people of the paradise

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Papua New Guinea | Tuesday, October 5, 2010 | 5 photos

A medical student from Australia. I have been interested in photography for a couple years and have been taking pics when I go for placements. Not a high tech savvy person but an outdoor nature person who try to capture things as they are. Want to learn to express with picture rather than just document.

photo1 People of the Paradise-A medical term in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

After six hours of dirt road driving from Mount Hagen, I reached Kompiam Baptist Hospital. One of my jobs was to visit a remote health center in Alagula, which is a whole day of mountain trekking through mud and mist.


Photo 2 No man’s land

A challenging mountain trek through mud and mist. The locals say “You can run Kokoda, but not this one.” With wet, soaked feet and less than 40ft vision, I traveled with the locals who, although had no shoes, ran most of the way.

Photo 3 Divine help

Locals that helped carry goods to the health centre wore feathers made from the bird of paradise and held together by homemade headbands on their head. They smoked bruce (local tobacco) – their source of power and energy. One puff of the magical fume gave me divine aid and strength. We completed the seven hour journey through mud and mist requiring little extra help.


Photo 4 Skeptism

With poor nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, many children are bitten by tics. The continued scratching of the bites often results in infection. We met a local whose son was full of infected rashes. It was cleaned with antisceptic - the best we could offer.


Photo 5 Natural instinct

This toddler was brought in by his mother after slashed by a machete when it accidentally slipped out of his father’s hand. In fear of foreigners and with intense pain it was impossible to suture his forehead without sedation. His mother found a way.