Chakra, Pete and I took 2 days to drive up the east coast of Sumatra from Medan. The overloaded truck kept breaking down and we did running repairs. It was great seeing all the different farming systems and architecture along the way.

Banda Aceh is looking much better. In the city, the rubble is mostly small stuff now although there are still some rather oddly tilted buildings from the quake sitting on crushed foundations. It's the wet season, so the tsunami zone has turned into a swamp. Malaria and dengue fever are rife here.

We went to Lamsujen two days ago for the first look. About two hours south of Banda Aceh we turned left off the fractured highway up into a beautiful valley. The land is fantastic, a real garden of Eden. Although the soil is rich and a raging river runs through it, much of the farmland is vacant. As in many rural areas around the world, the young people all want to go to the cities. We met a few land holders and surveyed the various plots of land on offer. We need a bit of time to consult with the community so everybody understands what we are here for.

We found a deserted house on the edge of the village and in a few days we'll move our gear into it on a probationary lease. Once we've signed for the land, we'll also sign a year lease for the house. We will start vegetable gardens, fencing and a small nursery immediately to let the local people know we mean business. With a few renovations, the house will be large enough to accommodate us and a small office, as well acting as our temporary warehouse.

The river flowing through the valley is fantastic. All the kids have inner tubes and white-water raft down the river each day by the dozens. It's a far cry from the dead tsunami zone just three kilometers from our site.

I'll try and do a weekly report once we settle in. We're definitely in the right place for a sustainable village training centre. Cheers, Steve