I’d like to share some exciting news, and extend a special thanks to the generous folk at Coffey International, who, through their charitable organization – GLOBALQUEST, have decided to select the Community Support Program as a project they wish to offer development and financial support to, in 2011.

The vision of GLOBALQUEST, a charity initiated and managed voluntarily by Coffey International Staff, is to support local efforts in improving the lives of communities around the world, which in this instance, will be the Indigenous Mentawai community.

Furthermore, the benevolent team at GLOBALQUEST are focusing their immediate attention and fundraising efforts toward SURFAID’s Mentawai Tsunami Appeal, an emergency relief effort that still remains in urgent need of our support.

Masurak Bagatta, GLOBALQUEST. Thankyou.

SURFAID INTERNATIONAL and the people of Mentawai are in need of our help.
The latest news from a friend currently located in the islands, tells of the damage caused by the Tsunami being far worse than anticipated.
“Many villages are badly affected, and the death toll is still rising by the day. Obviously the logistical difficulties of the islands are making it harder to meet the needs of the communities, but the rains are not helping the situation either – rapidly growing sanitary and hygiene issues in the damaged areas, including the significant increase in diarrhea rates. The dangerous weather conditions are also preventing doctors and local boats from traveling down south, meaning there is very little aid reaching the southern end of the Pagai Selatan. People are starting to die of simple infections. It’s quite a difficult situation.”

If you can afford, please support the MENTAWAI TSUNAMI APPEAL.
Every little bit helps.

Where do I begin then, I wondered, after fastidiously critiquing then dismissing several written introductory attempts through discontentment, or better yet, unworthiness. Nervous perhaps? Likely. Gosh, I want to introduce here a person, a friend, who (unknowingly) played a monumental role in that which lead to my being where I am today – mentally, so it is of some importance to me, this delineation. But how, what combination of colourful adjectives, or wittingly composed clauses could adequately convey, and/or give justification to this incredibly positive, inspiring, and purely joyful personality… really. I deliberate, some more. Perhaps a short video clip might clear the passage, I decide, excited at the prospect of looking back over footage of Andi, an employee of the island resort which offered me the opportunity to progress the ‘idea’ that I perhaps knew what I was doing, which in retrospect, I’m not sure I did. I’ll be forever grateful for that, Paul.

As it were, I did manage to accumulate quite a collection of Andi (ography) during my short stay here, which, when considering my role was actually to make films of the guests, could be thought a little strange. I disagree. Andi, for lack of a better word, captivated me, or perhaps more so did his positive attitude and pure excitement for life which, for me, at that time, was incredibly refreshing.

Andi, a young Mentawai man, who had recently been plucked from a nearby village and offered a job driving boats at the resort, exemplified how little is required – or perhaps favoured, in acquiring a sense of happiness; he highlighted the importance of just enjoying life for what it is, and how this can similarly spread on to others. He provoked a genial disposition, a positive (and facetious) outlook to life, so naturally, I was drawn to this… pardon the profundities here, but this is what captured my imagination.

Andi inspired a great deal of thought within – which generally related in some way back to the problems being faced by my own culture, and why they existed. So I began flirting with the idea that an insight to a possible solution may in fact lay somewhere beneath the selfless felicity possessed by Andi… or in his upbringing, perhaps; which then quickly evolved into the experience that ensued, and the film.

The other reason for having this collection could indeed be attributed to his growing infatuation with methods of a modern world, his fondness for the camera, which, on occasions, would be responsible for my missing the guest’s ‘wave of the day’ or the like – oops. “Ah, sorry, I think I was changing the battery for that one” I would later purport, cheekily – thinking they probably wouldn’t mind anyway that I was actually filming Andi on the roof of the boat, reposing.

Anyway, for Andi, sarainam.
Masurak bagatta

In other news, and after briefly catching up with myself over the weekend, here’s what I had to say regarding the films progress:


“How is the film coming along, Rob?”

“Well, it”

“Coming along well?”

“Yes it is well, however”

“That’s wonderful to hear, Rob, but when will the film be finished?”

“WELL BASICALLY, I’ve completed as much of the post-production as independently possible, so the film is almost there, which”

“Almost?”

“Yes… almost, nearly, well-nigh… the reality is, friend, the various other facets of post-production that still need attention, do require professionals, and professionals, do require income; and not to mention, beyond that, the many other costs involved with successfully releasing a film, Internationally. So essentially, the main hindrance to completing the film is, not surprisingly, finance, or lack thereof.”

“Gee whiz Rob, that sounds rather daunting!”

“Oh please, let’s not get too carried away. There are indeed many film-funding options available – both the conventional, and unorthodox type; so it should be an enjoyable stage of the process, nonetheless.”

“Right, ok, so I’m to presume then, Rob, that you’ll have funding secured and the film ready for release by December 2010?”

“Yes… perhaps. I do share your optimism, however, if for instance, hypothetically, the rate of fund-sourcing is slower than expected, then this may also slow the process of completion.”

