PNG

I am just back from a 10-day adventure in PNG with my family and it was absolutely AMAZING! My dad lived there first as a patrol officer and then as a politician in the 60s and 70s...I have grown up listening to his stories of this beautiful country and so we all decided that it was finally time that the rest of us experienced it too. I learned how to shuck corn, dig for peanuts, and carry a 10 kilo string bag on my head, while my brother was appointed village chief! I also, then, experienced the huge gender inequality (at least at the village level) which is such an ingrained part of their lifestyle: the women have to wash downstream in a slow-moving part of the river which men frequently walk past, while the men wash upstream under a secluded waterfall; women have to farm, tend, pick, clean, peel, cook, and serve all the food (except for yams which only men are allowed to dig...but then they hand them over to the women to clean, cook, etc!). Despite this, however, it was a wonderful experience and, because our trip had political undertones, we met so many passionate, outspoken, and intelligent men and women who knew exactly what the problems were in their country and had clear and well-thought out ideas on how to solve these problems and were not afraid to make themselves heard. That, in particular, was truly inspiring and refreshing especially after years in China (where no one is allowed to speak out like that) and Australia (where people are ostensibly allowed to speak out but political apathy is so widespread that no one really seems to). It was easily one of the most memorable weeks in my life and is definitely a place that i would love to return to and, hopefully, see improvements to basic services and infrastructure. When I can, I will add some photos to this post, but until then you'll just have to be imaginative!

Xmas, New Year & everything in between

Well after a wonderful and unusually calm Xmas, which Boobie spent with my family, i am quietly recovering as my new fat cells (a present to me from the Xmas pudding) sit happily on my belly. I got lots of useful travel-related presents to keep me safe, dry, and healthy, some good books, and a little zippy digital camera which you can thank for the photos accompanying this post ... I am still trying to figure out the clarity tho cuz it seems much more pixelated than it should...but, all you traditionalists out there like me, don't fret - I am not in any way abandoning my good old film camera, which I will be using for all of my good, artsy photos while the digital is just for going out and snappy happy pics when it just isn't convenient to lug my film camera around. We also had a rockin' new year's eve at our spencer st apartment and then we staggered across to Waterfront City (or was it New Quay? or just Docklands?? who knows!) to watch the fireworks by the water. I must admit that I have always dismissed Docklands as a lifeless new development zone without any character, but I was very pleasantly surprised - then again, maybe it just seemed great cuz it was new year's eve and we had been drinking for about 5 hours! But by far the biggest thing that has happened recently is that, as most of you know anyways cuz you were at the airport, Boobie has left Oz and is now working for his uncle in Singapore, but will be traveling to Madagascar and around SE Asia on business for the next 6 months. I don't think he reads my blog very often since we talk on the phone everyday but if you do, Boobie - I love u and miss u so so much! And it is officially his first day of work today so three cheers for Boobie, everyone! Hip hip hooray etc (can't be bothered, but u know the drill). Anyway that is all for the major updates for the moment...apparently I may be going to PNG for 10 days with my family from the 19th-28th of Jan which will be amazing, but also means that everything i had to do in 4 weeks, I now have to do in 2!! fun fun! Ah well, all will work out eventually. Big big xmas and new year hugs to everyone and I will keep you posted on when my going-away party is likely to be but the options right now seem to be either the 30th jan or the 1st feb, so let me know!