This place is the sunset capital of the world. Every afternoon from my verandah, as I look across the water, there is a sunset I could post the next morning. But the other afternoon on our walk, I thought – Wow this is something special! But I didn’t have the camera – Murphy’s Law again!!! So I raced home and grabbed it.
The walls of this house are made from kanda (cane). The trunks are split and beaten then dried and woven into panels.
These bilums (bags) are sold at the market and are made from palm fronds.
They are used by the local Tolai men more than the women, so I affectionately call them Tolai Briefcases.
It looks like someone had a bad day at golf, too many bias at the Ralum Country Club and misjudged the car park exit.
What more do you need for a perfect day? Is there anything else you want me to bring???
You’ll see many people, dressed in their Sunday best, walking to church today. On the winding road that takes you up to Kerevat, you will find this simple church - St Michael’s Catholic Church, Nanuk.
My old Sunday School teacher (she was probably only 42 at the time) used to tell us that a church was the people not the building; so maybe these parishioners aren’t missing out on as much as first appears.
Emma Coe, born in Samoa in 1850 of mixed American/Samoan parentage, was educated in
She was an exceptionally smart business woman expanding her empire to trade stores, several plantations and shipping. She enjoyed a lavish lifestyle including legendary parties in her mansion Gunantambu (seen above). In particular she liked men’s company, acquiring a number of husbands and lovers over her life-time. It was here in
Before World War I broke out, she sold up and moved to
The annual New Britain Open Golf Tournament starts today at the Ralum Country Club, and runs over the weekend. The NBO is the longest running golf tournament in PNG; run every year for 55 years!! Golfers from all over PNG fly in for it including a number of professional golfers from
I has been quite humid during the day this week and we have been getting storms and lightning building up out at sea late in the afternoon.
Two things to celebrate – yesterday was a big day!
My blog had its 50th post and I now have my Open Water Diving Certificate!! Both have been a real challenge at my age. Both have found me diving into the unknown, but I am hooked on both and will be out there in the deep-blue-depths, and in cyber-space, as often as I can.
Thanks to Bruce and Erin for these photos.
I have been unable to connect to my server since last week and am using an alternative one which is connecting me at such low speeds that it is taking me 40 minutes to post every morning – that is with the caption and photo pre-organized!!!
This bia (beer) store was closed when I came past the other day. So I am wondering if this sign is a little misleading!!!!
When you go by boat anywhere around here, you usually have a dolphin escort. Sometimes the sea is alive, as far as you can see, with them.
It‘s Sunday and these kids like nothing better than diving off the Vunapope pier.
Are they missing out or not?
We call it Murphy’s Law!!! You see a spectacular sight and you don’t have your camera with you. I bet this has happened to you too!
While we were away last month sailing, a storm blew up. It had quite spectacular cloud formations and I took a number of photos of it before leaving the catamaran and heading to the island. (see July 8 post)
The elusive duk duk (pronounced "dook" as in book) has been spotted not far from my house!!!
This tree was decorated in 2005 for Chanel College's 50th anniversary celebrations which co-incidentally coincided with my 50th. I was quite chuffed when a huge 50th sign in stones was set on the hill, and trees in the area were decorated. How thoughtful of them, but really who wants to be reminded?
I'm still looking for the duk duk so stayed tuned!!!!
Still at CPL (Coconut Products Ltd), this is Tovarua Plantation Beach where we often have picnics and go swimming and diving. On this day the divers had to trek far out over the low tide flats to get to the reef.
Swimming pools are few and far between here. I think there are only three in the whole province. This photo was taken at the CPL (Coconut Products Limited) Pool at the Guria Club, Ulaveo (outside Kokopo). My two daughters were home from school and swimming there.
I miss them terribly and to make it worse one of my daughters is sick at the moment and I feel terrible I am not there!!! So this post is for them.
The old market (bung) is falling down around our ears so thanks to the Gazelle Restoration Authority and finance from the World Bank, a new market is being built across the road. It is looking quite spectacular so I went for a closer look.
I went back on Sunday when it was quieter and the workers had gone, and took more photos. I will go back and photograph it when it is finished and in operation.
