We have finally got to our placement in Kundiawa.

We flew to Port Moresby, the capital, early on Friday morning and spent the day there before our flight to Kundiawa on Saturday. It is said to be the most dangerous city on the planet! We took a taxi to the Parliament House and were told that we wouldn't be able to go inside but when we got there people outside were very welcoming and told us to go in. We were the only ones to go inside and were given a personal tour around. We were told the Prime Minister's chef was English and that he would be glad to see us so we went to the restaurant where the chef (from Cornwall) came andchatted and then we had a visit to the state dining room. No photos were allowed. We then went to the National Museum which was wonderful - wooden carvings and masks that were weird, frightening, menacing - a great experience.

We caught an early flight in a small plane and had fantastic views of the country.

A truck met us along with Jackie, John and Phil (other VSOs who have been working in Chimbu or Simbu) and took us to our house which is basic but lovely. It has three bedrooms, a lounge/dining area, a kitchen area and a toilet and shower. There is very little here though - two mugs - one cracked, 4 different plates, no glasses, no saucepans, no towels, no cleaning stuff - although there is a new twin tub which needs to be filled by bucket. The garden is very pretty with an orange tree, three avocado trees, tomato plants, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats and a pig! Maria, who owns the house, is very friendly and walked about holding my hand. There is a lean-to in the garden and she or one of her family sleep in it at night to guard us. Jackie had baked a really nice loaf for us - a slice of which we had with butter.

We went to the new market to buy vegetables and fruit (bananas, tomatoes, nuts, sugar fruit, an unknown fruit, garlic and spring onions) which are plentiful and very cheap and then went to a shop to buy household stuff. We could have done with Ikea as there wasn't anything nice to be had. People came up to us all the time to say hallo, shake our hands and introduce themselves. They were really pleased when we said something in Tok Pisin. By the way yesterday is asde - arse day - behind day - get it!

Later we met the other volunteers in the coffee shop and it was nice to hear their experiences etc Then back to try to make the house feel homely. Mike put up the mosquito net and put down cockroach traps and I cooked the dinner - good gender roles. Dinner was a basic affair as we didn't have any basics. For desert we had the said fruit, including an orange straight from the tree in the garden- delicious. We haven't got any containers to put anything in and are worried about the ants!! So we need to sort that out tomorrow.

Early to bed now. People don't go out after dark as it is too dangerous so early nights for us. If there is a problem its no use phoning the police at the moment - apparently they haven't paid their phone bill so the telephone company has cut them off!!

I've got an idea we might not sleep too much with the dogs, cockerels, pigs etc and of course the thought of creepy-crawlers or worse. When it rains it is like being in a caravan with the rain drumming on the roof. It is the rainy season and we had a massive downpour earlier this evening. It is cooler now thankfully as we have no air con or fan.

Well, its Sunday morning now and we survived the night without mishap without screaming or without haing to resort to the use of our personal alarm. Breakfast was Jackie's bread toasted with peanut butter - luxury - and Mike made himself an expresso with the hand held machine. Quite civilised really. It's a beautiful day here.