TIMOR-LESTE REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN SURVEY
A DIPLOMATIC DAY

After giving generously of his time Minister Pinto agreed to pose for photographs with the team and then we departed. Sadly Paulo, a valued member of our Phase VIII team, was unable to make the occasion but Laca was there to represent our important Timorese continguent.

The team with Foreign Minister Pinto (4th from right) in his office

After the visit to the Foreign Ministry we returned to TLH to pack and complete the expedition winding-down phase. There was also some shopping to be done.

Then in the evening we set out for the US Embassy to meet with Ambassador Fergin and other Embassy officials and visitors. We have been to the Embassy at the end of several phases of this project and are always made very welcome. Ambassador Fergin had lined up a barbeque with American dishes to give her compatriots and visitors a taste of the United States - the chocolate brownies went down well with our students.

We had a very pleasant evening, the Ambassador and her colleague Jeff Borenstein are already very conversant with our project. The "adult table" had a lot to discuss! Then we all posed in front of the American flag (4th July is almost upon us) and then in front of a frieze of the American West. Both photographs are included on the next page.

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