Karkar - second part [before I forget!!!]

A more leisurely start to the day and not as stiff as I had expected to be! It was to be my first visit to the High School. There is one road that runs all the way around the island and it says in lonely planet that it takes 4 hours to drive round. [By the way I have just found that the volcano is 1831m high!!]. Now here there are no PMVs but any vehicle will stop and pick you up for free! So at about 8:30 am a vehicle came to pick us up from one of the plantations on the island [all three owned by white skins] and I took the chance to climb in front and let the fellows climb on the open back which was a good move as it rained!!

The school is in pleasant setting and is the first I have seen with two storey classrooms. Lovely views of the sea as well, not that they notice such beauty I'm sure!

Very interesting meeting with the head who I have only met once before. I thought it was going to be a bit one sided but then he opened up and told me all about the problems he was facing. A bit too confidential for here but worrying to say the least.

We then drove back in the schools brand new truck, very posh. Stopped to buy a cold coke which was most welcome as I was trying to get my sugar level up and fluids inside me. Lunch was noodles! I'd let Ben do the food shopping and that's about his limit! After lunch we walked to the Primary School [they go up to Grade 8] where we met some teachers and I was able to tell them how good the girls' English was which pleased them and yes they knew all about our climb! I walked back to the Guest House while Ben did a session with the teachers, and had a good long read.

During the afternoon some men called round with another tuna that they promptly filleted for me. I then decided I'd better sort out the washing up and set to scrubbing pans which had burn marks on from the high gas flame which was hard to regulate. Of course then the water went off and I was not prepared to pump! When Ben arrived back I got him to do it! Marshall's Auntie heard him and came to take over and he let her!!!!By this time I had brought the pans out to rinse off all the soap. Well she was round me like a shot and took over. She asked for steel wool which the house didn't have and as quick as a flash she went home and came back with some leaves, yes leaves and used them as steel wool!!! No wonder their pans are so shiny it was amazing. Our guest house manager and his family arrived to visit bearing bilums for each of us and so Auntie disappeared and brought me one as well! Took photos, will be on BLOG later. Marshall by this time had gone home as there was to be a family gathering which Auntie and manager explained all about it to us. His brother's wife is not looking after his mother which is what should happen [oh dear how would some of us fare!!?] So it had to be decided if she should be sent away and he got another wife!! Must cause problems when you live in the same village!!

So then to cook Tuna again by torch light as the generator had not been fixed. After dinner Ben and I are cleaning teeth in the kitchen sink, too sinks!! When he squeals! A mouse went over his foot! Remember he is a 6' 6''giant!!! We took all the torches and a tiny lamp up to read having had a lesson on how to light a kerosene lamp [ he failed, I didn't!!]. Decided it was impossible to read in the light so were going to call it a day when Lemus, manager called his name.He came and sat on the top of the stairs and talked and talked. Eventually we got him to leave! Not before he'd got Ben's mobile number! [He called Ben on Monday night at 1am!!!

Still no Marshall. At about midnight I heard footsteps and a torch light and called his name and yes it was him. Called Ben to open the door as I said the lock was difficult for me!!! There was no way I was going to meet that liklik rat!!

Slept well and up to get the boat at 7:30 am. That was the plan but not the same one as the boat man! He came at 9am. Big farewell committee which was lovely. Off we went, well not far as we had to pay up so that they could buy fuel!

Then went down the coast to pick up another passenger who never appeared and finally we were off. Very calm water which pleased Ben who actually sat up and looked!!! Middle of the way we stopped to see what was wrong with another boat. Engine cover off and a perplexed looked on the skipper's face. So our skipper jumped on board to help and we left him there! Then we saw loads of birds swooping around so off towards them! Fishing lines came out, just a hook and a line!! We caught three which I found really exciting. YesI brought one home, Ben declined! So I have had 5 tuna given me in under a week and very fresh from the sea!

A PMV was at Kubugam and so we loaded up. Marshall had loads of sacks of veg from Mum!! Ben and I were put in the front and they dropped me in the Lodge car park just before 12 noon!

I showered and I needed it I can assure you and in desperate need of salad I went to the restaurant! Yes you guessed NO Lettuce!! Why? The Highlands has been cut off by a big landslide! Our driver I have since heard has had toleave the VSO vehicle up in The Highlands and get a PMV to the landslide area, walk across and pick up a PMV the other side!! This is PNG and I love it!

Workshops every day since I returned and also next week and then I am off on Sir Peter's boat [a cruise] to the Sepik River over Easter!.

Have a lovely Easter! Back soon.