Happy Xmas

In Madang there are two laws rigorously obeyed – Nambawan – it is only allowed to rain at night, and given that we get three times the amount of rain as the UK that’s amazing. And so nightly tropical storms with thunder and lightning that can shake the bed and daytime sunshine with a well watered landscape.  Law number 2 – pedestrians have priority at zebra crossings so people just walk out and traffic screams to a halt.  The only police on foot that I have seen are the traffic police at rush hour stopping the flow of pedestrians on crossings to give the traffic a chance.

The week before Christmas here reminds me of the time in the uk when we were supposed to work on New Years Day and the papers and politicians all fulminating about the lazy workers and all the lost production until they got the message and made it a National holiday. About half the staff are in and less every day, I doubt anyone will be there Thursday afternoon.

So, a happy xmas to my readers, keep warm or cool as appropriate  

 sunrise from my compound

 shoe hanging, a local sport

 up-market illegal stlement - greenery, electicity and water supply

Politicians and Prostitutes

Was it an ancient Chinese curse or something from the Hobbit about living in interesting times? No matter, it’s certainly interesting times for me here.  The Prime Minister seems to have been forced out of office, at least temporarily by the Ombudsman who wants an investigation into his apparent forgetfulness in making any tax returns for over ten years.  Before going the PM was quick enough to appoint his old friend, the Governor of Madang Province to be chief justice which may help him as the case progresses.  So, back in Madang do we get a more liberal Governor?  One serious contender I’ve been introduced to is to the right of Ghengis Khan and would treat all the impoverished residents of the illegal shanty towns the way some people in the UK would treat gypsies.

On the home front 3 teenage prostitutes wanted somewhere to stay the night since “it’s not safe on the streets at night” and probably wanted some money as well.  They slept on the floor, they didn’t get money and I didn’t get any sex but they were amenable and returned a few days later with a pile of food which they proceeded to cook a feast with.  One came back a week later with a traditional headdress  from her family’s home region for me to ‘take back to England’ but I believe they have all left Madang now for xmas with their families – I certainly hope so, I don’t need to build a bad reputation so early in my PNG career

Back in the office an application for a new Bank in the town centre amazingly includes a ramp for disabled customers – it is far too steep but can probably be changed and may set a precedent for the future. Of course it may already be a legal requirement, simply ignored like other laws but we will see what we will see what we can do!

 flowerey thing

 Madang Harbour

 Sek Harbour - Industrial marine park and the Adlebert hills

 Siar village on the mainland