Technical Difficulties!

There are 3 internet service providers in the city, and one of them is down, meaning 1/3 of Banda Aceh's NGOs, donors are outta luck - including me. I've hijacked our telephone line in the house and connected quite a few short phone cables together in order to have (really slow) internet in my room.

Adding to the headache, I'm in the process of getting myself registered with the local government. In order to obtain the visa dinas, or department visa which gives me multiple entries into Indonesia for the next year, I first need this little Foreigner's ID card from the Aceh provincial police. In order to get this little ID card, I need a letter from the Bureau of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation and a letter from the Governor's Office stating that I'm indeed apart of the relief effort. And in order to get this letter from the Governor's Office, I need to visit the Foreigner's Registration Desk in the Governor's Office. The problem is, the stupid desk is never open!!! We went 3 days ago at 3:30pm and was told that they had already gone home for the day. Yesterday we went at 2:00pm and was told that they went out for coffee and would probably come back in a hour or so but the best time to visit was in the morning around 10am. So we went again this morning at 10am and was told that they were in a meeting and wouldn't be back until 1pm. ARRRGGGH. So, let's hope this visa deal is all settled before October 29, that's the date I'm leaving for Singapore and Vietnam, and hopefully I'll have a visa to re-enter this inefficient and bureaucratic place.

I'm going to Lamno tomorrow so will have to try my luck at getting this letter on Friday.

If you don't see me online or answering to your emails the next few days, it's not because I don't like you. It's probably I'm too busy trying to get letters and ID card (and the lack of speedy internet). If you want to email me the next few days, please use my gmail.com address. I will be checking it a couple of times a day. Or you can leave comments for me on the blog.