Tropical Delight

Yesterday we enjoyed a little reprieve from the demands of our course schedule, and spent the day at the ocean.  The photos don’t do justice to the turquoise blue of the water that day.  The kids spent the day hunting for shells, crabs and sea cucumbers.  I’m told that just beyond that island in the photo is a coral reef and drop off not unlike the one in “Finding Nemo”.  We did take a canoe out to explore that little island, and imagined how we’d survive if we were marooned there, but I spent most of my time just sitting on that tree listening to the water lap against the shore.

Creepy Crawlies

Sooner or later you knew I’d have to do a blog on PNG’s share of creepy crawlies.  I’d say they have more than a fair share of them!

Someone found this guy hiding out in a woodpile.  I’m glad it wasn’t me.  He was about 8 inches long!

This leaf requires a second glance!

These 4-inch long millipedes were almost as common as dirt.

This non-venomous snake became the school pet. The kids named him “Forest”.

Hauskuk Weekend

This weekend we started living out of our newly constructed “hauskuk” (literally house cook).  We’re quite pleased with how it turned out.  The open construction provides ample ventilation should our variable temperature, wood-fired stove by chance smoke and attempt to asphyxiate those inside.  We have our dining room table with only the finest of bamboo benches and a lino-covered eating surface to make clean-up a snap.  The kitchen counter converts quickly from food prep area to dual basin dish-washing area.  And don’t forget that patriot touch of a fluttering PNG flag.

Who Needs Delivery?

Today we practiced cooking over an open fire.  Not a completely new experience since we like to go camping, but then again I’ve never tried making pizza over a campfire!  See that golden brown crust?  The key is to keep your fire at a constant 400F.  Yeah right….  Move over Pizza Hut!  This PNG bush version features SPAM look-a-like and “cheese” that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.  Yummy!

The All-Natural Kitchen

We are amazed by what our local friends can make out the natural resources found in the jungle.  Almost every plant to be found has a practical use.  Coconut and sago palm leaves and bamboo feature heavily in the construction of their homes—from the floor to the roof and even the walls as well.

We got a little practice building from bush materials too.  Soon we will be cooking our own meals over an open fire on the weekends, so each family is building their own “hauskuk” (cooking house).  We cheated a little using a tarp for the roof and some synthetic raffia to tie everything together, but as you can see the rest is all natural.

We’re also learning that right after air, water and food, the machete (or bush knife as they’re called here) is essential to life here in PNG.  We’re getting pretty handy with them ourselves, but we have long way to go compared to the Papua New Guineans who seem to be born holding a bush knife.  <wink>

Over the River and Through the Jungle

One aspect of our training is to make us proficient in the main method of transportation in Papua New Guinea—walking.    There are very few roads in PNG, especially in the mountains.  Hiking on often narrow, slippery, jungle trails with logs for bridges over streams and rivers is usually the method used get from point A to point B.  So in order that we might experience this part of everyday life for the average Papua New Guinean, (and prepare us for our future stay in a village) our whole family participates in the weekly hikes.  Sometimes the kids hike with the us, and sometimes they hike separately with their teachers.  We’ve found they do so much better when their parents aren’t around to complain to.  <grin>

Mountaintop Experience

Like I mentioned before, Madang is on the coast of PNG so it’s HOT!  Fortunately, POC takes place on top of a nearby mountain.  The area is called Nobnob.  Besides being significantly cooler with lovely ocean breezes, we get to enjoy spectacular sunrises almost every day!  (And, yes, we are up to witness our share since breakfast is at 7:00 AM, and some of our duties begin at 6:00 AM.)