Cat (aka Chiger… she is striped like a tiger with a spotted belly like a cheetah), who’s quite charming until about 4:30-5:00 in the morning when she decides it’s a great time to play and then attacks your feet through the mosquito net waking you in a panic thinking you worst childhood nightmare is coming true and you’re about to be pulled out of bed by your feet. Yeah, the first morning was a bit of a shock.

Belinda with Kitty Cat on her lap and Melanie petting Lightning

Kitty Cat's spotted belly

The lovely Kitty Cat modeling in the grass

In addition to a kitty they also have a pig named Lightning McQueen because she has racing stripes. If you thought Maroru was my only pig friend you would be wrong. She is adorable and follows Belinda around like a little puppy dog and greets Melanie at the gate when she comes home for lunch with lots of excited snorts and the occasion dog bark. Like Maroru, Lightning also enjoys a good belly rub. Kitty Cat is not so sure about Lightning evidenced by the skeptical look she’s giving the pig in the photo below. Kitty Cat often finds a nice, discrete spot to watch the pig. Any time the pig is out all mischief comes to a skreetching halt and Kitty Cat watches pigs every move. We spent many-a-hours watching the cat and the pig run around the yard. Who needs a TV when you’ve got hilarious animals to watch?

Cuddling Lightning

Kitty not so sure about the pig

Lightning enjoys toes as an afternoon snack

Kitty at the top of the stairs watching the pig

Pig also enjoys snacking on clothing

These stare downs occur often and usually end with the pig bulldozing Kitty

The generator that provides power to the town broke which means there is no power at the house unless the hospital generator is on (their house is connected to the hospital’s generator). This is great except for the fact that the hospital needs diesel in order run the generator and diesel is in short supply here so the generator doesn’t spend much time on. With no power that means the electrical pump for the water supply to the house doesn’t work. But there is a hand pump so we’re still able to get water at the house. In order to shower it would take lots of hand pumps… no bueno. So for showering we’ve been going to local was-was (wash-wash) holes and bathing in fresh water streams where the locals bathe. The water is really cold which is suuuper nice after a hot day of sweating and no air condition which happens to be everyday here, but I’m not complaining. I loved it there and thoroughly enjoyed showering in streams, making dinner by candlelight and flashing lights, and watching a cat and a pig for evening entertainment.