Coffee Capital of the Nation

After an unplanned stopover in Port Moresby (staying in the beautiful Gateway hotel, courtesy of Air Niugini), listening to several tourists complaining loudly about the cancelled flights, meeting Robyn, a volunteer with AVI in Goroka (lots of good advice!) and finally a short, beautiful plane flight, we made it. Remarkably easy to get somewhere so remote! A 3 hour plane flight really didn't feel long enough to be in another country...

First impressions of PNG are that the people are really nice, much quieter and more reserved than many other places we've travelled. In markets etc there is no hassling at all. Only the occasional person trying to sell something on the street. Our accomodation is great. It's in a CRMF 'compound' - in a large split house. All the people we work with (mostly Nationals, some expats) are great.

As for the work we're doing, I've got a few small electronics/wiring type tasks to work on (putting indicator lights / buzzers here and there for this and that) as well as a larger project which involves shifting one of the HF radios from Goroka, out of town to Asaro where there will be better reception and less interference. The control of the radio will remain in Goroka, via a dedicated 2.4GHz microwave link. We were to attend a remote radio installation on Friday, but apparently safety is a concern in that area so we are staying away.

Di has been helping out in the CRMF office so far - she's loving hanging out with the other ladies. Next week she's looking at visiting AT Projects and following up some other leads for volunteer work. Again - a month is not enough!!

Security is always a real issue here. All the houses are surrounded by high security fences, barred windows, burglar alarms, dogs etc. Walking around at night is a definite no-no. And the Eastern Highlands Province where we are is one of the safest areas in PNG. I hope things get better in time!

We caught up with some volunteers with NGOs at the 'Bird' (Bird of Paradise hotel) last night. Great to hear what some other people are doing. Some work with the 'Agricultural Institute' developing farming techniques, others with the 'Melanesian Institute' training PNG nationals to produce books.

That's about enough for now! Here's some photos...

Our house for the month:

CRMF, where I'm working:

Results of our first expedition to the market. All this stuff is CHEAP! Probably less than $10 worth in this photo!

Di and Doris (Dee and Do). Di's learning how to make bilums. A month is probably not long enough...

Mipela likim i go Goroka tumora moning taim

We're off tomorrow morning to Goroka in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. I'm working with CRMF for the month - they install and maintain radio communications with remote villages in the highlands.

Will try to post some photos during our month up there!

Also - I just posted a bunch of random photos from 2005 on our website

Have a great January everyone!

Indonesia Incidentals

A few other tidbits from my last Indonesia trip...

On the seaplane from Bali to the minesite I carried my trusty GPS and recorded the flights. To the left is a snapshot in Google Earth.

Below it are another couple... the second is a screenshot take looking at Bali (Denpasar Airport) and the third taken looking at Mataram on the island of Lombok. Note the volcano to the left.

If you want to have a look in Google Earth, just open this file

Other photos are:

• The seaplane the trips were done in (taken at Mataram airport)
• Krispy Kreme donuts in Sydney airport
• A panormaic shot taken of the pit at the mine. Definitely doesn't do justice to the scale of the thing!
  

BOOK REVIEW - The End of Poverty - Jeffrey Sachs

I promise I didn't just read this book because Bono wrote the forward. Although that IS a valid reason to read a book!

In my opinion, this is possibly the second most important book in the world at the moment. Sachs blows away myths about extreme poverty and economics in general. He sets out exactly WHAT we need to do, WHY we need to do it and HOW it can be achieved. He briefly talks about world history, and how we got to where we are today (ie how western countries climbed out of extreme poverty)

It's not always an easy, relaxing read - but worth it.

Here's a bunch of random interesting things...

• For the majority of history, the majority of people have lived in extreme poverty. The last few hundred years is the first time in history so many people have lived with such wealth
• 'Trade vs Aid' - many people argue that Trade is the answer to extreme poverty - and it is - to a point. There are many countries, especially in Africa tha thave no hope of significant trade until we help them out of the hole they are in. Trade AND Aid is the answer.
  
• Made me realise the importance of trade, economics and big business for improving quality of life for people around the world. It removed (and reinforced) some of my cynicism about large multinational corporations.
• Made me realise the importance of technology in eliminating poverty. Western civilisation became rich because of industrialisation and technology.
  
• The rise in wealth of developing countries does not mean a decrease in the wealth of western nations. Wealth can be created from nothing, and the more countries that are rich, the better for all! (Again, as with everything - this is not a black and white issue...)
  

I could go on and on... suffice to say, if everyone read this book (or maybe if a select few world leaders read it), the world would be a very different place, very quickly.

