Mark_Murphy Meanderings

Just a few lines tonight about some of the idiocyncrosies of life here in Tabubil PNG. As the town is within the mine lease area it is wholly owned and funded by the Oktedi Mining Co Ltd. So interestingly nobody pays for electricity, water, carbage collection or sewerage rates. Everybody leaves on lights and airconditioners - it doesn't cost them so why turn them off! Rent is a staggering 42 Kena ($20) per fortnight and the permanent staff get about $15,000 per year paid into an account for travel per year and travel within PNG is heavily subsidised. There are not a lot of critters around here except for the beautiful and plentiful Geckos which come out at night and scurry around all over the buildings - inside and out! The place is also fairly well stocked with stray and mangy dogs - all descendants of Dingos by the look of them. so far I have only seen three cats and they were not of the pet kind. Making a cup of coffee or tea is always easy except for the added protein that is always present! Tiny little ants just love the sugar so after a short time you can remove the boiled varmints or just drink it as you can't taste them anyway! While you would certainly not starve here with the amount of food on offer at the mess some items we all take for granted at supermarkets in Australia just do not exist up here - like a good variety of cheese or chocolate or decent cooking oils (I think they sell yellow transmission oil as cooking oil) certainly no decent olive oil! The meat and chicken look and taste ok it is just so damn expensive. The icecream is varied in color and flavouring but it is not always easy to identify what it actually is. I think it will be great to get back to where you can eat almost anything at anytime of the day or night and not have to rely of specific meal times etc. Overall I have really enjoyed my PNG experience and I am looking forward to returning in September and beyond. I certainly would recommend to you all to take opportunities like this one in both hands and enjoy. Bye for now, Gerard