Samarai Reunion, Samarai

Recently, and only just now a 'working group' was formed made up of a core group of seven (7) people identified & nominated (who will have voting rights) with memberships open to anyone (residents & or ex-residents) that are interested, have links to the island (whether real or imaginary) but most of all "especially has the heart for Samarai Island, China Strait and the neighbouring islands & mainland communities.

Interested memberships has no voting power (by the way) when it comes to making decisions about anything or everything that comes before this core 'working group' BUT can of course contribute positively on ideas, suggestions, critiscisms etc during meetings.

The core group of seven (7) have a couple of things in common:

1. they are permanent full time residents on the island making Samarai Island their home.

2. are concerned about the general up keep of the island

3. are aware that sitting on their backside and watching the island plus some historical monuments fall apart is hypocritical.

A profile of each of the individuals will be posted at a later time when all relevant interviews/information are collated and approved by the group as correct (I do not want to be sued for posting wrong and degrading profile descriptions!!). Names of the core seven are listed at the end of this post including the three (3) people nominated as treasury/ book keepers who are by default identified as signatories to the bank account that will be open shortly (Bank account is not openned yet at the time of this post).

Pity I am unable to post a copy of the first meeting minutes on today (as I honestly do not know how to do that yet) but if anyone is interested to look-see the copy of the meeting minutes - email me or post your comment with an email address and I will forward to you in PDF format (so you dont change anything!!)

The aim of the group is:

1. raise awareness of the state of the island and it's surrounding island communities,

2. promote it's history including sites of historical significance

3. promote tourism activities

4. co-ordinate/ manage small project activities that it nominates to fund and do

5. liaise with those living elsewhere concerning their interests, links to the area

6. facilitate information

Note that the group does not see itself as replacing the district tourism authority, the government or the Samarai restoration committee for that matter. It will be non political, non religious, non profit and would be as informal as possible in its activities which mostly be basic and otherwise complementing the bigger picture of the said authorities or bodies.

The groups name identified during the meeting is Samarai Reunion, Samarai (with a comma) and during its first meeting also nominated WestPac Bank, Alotau as its banking facility.

And now shall I introduce names of the core seven (7) who have the voting rights and will drive us all. note that non of them will have official titles as all agreed in the meeting that this is an informal group and having titles is bullshit. Leadership is naturally following the seniority as it is on the island, of course we have other senior citizens that the core group can refer to as and where need be. The names without further ado:

1. Ernie Evernett - longtime resident, self employed (marine/ boats)

2. Rodney Abaijah - longtime resident, brother to former MP Josephine Abaijah

3. Maggie Tanaka - longtime resident who just loves Samarai Island

4. Maggie Sigamata - longtime resident, self employed (runs Samarai island Canteen)

5. John H. Marco - resident for the past 27 years, self employed (fuel servicing)

6. Paul Titus - former councillor (3 terms) and a very active youth coordinator.

7. Betty Andrew - born, raised and married on Samarai, current councillor, active youth coordinator;

The treasury/ book keeping team of three (3) whom are also signatories to the (yet to be openned) bank account are:

1. Carter Tanaka - wife of Richard Tanaka, longtime resident

2. Mary Abaijah - wife of Rodney Abaijah, longtime residents

3. Cypirian Kaisa - husband to Maggie Sigamata, self employed.

And lastly, ME MYSELF & I am the unofficial scribe, link, mail boy between you interested ones out there and the group on Samarai Island itself as I rotate back to Samarai Island from work breaks often enough as I live there.

Also there is TOBY AIWATI (facebook, emails etc) who can do the same I am sure as he also travels back to Samarai quite often too as he is a resident of Samarai.

The groups first priority right now is to raise awareness to everyone and anyone out there about the historical monument - Anglican Church building on Samarai Island.

Briefly, we have been recently informed that the Cardinal General of Anglican church will be visiting Samarai Island with the view to 'RECONSECRATE' (I believe the term is) the Anglican church (which means take everything holy i.e alters, the cross, holy water basins etc) and llet the building fall piece by piece. All Anglican Church services will be held in the rectory next door.

More of this with pictures in the next post........................................stay tuned!!!!