“Ah, so I’m to understand… and correct me if I’m wrong, the film is now at a stage where if you are to secure appropriate financial support, it could be completed within a few months; however, if not, it may take a little longer?”

“Now you’re starting to catch on.”

“So your life, Rob, is once again relying on the dollar?”

“Well not exactly; it perhaps influences a potential timeframe, but it doesn’t; I’ll keep working toward; there’s plenty to do, the, vision…. yep.”

In the meantime though, perhaps this Mentawai song I’ve recorded may rise a smile!

Whilst anthropologists, missionaries and tourists have been visiting the archipelago for some time now, it’s rather interesting to consider that in the 21st century – in a country as accessible as Indonesia, that there still remains a people that have yet to witness the most basic of modern-world items.

In light of the previous post, and its mention to the earthquake that struck parts of western Sumatra in 2009, I figured this an appropriate segway to share a few images I’d taken in Padang, a day or so after the tragedy.

You see, this also happened to be the exact time my then partner, Fern, had come to visit. A decision which, from the third level of a hotel structure comparable only to an enfeebling cave of unsupported concrete, resulted in her experience of natures capricious powers, first hand.  Escaping serious injury by rushing to the safety of the open streets, Fern was met by a scene of complete devastation. An event, which would go on to take the lives of 1,117 people; causing damage or destruction to over 181,000 buildings (USGS) in Padang and its surrounding districts.

Although suffering the force of the powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake, the impact of destruction in the Mentawai Islands was for the most part, relatively minimal. This can perhaps be attributed to the essential lack of heavy roofing used in the vastly wooden structures, which appeared to simply dance the impact off.

However, for the larger, more commercially established villages closer to the port towns, the ensuing weeks did bring about a sense of chaos. Why? Well Padang, a city of almost 800,000 people, was suddenly without any tangible supply of food and water. The severity of the disaster, combined with an archaic infrastructure had essentially shut the city down, thus inhibiting the flow of resources out to the island communities.  As the economy of the entire archipelago seems to be linked to Padang in one way or another, the islands, which appeared to have limited information regarding the extent of damage on the mainland, experienced a halt in boats arriving altogether, and a sudden quadrupled price tag added to the small amount of supplies available. Cause for concern? Sure. Interestingly though, and despite the terrible circumstances – of which many seemed unaware – I found those that possessed the skills to hunt and gather were as unperturbed and genial as ever, showing no concern for the diminishing supplies or sense of urgency created by the price hikes.

Perhaps it’s worth considering our own reactions under circumstances such as this… would we still possess the ability to survive, without the conveniences we’ve become accustomed to?

Alongside the film, I am working on the development of an Indigenous community support program, which will focus on the Siberut region. Having had very little experience in the not-for-profit organizational sector personally, and knowing that outside support will play a critical role in realizing this, I was extremely grateful to Matthew and Anastacia from SURFAID INTERNATIONAL who generously offered their time and wealth of knowledge to help the cause.

Both have previously worked on SURFAID programs in the Mentawai – on the southern island of Sipora, and have most recently implemented their own Earthquake Relief Programs for SURFAID in Padang. This was a fantastic opportunity to workshop some ideas around the issues currently being faced by the Indigenous tribes of the Mentawai. I have added a short video here with brief mention to various aspects of the discussion.

The island of Siberut, excessively rich in biodiversity and boasting an extremely high number of endemic plant and animal species, is the last of the four large islands in the archipelago holding onto its cultural and environmental heritage. The Islands communities, like many traditional (more…)

This week saw the first test screening of BUI MAREUREU BAAP as worlds divide. Thanks to all the members of Melbourne’s Doco3000 group that gave their time and valuable feedback, a great amount was gained from the discussion that followed. Stay tuned for further developments.

Hunting – an integral part of the traditional Mentawai lifestyle sees the hand crafted bow and arrow as the most commonly used method for fatally wounding their prey. So how could a handmade arrow possibly stop a rampaging wild boar? Well, by gathering a selected mixture of flora from the nearby jungle, the huntsmen are able to extract a poisonous liquid which is then pasted onto the tips of the hunting weapons – as pictured here with a Mentawai Sikerei, or shaman – and once penetrated into the bloodstream of the boar, deer, or monkey, the result is death within 5 minutes. Suffice to say this is a rather dangerous piece of equipment, as are the hunting expeditions. In fact, there were numerous occasions during my stay where young men fell victim to the sharp tusks of an angry boar. Despite their perceived plump and lazy appearance, they run, and incredibly fast.

Landing in this new island habitat saw a sudden and significant change to my diet. The transition period for the first month would result in diminished energy levels; provoking a need to learn the art of fishing – an important survival skill for those residing by the ocean. Fortunately Si Hen and a couple of experienced fisherman in the village were kind enough to share their trade with me. It was thanks to their generosity that learning to fish became a daily activity here in the village and kept me well fed. The images posted here are showing my ‘Mujalo’ bait-fish net throwing developments, under close instruction from master fisherman Si Hen.