Timor-Leste was amazing!

I'd been interested in Timor-Leste, Australia's closest neighbour and one of the world's youngest countries, for many years. So when I saw an advertisement for a study tour I wasted no time in asking for more info! The tour, last week, was fabulous. There were just eight participants and the tour leader was Kirsty Sword Gusmão, the former first lady of Timor-Leste, so we received wonderful insights into the country, its people, its history and its culture. I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to get 'up close and personal' with this fascinating place. I'll share some of our adventures in this and the next few blog posts ...

One of the (many) highlights of the trip was getting to meet some really important figures from the country's struggle for independence:

Xanana Gusmão: first president of Timor-Leste (2002 to 2007),

legendary resistance leader, and wise and entertaining dinner companion!

José Ramos-Horta: former president and prime minister of Timor-Leste, 

Nobel laureate, diplomat. Pictured with Kirsty Sword Gusmão and 

a pet deer named Bambi (!)

It was an absolute honour to get to meet these people. I was somewhat starstruck and speechless, but tried to soak up their every word. Our group also met the Australian Ambassador (who kindly invited us to dinner), the Minister of Education, the Child Rights Commissioner, and the Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman, and received a comprehensive briefing on the recently signed maritime boundary agreement. Oh my goodness.

The tour group also got to meet many of the movers and shakers in the Alola Foundation, which supports women and children in Timor-Leste to build a strong future. Some of us were already regular Alola supporters, and all of us contributed to the organisation's activities through our tour participation.

Next post ... so many welcomes, so many dancing, drumming children!