Learning By 'Trial & Error'

Only just, ooooonly just, have I learnt how to put my movies/videos on the internet - a process at sometime back had me scratching my head and biting my finger nails; at the time it seemed very complicated but then ev'ry other 'Tom-Dick-Harry & Sally' I know from somewhere I met via facebook, interpals, twitter, etc were onto it. Time, especially daylight hours and late evenings before bedtime were against me and very very elusive. Could not catch enough of it........................and all of a sudden BANG - two hours of surfing aimlessly, looking out for nothing, 'finger banging this type pad......and ........Walahhh, look what mess I got myself into - a bloody honeypot. My own jackpot.

By the way before I forget (I should have mentioned this right on the top, before unfolding the whole story, don't yu think?) - I must say I learnt ALL this purely by 'trial and error'.

Even the movies I had to make and dubb music and transition patterns and write accolades into were 'ONLY JUST LEARNT'.

The 'hand-me-down' digital camera too - I'm only just discovering the intricacies of it (and I'm like, maaaaan, why would someone give away such a handy little thing???). Mind blowing. Actually got it for free too and I have never ever, in my entire working, travelling, tramping life bothered to have one let alone own one - I got one - ABSOBLOODYLUTELY FREEE.

So my stretch limo to take you on that preview is THIS BLOG - "DaDog's Playground"....................here, I am going to put some of the pictures I took of the places I've been to not because I want to do photography but simply 'traim tasol'.

Pics do say much, but I have no bloody idea what I am doing here or what this is all about - I am just writing a blog about nothing. But that's the point - I write about nothing and you read about something!!!

some pics in order maybe and I will try describe what its all about, hoping you can get the same mood am in with the picture --

2010 And We Are Going Downhill!!!

We are now trying to kill our own 'WatchDog' the person who is responsible for 'pulling up short' politicians, high public office holders etc...................I will bet K500.00 those behind the scenes trying to pull this off are some 'high office holders' and politicians and although relevant law & order agencies will get some very good information and evidence - those found to be even a little involved will never be brought to justice or if they do .....the cases will go through all sorts of loopohles, adjournements, etc and die out.
http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3963
Even our mentor 'father- figure' Australia is giving us 'the finger' in some departments because our elites are all good-for-nothing, pot-bellied, double chin flopping, money mongering, corrupt idiots.
http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3923

It is becoming more and more obvious that the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (never mind the laughable titles as Chief/ Sir/ Turakikil or whatever it is that the Tolai's have bestowed him with) is loosing it.......................I strongly suggest someone close to him (maybe his daughter Bertha for what she's worth??) tell him in confidential terms that it is high time he should walk out now and walk out while he still has some respectability left from the fast dwindling number of Papua New Guinean support. You can get the feeling that he is starting to get on some very seriously raw nerves when you hear some unemployed, illiterate, drunk, youth who is a known criminal playing a game of pool at 2 mile hillside tuckerbox say very knowledgeable things like how he sets up some Commission of Inquiries and not allow it to conclude by replacing Chairmans or suspends the inquiries, the purchase of the Falcon Jet, what happenned to the Maladina/ NPF case, the Speaker let loose on gagging debates and when the drunk youth mentioned about the early adjournement of the parliment thereby breaking the 'mama law' it took me by surprise and really hit me that Michael Somare is really starting to get on some very very 'roots fella's' nerve. And this is only one fellow speaking his mind; multiply that by 'how many thousands' of unemployed youths. Never mind the employed youths and those that can read the newspaper or at least has the time to watch the 6pm EMTV newspaper.



We talking those street youths that has no reason to watch news, read newspapers etc; but look for opportunities to make some rich, moneyman, businessmen, politician's life miserable.







I can read all this and do my best to make informed judgements/ conclusions and decisions, not so for the person I am exempling here - he and his friends knows that there is money to made (and big money that is) in making personal lives of this politicians miserable; and to hell with their own personal lives, they dont have anything loose and nothng to gain for that matter. If they come out with a little, they know its only for a short while: its the 'Livin On The Edge' feeling that they want in this vacation.







Read on the misery............................................



http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3896



http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3570


http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3900



And this are the moneyman (landowners) that will be targets also by their own kinsfolk (if its not happening already)

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3837

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3740

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/4104



The LNG project can take care of their medical/ health services plus staff - let 'em work on their own land....................let them do the surgeries,, doctoring and what have you by themselves!!!

