Good view from the netball court
Good view from the netball court
Much like my home town of Ararat, everyone who's anyone in Alotau owns a ute. Here though, they're the Japanese brand one-tonners rather than the Fords or Holdens. Rather than the roo bar, the 34 aerials and the R.M. Williams sticker, the accessory of choice here is a bench in the back for your mates to sit on,
Mmmm... Banana & clam on a stick
They've been spoiling me. I've visited the east-most tip of the PNG mainland and wandered the relics of the region's original island missionary town. I've had a chance to tour the various WWII memorials and snorkeled around the wreck of an old coal ship.
Adding yummy stuff to the mumu
A mumu here is not like Homer's flowery dress, but a delicious method of cooking where huge bundles of food are wrapped in banana leaves and let them bake for hours between white-hot stones.
Havn't seen many of us dimdim (pale folks) around. I feel like I'm making a contribution to the community though --- providing something for the bored kids to stare at while they're being dragged along the market with mum. You know how little kids fall over because they keep walking while staring at something in the opposite direction? That happens.
Little coconut monkey at Nigila
I used to fancy myself as a great tree climber. Gave up that dream after watching a 5 year-old scoot up a 10 metre coconut tree and start kicking the coconuts down to us.
Hangin with the boys of Samari
Really getting to like the the smell of DEET (mossie repellant). That might be partly because it masks the smell of mouldy clothes so well. Did my washing a few days ago and by the time the clothes had dried, they smelled worse than to begin with. Easy solution to that!
Wish you were here,
Ben ;)
My room... nah just kidding
On the way to Tullamarine last Thursay morning, Tim joked that I wouldn't stand out much in the Land of the Fuzzy Hairs. Man, there's some seriously HUGE afros up this way!
Alotau's huge Saturday market
I'm staying in Alotau for four weeks on a volunteer trip with ABV. The plan is to sip coulau (juicy young coconuts - 20c from the market) while providing some web design training for a local accomodation business called Bayviews Apartments.
Tree climbing is a little more challenging
Alotau is just a tropical country town. Even though we're pretty bloody close to the equator, I never really expected the lush green veg, coconut palms and banana trees everywhere you turn. The salt-water is warm and the fruits are tastier than any you've ever... well, um... tasted.
Yeah sunk the canoe
The place has near on the highest rainfall in PNG (avg 2.5 metres a year). The low-lying grey clouds roll in every now and then to give the town a good drenching. The climate is a lot like a bathroom after a good long shower. For the first time in my life I've had to turn to the bible. Hard to believe yes, but in this kind of weather my laptop really would overheat if I didn't have something to prop it up on.
Sunset over Alotau
What I've seen of PNG couldn't be further from the negative publicity that it seems to get so much of. The people are gorgeous and friendly and the town has a laid-back and peaceful feel. Tourism is fairly limited in the town so sourcing postcards will be a bit of a problem (note the excuse Grandma). Catch you all soon!
Ben.