The first leg of my trip was Port Moresby (POM) in Papua New Guinea. Simon and Brooke King moved there for a posting with AusAid 6 months ago and I thought I should take this opportunity to visit POM. POM is not a particularly safe place, and two days before I left I was introduced to the dangers via an email from Brooke detailing what to do in case of armed carjackings and warning me not to leave the airport without Brooke. She picked me up with a security escort because of the risk in that area.
Here is Rudolph, my mascot for the journey, on the balcony at the KingDom overlooking Port Moresby.
They live in a compound for Australians working at the High Commission. Thick high walls topped with razor wire and electric fencing surrounds their compound and there is 24 hour security including a guard dog. This is not unusual in POM. All of the shopping areas were walled like this as were the private residences owned by the affluent members of society. Everyone else had to fit large families into quite ramshackle shacks. Fortunately they live up high so there is still an awesome view. They also have access to a pool, tennis and squash courts, a gym, and cheap grog.
A hot chocolate at the Yacht Club while Owen and Levi play at playgroup.
My gracious hosts showed me the city. We visited the Yacht club, a shopping malls (complete with private security and metal detectors), and the Australian War Cemetery dedicated to the soldiers killed in PNG in WWII. There were plans for a trip to the beach but the weather didn't agree. Instead we cooked up some crab and lobster. Awesome.
The War Cemetary, if memory serves me correctly there are about 4000 soldiers buried here, including two recipients of the Victoria Cross.
The rest of my time was taken up playing with Owen and Levi, shooting zombies, and losing horribly to Simon in AFL (PS3) and tennis (real).
Dinner looking a little crabby. However, her angry face is not as good as Levi's.
It was an amazing trip and I was disappointed to leave - but there are more adventures to come. Indonesia, here I come.
The Kings (and Rudolph)
1 comment:
The epic journey begins!
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