Sheesh, there are places like Woodlark, The Engineer Group of Islands, the North Coast Rabaraba in the Milne Bay Province that would deserve this service - and its more paradasic here.

What idiotic idea to go there in the first place anyways???????

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/4105



And we still carry around the attitude and mentality that only expatriates can do this...............sigh!!!

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/3986



Anyway, I'll keep building more shit house as more 'shit people' will be coming...................someones got to do it (and get paid do it!!!!!)

Merry New Year celebs and catch on the flipside.











DaDog!!!!!

AIRLINES PNG (formely Milne Bay Air)

I have to say this and say it out aloud I should.........................."AIRLINES PNG" DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE LOCAL PAPUA NEW GUINEAN. It just wants its hard earned money.

I am an avid traveller (both business & pleasure) within PNG and I choose to fly with APNG everytime when and if there is that choice available. You see there are sectors that APNG do not fly so I have no choice but to fly with the politicised 'toilet tissue' airline 'Air Niugini'.

The reason is simply that APNG before it changed its name was the Milne Bay Air (MBA) and I am a hard core Milne Bay fan. Second, I am a shareholder (not big for its standards but huge from the view of my pocket!!) so would like to think I am contributing to my own company!!!?? In contributing thus far, I would justly appreciate a good service (they do a good job the pilots) by the people who stand out front and face the paying customers - especially towards their own kind - the local Papua New Guineans.

I'll tell you my recent experience before I conclude with what I assume is happening between the check in counter and the ticketing reservations staff (especially at Port Moresby's Jacksons Domestic Terminal).

Coming off from Tabubil (APNG Dash 7), I checked-in the next day to fly to a Western Port on the twin ottter. My access luggage was K675.00 (alot of money compared to the size & weight of the cargo if you really physically look at it but anyways). Having paid this in company signed check I proceeded to the departure lounge for the scheduled 6.30am - mind you, to catch this flight I had to be up at 4am!!!

By 9.00am we were still waiting without any information of what was happening - in the meantime out in the tarmac I could not see any twin-otter planes standing by.
By 10.00am we were informed (in a hurdled group as if in a basketball team peptalk session) to check back at the ticketing counter for further information; and this was not until one of us had to actually front up to the ticketing officer.

Anyhow, having got to the ticketing counter, we were told that we would depart at 2.45pm, that is after the twin otter that was doing another sector returns.

We did eventually boarded and headed for our destination. After 1hr 30mins and only 20 mins out of our first port of call, the 2 x pilots had to turn the plane back as there was an electrical problem and would affect the night flying (since they would be returning in the dark if they were to complete the schedules) - thus we flew another 1hr30mins back to POM. We were told that our flight would be rescheduled to 9.00am the next day.

Rightly so, I was provided accomodation at the Lamana Hotel as I was a transiting pax.

The next day, come the time to depart at 9.00am, we found out that some half of the pax will share another sector flight whilst we shared with the other sector! - and I thought we had a plane dedicated for our selves!! This is where all the 'fuckups' happened I suppose.

When I got to my destination, I had only the laptop bag I had as hand carry BUT ALL MY LUGGAGE WORTH K675.00 REMAINED BACK IN POM!!!! The reasoning was that because we had to share another sectors flight/plane their luggage got priority over ours. We were told that our luggage would be brought in dribs & drabs depending on the weight etc; etc.

Its been a week now and as I write/ post this article I am still waiting for my luggage. I have also heard that 3 out of the 7 pieces of luggage I have has gone missing (and right in that APNG Domestic Traffic Office - you note in APNG website that the traffic/operations and cargo section staff work together!!!) they are really in cohorts to rip you off!!.

Now get this...................when you check with your lugggage, the check in clerk will check in everything you got plus alll those other passenggers cargoes too (do you wonder if he has already a limit on the weight he should be working on??). You hhave paid for you access luggage and everythings checked in so rightly so everything should GET ON THE PLANE - YEAH!!!! Not so. By the time come time for loading - THEY FIND OUT THEY HAVE OVER CHECKED IN PAX CARGOES/LUGGAGE.
Now pay attention here....................if you are assumed a non threat and have paid too much already - they will not inform you that they will offload your cargo (the money is split between the ticketing officer & the reservations clerk at the paying desk).
Otherwise, you will be informed that you will have to take off some of your cargo/luggage (which they will say will come in later which will either be very very later [after you have spent an untold expenses chasing iit up] or will get lost and never turn up - in which case they still split the money!!!).

