Sky Watch - Escape

The sky says, "Escape!"

......and so we do!!

Escape with Tom and his Sky Watch sailors from around the world!!!

Binatang bilong Neva

This binatang (beetle) was downstairs yesterday clinging onto a pot base. I immediately thought of Neva who hates bugs.

I have put a 10 toya coin beside it so you can see how huge the thing is. Benson the cat walked around it and said, "Excuse me Sir!!" before pelting upstairs out of its way!!!

Not sure what type it is, maybe Beetlebloodybiggus?? We do see them around quite a bit. I should go and google him.

Anyhow Neva but this one is for you!!!

Mushroom Island

After all that food, it is time for a walk.

This is the island out the front of my place that you see in lots of my photos (last Friday’s Sky Watch Reflections). Chuckeroon thought it was a bush growing in the water so I decided a short walk to the island was needed to clear up the misunderstanding.

Our girls call it Mushroom Island but it is known locally as Snake Island, as there are few stripy sea snakes living there (they are harmless Neva!!!)

Looks weird but tastes good

Well I did it. I asked the gardener at school to go bush and find me some banana flowers. Ten minutes later he triumphantly appeared with two very exotic phallic-looking things. The staff , after falling about laughing (along the lines of “What is this silly white meri going to do with those??), gave me lots of instructions on how to cook them.

So I came home and my neighbour ,who comes from Malaysia, saw me with them and said, “What are you going to do with those?” She then proceeded to tell me what to do with them aka Malaysia.

Totally confused by all this, I ditched the recipe on my post and went for a combination of Tolai and Malaysian, and came up with this.

In a wok cook mustard seeds and cumin, then add the chopped flowers (Cut open the flowers and discard all the red leaves. Chop up like an onion).

Add a chopped onion and cook for a few minutes.

Add coconut cream, curry leaves (which grow in my garden, but if you can’t get fresh use dried) and chilli. Cook until soft.

When it was finished it was purple

- which worried me a little, so off I went to my neighbour who said, “No worries it will do that.” She soaks it in watered down yoghurt as soon as she cuts it to keep it white. So next time I will do that.

She tasted it, which was very brave of her, because I wasn’t game enough too, and pronounced it was good but it needed more chili – she always says that!!!

I took it to dinner at a friend’s last night and they ate it all up, said it was great.......

.....yeah well we did have quite a few bottles of wine and we were eating by candle light - it does look horrible doesn't it??

But we are all still alive this morning.......

Sky Watch Reflections

I must admit I can be quite lazy with Sky Watch. All I have to do is walk down to my front yard every day and just point and shoot. Mother Nature always puts on a wonderful show for me.

It was quite dark by the time I had finished my walk and I had taken a pile of pink/red sunset photos, but this is the one I liked best. This is looking towards Rabaul and yes most of that "cloud" is ash and you can follow it down to the volcano. The ripples were caused by me splashing my foot - I thought it would add to the photo.

Join Tom and his celestial family on Sky Watch

Banana flower

This is where bananas come from - a tree. Don't laugh some kids in a class I once had in Australia didn't know!!!!

Bananas are a good source of carbohydrate and PNG has the world's second highest per capita consumption of bananas. Banana trees are almost as prolific here in ENB as the coconut palm. Everyone seems to have them in their garden. Buying bananas in the market is very confusing, as there are so many unfamiliar varieties. I didn't buy a banana for months until someone I knew helped me tell the difference between the eating varieties and the plantains that are the cooking varieties.

Hanging underneath this bunch is a banana flower, which are eaten in PNG.

The rounded spike is the male part of the flower and to use it you need to cut away the red petals and use the firm inner part. They are usually eaten raw and can be prepared in the "Philippine way", (I have posted a recipe on the comments page if anyone is interested).

You can also make wine from bananas but unless I was stuck on a desert island I can't imagine
I would ever be in such a desperate state of alcohol deprivation to warrant the effort. However if you are ever going on a long sea voyage in a small boat you may want to ring me before you leave.

Not able to post today as I had my usual phone line troubles. It seems better tonight so here's hoping!!!

Yes we have planti bananas

With all my blogger friends coming to visit I will need to buy more food!!

Bananas are a meal in themselves and taste wonderful here - must be the warm sun and great views they have.

Banana leaves are used in mumu (cooking in the ground on hot stones) Here kaukau (sweet potato) is drenched in coconut milk before being wrapped in banana leaves.

I love to use banana leaves to serve food on too - looks so exotic.