Sky Watch - at last Tom!!!!

Yesterday wasn't a good day - was feeling very low. The ash was falling like rain - yes we thought the wind had changed but it was back this way and it was horrid. My internet connection was down and the girls are going back on Sunday!!!

When I finally got on this morning though and posted this photo taken off my deck last Monday evening it made me feel better. I really do have the most wonderful view and I am going to sit out there now with a gin (to calm me) and soak it all in, well maybe later in the day- it is only 10 in the morning!!!

This panorama wasn't planned but when a saw the photos I managed to fit two together with some snipping and blending of the edges, however I didn't touch the colour - this is exactly how it looked. If you click on it, it should enlarge and you can get a better idea of how stunning it was.

The phone lines are still appalling and it has taken me ages to try and upload these photos so I may not get to visit many of you - stuff it I think I'll just go and have that gin now!!!

Join Skywatch here at Tom's Blog

Views of Port Moresby thru glass

,I have been in Port Moresby a bit lately so thought I'd post a couple of photos of the capital of PNG that HWDB took through a fixed-glass pane window in the Crown Plaza Hotel (hence the quality!!). I usually don't take my camera because when I go for work there is no opportunity to sight-see, but this time we were on the way back from holidays so there was a camera with us.

Port Morseby is a busy, sprawling port but has all the problems of most 3rd-world capitals. The urban drift has lead to large numbers of unemployed people in unserviced and crime-ridden settlement areas. It is isolated from the rest of the country though and the only way in is by air or ship. There is talk of a new highway linking the highlands, but local Port Morsebians are not happy about making the capital even more accessible to people leaving their villages for the Bright Lights. When I was down last week one of the local people told me there was 80% unemployment.

Port Moresby is situated in a rain-shadow and is a lot drier than the rest of the country. In the dry season it is often arid and dusty, but at the moment heavy rains have left it lush and green.
It is set along some beautiful coastline and many people have boats and go fishing and diving in the stunning waters.

I do like the place - shopping and restaurants are good and the buzz of the place is quite exciting for a girl from a quiet tropical island!!!

A rope is all you need ...

Late on Sunday afternoon we stopped between Kokopo and Rabaul to photograph the sunset. While we were there we could hear children squealing with delight. We followed the sounds and found them swinging on a rope over the water.

As we got back in the car, four children walked past and we said hello and began to chat. They wanted us to take their photo so He-Who-Doesn't-Blog leaned over and snapped them through the car window. He was most disappointed when later at home he saw that the little girl was out of focus. But I still think it is a wonderful shot considering the constraints.

Papuan New Guinea children are just so delightful. They have the innocence and the joy of life in their smiles and their eyes. I just love them.

Can you tell which children are related? Not difficult is it?

Umbrella and surprise encounter

This young boy was clutching his umbrella and daring anyone to dislodge it. I thought he looked so photogenic.


Sorry this is late - I was unable to post while in Port Moresby, so have just walked in from the airport and sat down.

An amazing blogger story though from my trip. I was on the plane this morning and this woman looked at me and smiled, and then came over and said "You wouldn't be Jules would you?" I must have looked slightly agog as she explained that she had left a message on my blog last week and guessed I'd be on that flight so was looking out for me. She and her family were flying over for a short holiday and had been researching the place using my blog. I was just so tickled pink to meet her. We chatted on and off on the flight (she was sitting in front of me) and I hope to keep in touch.

Isn't blogging just great!!!!

Pumps

This service station in Kokopo sells kero (kerosine) from the bouser. The local people use it for their stoves and their lanterns. Many people have no power and those that do are often caught short with frequent power outages. Luckily we are on automatic generator here. The sound of a generator chugging in the background is one that we have grown used to.

This refuel station, now stands lonely and abandoned.

I am flying to Port Moresby tomorrow for work. Hopefully I can post from there on Friday. I will be back on Saturday.

A plethora of water transport

Took this photo after diving one day at the resort next door. When I got it home I realised how many modes of water transport I had in it, including the truck/tractor tyre, which in Australia is one of our most popular water toys.

Do you use these at the beach?

This is a banana boat, and is the main form of water transport around here. It is the only way the people from the numerous islands here can get to the mainland to get their supplies.

They are notoriously over-loaded, lacking in basic safety equipment and often overturn in bad weather. I see them heading off, usually in the late afternoon, heading for the Duke of Yorks, and cross my fingers that they all make it safely.

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!!!!