This is the typical experience that many rural semi-literate Papua New Guinean APNG traveller is living with. It is made the more complicated (aside from being semi-literate) by the lack of communications, the distant to travel between the closest agent/airstrip and the village, the APNG Agent being uninfluential with the airline managements and the desolation of some of the communities the airline service.

I am fortunate that I will get back to Port Moresby at some stage even if my luggage dont get here and as any typical PNG would do to vent his frustration will manhandle the ticketing person.

Now don't get smart with me and tell me to be patient so on and so forth because if some of my luggages have gone missing, there is no way I will be compensated - all they will do is push all kinds of paper in my face to fill in and hope that this will tire me out and finally give it up - a good manhandling, broken noses and bodily abuse is compensation enough..

Infact I've got my bail-out money (plus police bribes) ready, so I can walk in and walk out.

Bush Tucker

My mate (whose just arrived from Brissy) and I went bush with some locals and tried living of the land, the way they do it - although I have not made any attempt to get pics of our eating the bush tucker for various excuses you would give no never mind, but we did enjoy ourselves.....................

The tractor ride (because the roads only accessible by tractor and not a 4WD landcruiser [who said that!!]):


On the way we saw a big group of local men pulling three canoes down 5km to the main Aramia river (thats quite a distance to cover, come to think of it)



















On this day our local boys were lucky to have a Papuan Black snake which was 1.5m long and very very dead:

















Then they came across a goanna, not so huge they said but would provide substantial protein for lunch,......... yeah right!!!

Everything eventually got cooked (sago and rice included) and layed out -

Then everyone went straight into eat.........................................hungry we all were! who says no...........

After that we all packed on the tractor and rode down to camp, shower, real food and sleeeeeep.



















That's when I started feeling funny and thought I was going colour blind and checked, but it was no joke - I was colour blind (you seeing the same????)

AAaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Balimo, Western Province

Recently I went down river to Balimo to pick up some friends coming in from Port Moresby on the regular Airlines PNG flight. As always in this part of the country, rain - although the locals say is seasonal, is like a forever thing for a non local like me. To me rain just doesnt stop...................

Balimo airstrip like most third level airstrip (what does that rating mean, I have no idea) does not have a terminal so [passenger arriving or departing (with their luggage/ belongings) can be either dry or wet - whichever the case at the time maybe.

Since the parking bay is about 50 meters over to the other side from the road that leads to town - one has to walk across the airstrip itself (from the road) to meet the plane and its passengers. Imagine doing this whilst it is raining.

Good thing it was not raining at the time my mates came in so although they looked a bit sheepishly shivery it was not at all bad and they did smile!!!!

It was a good thing we already had a good relationship with the Local Government Administration so we got get a ride to Balimo town which is 5km from the airstrip; like driving down river but by vehicle and along the way you do get to have a lot of curious onlookers always wanting to get the first glimps of the new faces in town; tsh, tsh -

Pollies do the 'musical chair dance' and I had a SNAKE!!!!

While the National Alliance led coalition Government goes into 'standby mode' coughing up to - what a friend in the media industry says - close to 'K200,000' as 'buy back payments' (better still bribes)..............this is whats happening with some of its said to be priority facilities:
1. Kwikila High School is closed because foods run out;
2. A college dormitory outside Port Moresby, is burnt to ashes and 60 odd students will spend the night outside
3. Kerevat National High School which passed out students in the likes of the current Governor General maybe suspended because of facilities condemned in 1994 not updated yet - http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2009/07/dangerous-keravat-school-faces-closure.html

And on a more personal scenario I had my own woes and crises - we had a SNAKE in camp right over the table where we have our breaky, lunch, dinner and daily conversational get togethers. Some pics of it should liven this misery:

The first peep and first sighting -

Then speared first (to prevent it recoiling) and quickly arrowed asit sticked it's head out:

Speared and arrowed in various places it was quickly pulledout of the ceiling (it still resisted strongly):

Speared and arrowed its still coiling on the floor: