Back to the Land of the Expected

Reaching Port Moresby from New Ireland was already a major gear change. To accentuate it still further we negotiated with a hotel bus driver to take us to Airways Hotel (who no longer provide a shuttle service to anyone but their own guests) and we passed our transit hours happily gorging at their buffet breakfast and souvenir shop.

I was sad to say goodbye to my Madang friends as they left for their flight. I have met some amazing people during my time here. I headed over to international and that limbo land of half leaving the country. The airport lounge came as a shock to the system. There were just so many white people! And they looked so unhealthy. Pale and overweight and a bit loud.

Despite a few hiccups with a rejected take-off, a closed check-in and some visa problems, I eventually made it back to Townsville to be met by some friends who drove me home in an open top car. Smooth roads and a car you didn’t have to lock all the doors and windows of! I saw more naked flesh on display in the ten minutes along the city beach than I had seen in the last ten weeks. It seemed wrong.

We stopped to pick up Indian take away en route (ah, the luxury!) and as we waited for it, we had a drink at the next door bar. A decent red by the glass! I was very excited. I was nervous about leaving the car with my suitcase sitting in the open back seat even to sit 2 metres away but was rightly laughed at by my mates and reminded that I no longer had to worry about security so much. My dog was very happy to see me, my house is in great nick and my own bed felt like I was sleeping in cotton wool clouds. Most exciting of all… this morning I walked to the shop. On my own! Walking! On a street! It is a great thing, and I will try to hang onto this new appreciation of how precious personal freedom is, and that it is not something to be taken lightly or for granted.

So now I am back in the land where things work. I like it, but I appreciate the other freedoms of Papua New Guinea and I expect I will return there to the Land of the Unexpected when I can.
Thanks for following my blog; I hope you enjoyed my journey as I have.

PS. I decided that I would leave a part of my 'sole/soul' behind in PNG by joining in the national sport on the street outside Sarah's house ....it was great fun getting my runners up there!!!