This is our local radio station RADIO EAST NEW BRITAIN – RENB. A local painter revamped the front so it is quite a land-mark now. On it you can see some of the local cultural icons of this province, including the frangipani, Bainings Fire Dancers, and the Duk Duks. I will introduce you to these in up-coming posts.
You can also see on the sign, that this building was built by the Japanese. After the 1994 eruption many buildings were rebuilt in Kokopo (which is further around the bay) with aid-money from other countries.
Here in PNG we don’t have a lot of creepy crawlies, but what we do have is BIG!! This rhinoceros beetle was downstairs yesterday, so I thought I’d take its portrait!! It is attached itself to my thong when I tried to turn it over. We often only see them around the place when they are on their last legs - this one was on its back and not well!!!
They are quite harmless and apart from their ferocious appearance don’t bite or even charge, but make quite a loud hissing noise when you touch them. Kids in
Yesterday in the late afternoon, I played croquet at my neighbours, who live just down the beach from me. They have friends visiting at the moment from Australia, and we had such a good time. We finished the afternoon with what else but a Pimms on the lawn.
How civilised!!
Time to head back....... and as we turn to leave, we see this group of coconut trees with interesting trunks. As you drove past they look like they are moving. What do they remind you of?
There are quite a lot of trees and stumps on the beach today that must have been washed down the rivers during the big rains. They actually help hold the sand on the beach and make good subjects for photographs.
We’re there! I hope it was worth the bumpy ride.
The first photo is as you round the corner and see the water – I am on the top of a steep drop so I can't avoid the trees. I am worried the trunks will spoil the photo, but it kinda looks like a view through a window – maybe??
The second picture is taken from down on the sand looking back towards the way we came in.
We may have to sit on the beach and have a glass of wine and a chat – it is probably too dangerous to swim.
Unlike on a freeway in the city where you would have a huge overhead sign stating RIVEN 1 km – here in Rabaul we have bent coconut trees to sign the way.
We turn off the main road just before we get to the airport. The road is not sealed and can get quite muddy after rain.
I have found pot holes to be slightly more tolerable when they have reflections in them to photograph.
s 
It is Sunday here and many local people will be dressing in their Sunday best and heading off to church. The Catholics, Seven Day Adventists and Baptists have quite a hold on the area but there are Anglican and United churches here too. This is the Uniting Church at Raluana, off the Rabaul/Kokopo road. It is on the beachfront in a lovely spot, and I have always admired it as we have driven past.
When we stopped to take a look and get some photos, I found this wonderful little haus win with the bell in it. Obviously the bell ringer doesn't like heights.
Half buried in the ash, are the remains of the holding cells for the Rabaul Court House that collapsed under the weight of the ash in the 1994 eruptions.
It is very eerie walking into the tiny cells and imagining how frightening it would have been in there that day.
But I guess in times of volcanic eruption - jail is probably a safe place to be!!! It is the only building standing in that part of town.
This is the Star Dancer, a luxurious 40 metre, liveaboard dive ship which sails the islands of PNG. When it is in Rabaul it parks out the front of my place!!!
I have been on board for a cocktail party - I guess they got sick of me jumping up and down on my verandah with my wine glass waving and yelling at them - and it is very, very nice. Would be a great way to see PNG, even if you didn't dive.
Click on this link and see all the details.
Even dogs can “go troppo” up here. You’ll often see dogs stretched out snoozing in hammocks, fishing from banana boats or snoring under coconut trees.
The bit village dog (related to the Asian dog) means she eats anything including apple cores, pawpaw and vegemite on toast;
the German Shepherd bit means she has a soft coat and is very loyal and affectionate;
and the Aussi Red Heeler bit means she is a lunatic….. I’m joking!!! ……is very, very protective, very territorial and snaps at people’s rear ends.
My daughter took this photo. Hi MM!!!
Bon Appetite to all daily city bloggers!!!! And yes I am here in one piece – the bomb has gone. No it didn’t blow up. Some men in a padded van with padded undies came and took it away!!!!!
Back to breakfast -
It is said that - When in
