With apologies to Banjo....
And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony -- three parts thoroughbred at least --
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry -- just the sort that won't say die --
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.
and here is...the legendary Timor pony....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/586.jpg
A little bit of history, tucked away out of sight...
On the drive south from Bacau to Viqueque as you start climbing and winding around the hills, and you reach here:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/581.jpg
keep your eye open for these:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/582.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/583.jpg
venture inside, and you will find the hill to be honeycombed, like this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/584.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/585.jpg
and they are.................
Japanese ammunition bunkers. They have driven entrances back into the limestone hill, and then connected each drive. They were dug by forced labour and extended for about 300m around the hillside..maybe there were more. Well sited, they were still intact as the day they had been dug.
By account, I had been told Bacau was a significant Japanese base during the war, and it offered deeper water than Dili harbour, and no doubt they would have pioneered the present airfield located on the plateau to the west of Bacau. Further east along the coast there were concreted defensive positions...they certainly invested some time and effort into the place.
Cock Fighting.....Noooo...the other type!
Somewhere, everyday, in East Timor, there are cockfights being conducted. We come across these on some backroads out from Los Palos, right out the eastern end of the island.
Cockfighting is carried on with great vim and vigour right across the island. They were big and popular in Dili every thursday night. Drving anywhere on the island, especially toward evening, if there was a crowd gathered, they were watching the cockfights.
The whole community gathers, as you can see from the photos, and there is a lot of shouting and toing and froing....good fun to watch the crowd.
It is evident, there is a fair bit of organisation and negotiation in who is fighting who, with bets changing hands away from the ring. The winning owner takes all, including the carcass of the loser...so there is a Winner Winner!!...and then...a chicken dinner..
Here is the usual rush of kids when you stop the car:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/527.jpg
The roosters are all spaced out...in waiting...tied to the ground.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/528.jpg
These are the backroom dealings where 'who is fighting who' is decided, and the $coin$ changes hands. Strictly men's business.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/529.jpg
And....in the red corner!!!!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/530.jpg
Touching gloves....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/531.jpg
and then they are out of their corners....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/532.jpg
sparring....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/533.jpg
and its on!!!!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/534.jpg
slugging it out....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/535.jpg
hammer and tongs....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/536.jpg
and then, there is only one winner!!!! This bloke was hilarious, he lifted his rooster and made a speech, which had the crowd laughing and cheering. Obviously someone of reknown.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/537.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...008/07/538.jpg
