Saturday, April 5, 2008

Back in the Land of Smoking Mountains

I'm baaaack
- if a day late -
long and tedious and exhausting story
but when do I ever travel without a hysterical litany of problems?????

Never.

So pleased to be on-line again but have been up since 2 am so will post and then I'm off for a Nana/Traveler Nap.

Hope to visit as many as possible tomorrow.

Thanks for all your messages - most appreciated!!!!
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40 comments:

  1. M.BenautApril 5, 2008 at 2:42 PM

    Yippeeee ! you're back !

    Things have been too quiet 'round these here parts, but.
    I hope you enjoyed the land of Skules and Pules and Cozzzzies an' stuff, but.
    One now has to speak English, if one can remember how, but !!!!

    Welcome home, Jules. We missssed ya.

    Ay? but....

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  2. M.BenautApril 5, 2008 at 2:44 PM

    Seems there is a bit of a fight to get in 1st, but I succeeded. HOWZATT ?

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  3. alicesgApril 5, 2008 at 3:12 PM

    Welcome back Jules. Looking forward to seeing more photos from you. I am back from my vacation too from Korea. Have a nice weekend.

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  4. NevaApril 5, 2008 at 3:18 PM

    Welcome back! hope you catch up and share your story soon! can't wait to hear about the monster bugs and spewing volcano!lol

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  5. JulesApril 5, 2008 at 3:57 PM

    So good to see ya friendly faces!!!!

    M B - for being first a carton of bia and tinned fish is winging it's way to you. It may get there by June - hic!!!!!

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  6. JillyApril 5, 2008 at 4:10 PM

    Welcome back, Jules. And with what a photo! a stunner. Take it easy, rest, look at the view...

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  7. diveApril 5, 2008 at 5:16 PM

    WOOHOOOOOOOOO!
    Welcome home, Jules!
    If you knew how much I'd missed you, you'd back away nervously.
    Hee hee.

    Now fess up; what did you do on your holidays?

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  8. jenanApril 5, 2008 at 5:31 PM

    Popped in to leave you a welcome back message, thinking you would be too tired to hit the keys for a day or so, only to find you've been and gone! But welcome back anyway, and happy holidays to your girls - are they home for the break?

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  9. MarieApril 5, 2008 at 5:57 PM

    Welcome back, dear Jules. We are eager to see your new photos !

    I hope you don't have any pirates around your islands. Have you heard of what happened to a French boat yesterday near Somalia ?

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  10. JulesApril 5, 2008 at 6:04 PM

    Dive - I'm not the nervous type!!!
    I can sum up the time away in a few quick words - work then wine, shopping food & friends. I'm exhausted - definitely too tired to back away!!!!

    Jenan - I didn't have a rest thought I'd better stay up and try and make it to at least 6:30 pm before I jump into bed!!! Yes the girls came back with me.

    Marie - heard only that there was a pirate attack but no details - no problems like that here.

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  11. GMGApril 5, 2008 at 8:13 PM

    Hi Jules, great to see you back and with a gorgeous picture. Must confess that the fireworks were becoming a bit tiresome, though beautiful...
    Hope you had a great time while out; I missed your comments a lot at Blogtrotter, where I’m still strolling around Bilbao. Look forward to reading you back there!
    Have a great weekend!
    Gil

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  12. AnonymousApril 5, 2008 at 8:55 PM

    I must have been in rabaul the same time as you.But to really appreciate the place you Have to stay in a village with the people.I stayed at Rakunai and a trip to the Duke of York islands was outstanding,but again,living with and as the people do Anything else is giving a misrepresented view I think.
    Tony Bevington

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  13. AnonymousApril 5, 2008 at 9:57 PM

    Glad to see you perked up when I came in the door. Nice to see you are back. I am back too.

    I posted my hospital experiences this morning. Hope you can read them.

    Abraham Lincoln in Brookville, Ohio

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  14. ChuckeroonApril 5, 2008 at 10:24 PM

    Thank goodness! At last! How did I survive the black pit of emptyness?

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  15. TomApril 5, 2008 at 10:37 PM

    Great News... look forward to some banter...

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  16. Rick RockhillApril 6, 2008 at 6:58 AM

    Hi there, first time visitor to your blog, I was searching for "mountains" on google and found your site. I like your blog very much!

    stop by and say hi sometime
    -rick

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  17. CaBaCuRlApril 6, 2008 at 8:23 AM

    Jules...isn't it lovely to know how much everyone missed you while you were traipsing around the countryside?? I wonder if M et Mme Benaut's ears were burning when we spoke of them????? (SSShhhh)

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  18. Brian DarceyApril 6, 2008 at 9:04 AM

    Congrats on your blog, Jules. Brings back many memories.
    I lived in Rabaul 1950s 60s & 70s before moving down to Kieta.
    Was Chairman of The Rabaul Town Advisory Council, among other things.
    See my blog for more.

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  19. JulesApril 6, 2008 at 10:10 AM

    Hi All
    Feeling much brighter after a big sleep!!!

