The bak mandi challenge

I am not the bravest about many things one can take the opportunity to take an adventurous spirit about in Dili. (see: riding scooters in crazy traffic / risking attack; walking at night; running alone on the beach; eating salad.)

Now, I have friends (the unlucky ones who have bak mandis; other lucky friends, including volunteers, have places with actual hot showers!) who admit that they can’t hack the cold water in the mornings anymore, it’s just that little bit too cool. I would just like to point out that I have been having cold sponge baths every single morning, sometimes again in the evening, for the last seven months or so. And I will be until I leave.

So, this is THE issue where I can claim to be TOUGH. Guess all those Canberra and Farmidale winters came in handy for something!