Monday, December 17, 2007

Visiting hours over

We are still in the Japanese Underground Hospital - see last post.

A rabbit warren of tunnels runs off the main tunnel, some now half caved-in and some filled with water. The injured soldiers were packed in bunks two and three levels high, with the soldier on the top bunk only centimeters from the roof of the tunnel. Imagine their fear, lying there in the dark as the bombs went off above them, the deafening noise as each explosion shook the very walls and ceiling of their tomb-like shelter .

Air vents snake out to the hillside allowing air but minimal light in. Bats, small birds and flying foxes now call the tunnels home and fly up and out when disturbed by your torch light. It is quite disconcerting when they fly over your head!!!

A huge store of ammunition found in one of the tunnels lies rusting in the damp.

Not a place you want to stay in for too long, so we all climbed up the long tunnel to the fresh air with renewed vigor.

11 comments:

Marcel said...

Very interesting! Thanks for posting this. I always enjoy seeing the little bit of your corner of the world. You have a very fun blog to checkout.

Jules said...

Thanks marcel - life is always interesting to say the least here!!! We had a big storm last night and half the town has no phones, computers, power or cable TV - what fun!!! We were spared out here this time thank goodness!1

quintarantino said...

Some more interesting photos about a place that might be nice to see, but not to stay. Even so, I would vote on the third one. Almost spooky atmosphere there.

M.Benaut said...

You are slowly revealing to the world, so many secrets that many of us have never suspected.
These posts are simply fantastic.
I wonder how many more secrets P.N.G. has to offer ?

dive said...

Yikes, Jules!
With all that unexploded ordnance down there it is a pretty scary place.

Tom said...

I would have had to go down and look in there also, but I think it would have moved me somewhat... my imagination runs away at times and I think it would have done here.

Donna said...

I think y'all are ALL more brave than I......Stay safe sweetie!

Marie said...

Oh I like the photos with the people! They have very expressive faces.

imac said...

Wow, these posts are very interesting and shots are brill.


Urban Jungle post 4 now up.

Anonymous said...

Fascinating.

I sent your blog link to Japanese friends. I heard from one yesterday who said he visited you blog and is sad for all the death and injury suffered on both sides.

Squirrel said...

the more I look at your blogs, the more I am thinking my next vacations will be ...guess where? I usually go to much cooler climes for vacations, but I am really wanting to see Viet Nam and Rabaul now.