Laundry
Ask Ketty if you need personal laundry doing: typically Rp10,000 – 30,000 depending on size of load.
Library
We’ve got a small library of books, currently kept in the Villa, though a bespoke bookcase for the dining room is in the offing. We’re not averse to swaps, but on a like for like basis in terms of quality/content – no more dog eared copies of Mechanics for Beginners in Finnish please.
Families
Afraid Kei doesn’t do local handicrafts apart from pearls (mutiara), which we’re very
good at (at least 7 farms). There are a couple of wide boys who try to flog these to
visitors, but even the big hotels (Velia and Suita) give a better deal, and you may find
the smaller shops, especially in Tual, competitive: try Toko Mutia, jalan Fidnang Armau
and/or Toko Souvenir “Mutiara” jalan Pattimura No. 15 (in front of Tual Bemo
Terminal).
Security
During the week security should not be a problem, but to be on the safe side lock your
stuff in your room if you leave the cottage. This is strongly advised at weekends when
the visitors come down from town - as far as I’m aware we’ve never had anything
nicked and would like to keep it that way.
Health
Local doctor: Dr. Agustina Renyut, surgery opposite Pasar Ohoijang where the Ohoililir
bemo terminates (phone: 0916 – 21795, mobile 081 343 023 212) Trained in Munich,
speaks German and English and knows Ohoililir.
Hospitals:
• Catholic hospital - turn right along the main road after getting off the bemo from
Ohoililir at Pasar Ohoijang and then its on the right about 500 m up the main
road towards airport. No x-ray facilities
• public hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum) Langgur – the Accident & Emergency
might seem basic but there is an X-ray and other parts have been modernized.
Jalan Soekarno Hatta.
You have to pay at both hospitals. Some of the doctors speak English but don’t bank
on it – take a bilingual friend.
At risk of being preachy, if you haven’t much experience of riding motorbikes don’t start
in Kei, take an ojek. We had to cart a couple of guests/novice riders to hospital in 2011
and it was a close run thing as to whether they were more traumatized by their injuries
or the facilities. Ditto those macho types who think mozzies wouldn’t dare, and so forgo
tablets, spray, nets etc.
Public Hospital, Soekarno-Hatta str.