    Brian - many thanks for your message!!! I had a look at your blog and love it.
    I'd recommend it to all my fellow bloggers - check it out you'll love it. Great photos and so interesting - will add it to my web links.

    Chuckeroon - oh you smooth-talker you - missed your posts to and am off over there in a minute!!!!

    Hi gmg - good to catch up - hope to visit soon

    Hi Jilly, Jude (great to talk to you in the flesh last week - or was it the week before!!!)

    Tom - hmmmm - I do so love a good banter!!!!!

    Abe - hpe all is well with you - you are a worry!!! Will pop over and see you today.

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  20. JulesApril 6, 2008 at 10:18 AM

    Tony - The mantra of the Daily Photo Blog Family is to post a photo from where you live each day (I do it every second day because I have terrible phone lines and can't visit and post in one day). As my profile says I am an expat living in PNG and I have never professed to show how PNG people live. This is a window into my life and has never meant to be anything else. It is a true representation of my daily life.

    If you look back into my older posts you will see visions from all areas of East New Britain. However if you want a true representation of life in East New Britain you may wish to visit someone else's blog.

    I have lived in PNG for 11 years - 8 of which have been here in ENB - I live here now.

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  21. JulesApril 6, 2008 at 10:36 AM

    Hi Rick - have just been over to visit you - love all your QUIET mountains!! Mine has been very noisy this morning - a few sonic blasts have shaken the house.

    Love your site - such fun!!

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  22. Clueless in BostonApril 6, 2008 at 11:17 AM

    Hope you had a nice holiday. Nice picture too.

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  23. lv2scpbkApril 6, 2008 at 11:28 AM

    Glad to see your back and a beautiful photo to start us out with.

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  24. MegApril 6, 2008 at 12:08 PM

    Heat in Melbourne? Can't imagine... Say, J. Maarten Troost, The Sex Lives of Cannibals (2004), what is it all about?

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  25. George TownboyApril 6, 2008 at 12:19 PM

    What a gorgeous photo!! Welcome back!

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  26. JulesApril 6, 2008 at 3:50 PM

    Hi Meg - if you copy and paste this URL you can read a bit more about the book. Cheers
    http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Lives-Cannibals-Equatorial-Pacific/dp/0767915305

    Hi George - great to be here at last

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  27. Daniel J SantosApril 6, 2008 at 6:17 PM

    welcome back and with a very beautiful image, excellent.

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  28. Gerald (SK14)April 6, 2008 at 7:22 PM

    good to see you back and busy.

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  29. imacApril 6, 2008 at 7:30 PM

    ZZZZZZZZZ you now take,
    in slumberland till awake,
    Bright new day is born,
    So to blogland you are drawn.



    Welcome back Jules. xxx

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  30. TomApril 6, 2008 at 10:30 PM

    Jules I just called back to say how beautiful this new pictures is... what a smile.
    Tom...

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  31. AnonymousApril 6, 2008 at 10:34 PM

    A huge and warm welcome back to you ... I think I can say everyone missed your great photos, lovely posts and constante good mood!

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  32. DentonApril 6, 2008 at 11:12 PM

    Welcome back ... "work then wine, shopping food & friends" ... that can be exhausting. Now that you are home you can get a good nights sleep.

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  33. Ann (MobayDP)April 7, 2008 at 12:26 AM

    Welcome back Jules!

    What? No goats in PG?! I wonder why that is? I thought goats were a staple on every island :)

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  34. CheltenhamdailyphotoApril 7, 2008 at 12:53 AM

    So glad you're back. I can't tell you what a relief it is to get that soothing new photo. Mmmmmm.

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  35. AndreaApril 7, 2008 at 5:17 AM

    Wow, beautiful place. I wish I was there now.

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  36. JulesApril 7, 2008 at 6:59 AM

    Hi All
    Thanks for the welcomne back - missed you all

    Imac - soothed (as Lynn would say) with a poem - how wonderful - poetry gets me every time!!! I am reading Songs of Love and War at the moment - poetry written by Afghan women - it is wonderful!!!!

    Quinto - how sweet. You are the only person who thinks I am in a constant good mood - I usually range from hysterical to slightly snappy most days!!!!

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  37. JulesApril 7, 2008 at 7:01 AM

    Tom - This Side Up - hmmmm - let me think about that for awhile.

    Sweet talk will get you everything!!!

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  38. Jane Hards PhotographyApril 7, 2008 at 10:43 AM

    Wonderful light. Very peaceful

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  39. AnonymousApril 7, 2008 at 4:05 PM

    I am heading to Rabaul on Saturday with the family and mother inlaw who is visiting us here in Port Moresby. Since deciding to go, we have been checking out your site on a regular basis. Really enjoy it and just can't wait to get there and see it for ourselves

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  40. JulesApril 7, 2008 at 5:59 PM

    anonymous - so glad this blog has been of help - enjoy your stay!!!!

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Thanks for popping in - love your visits!!