Snails in SA

We spent Christmas Eve day with Di's Dad's side of the family at her Cousin's farm near Murray Bridge. The majority of the fence posts on the farm were covered in Snails. SNAILS! How bizarre!? The South Aussies thought it was weird that I thought it was weird! 

Bali again!

I'm in Bali for about 13 hours on the way home. Checked in to Hotel Dynasty (it's the one the mine uses). Pretty quiet here, but there's still a few of the usual loud obnoxious Aussies. A bit more security than last time I was here - cars aren't allowed near the entrances of hotels and the airport etc.

Flights back from Sumbawa weren't too bad. It'd take a while to get sick of that Seaplane. The flight from Mataram to Bali was on 'Merpati' airline - VERY old plane. As the line goes 'It's Merpati and they'll fly if they want to'.

Anyway, I'm off to buy a few DVDs...

Anthrax and Bird Flu

I'm on Sumbawa again in Indonesia. This time delivering a driver training system to the minesite here. I read a notice stating that Anthrax is endemic on Sumbawa. Sounds a bit scary really. I don't really know what Anthrax is. Can't even name one song of theirs. There have been no confirmed cases of bird flu on the island however.

I just tried to post a photo but this sharing 8 computers on one dialup connection doesn't seem to work too well!

Hope everyone's having a great week-before-Christmas!!

Keep Kevin!

This photo was taken this morning at a community BBQ held by Kevin Rudd - our local member and Australia's 'alternative' foreign affairs minister.

Ben, Di and I decided to go along with our Make Poverty History t-shirts on and to thank Kevin for the work he's done this year lobbying the government to keep their commitment to the Millenium Development Goals. This was especially appropriate as today was the third Make Poverty History day of action.

We had a great chat with Kevin about how best to influence the government and about some of the things he's been doing. He's not a bad local member, and as a potential leader of the Labor Party and maybe the country, I'd have to say I approve!

Vigilante 500

Had our work Christmas party today at Kingston Park Raceway - go-karting!

I managed to score the 'Mr Magoo' prize for a spectacular get-off through tyres onto the grass. I maintain it was the kart's fault.

The photo is Steve "Extreme" Larkin (1st place), Lord Andrew (2nd) and Minh "Jack of all trades" Nguyen (3rd). Oh, and Mr Magoo.

Affluenza

Hi all! It's been a while... time for a book review. "Affluenza" by Clive Hamilton is a pretty good read - and pretty challenging to the way Aussies live our lives. It's about overconsumption gone mad and how the government and marketing continues to make us feel insecure, and in need of more, even though we are FAR richer on average than our grandparents were.

It's easy to laugh at the examples he uses of consumption gone mad, but then you realise it's not that far from some aspect in your own life... such as eating out in mine?

For a great overview of what htis book is about, check out the following link: http://www.wellbeingmanifesto.net/

Clive Hamilton's older book 'Growth Fetish' is also worth a look.

Your Friendly Beer Brewing Ben

Just found this while going through photos... there's something warm and fuzzy about Ben's expression, yet it's somehow a little scary...

 

Peeking into our backyard from above

The new Gabba landmarks are two cranes, in the big hole across the street that is rapidly turning into luxury apartments. The second crane, put up recently, has a wonderful view into our back yard. I'm wondering whether we need a MASSIVE feature rock or something. Now would be the ideal time to have it placed.

PINK for Cancer

Chrissy Geldard had a money raising night for breast cancer.
She mentioned that we should wear something pink.

Storms

Had a little storm damage earlier this week at work. No major building damage - but it did suck the extractor fans out of the roof!

In print again...

Cover story in the national magazine of the Lutheran Church! YAY! Unfortunately you can't read the article online... And you can't buy this magazine in your average newsagent... but the cover shot is nice!

The October Lutheran
(After this month this link will change to the latest Lutheran magazine)

BGG Update

For those of you holding out for a Badly update - HERE IT IS!

Lots has been happening in the world of Gardening at the Schultz's. Along with Brad's birthday came many gardening gifts - seeds, gnomes, lights, hoses, fertilizer, mulch... etc I thank all those that contributed.

I've decided to label these photos in the interest of historical scientific recording.

The Original Badly Grown Garden:


Badly Number 2:


Benly Grown Garden:

Mad Hot Brewery

As part of a special combined birthday celebration for 2005, Ben/Sarah/Di/Brad have embarked on a journey. A beer-brewing journey. These photos document those first tentative steps...

Working out what to do...
Super-Beer-Ben, complete with eye protection for exploding bottles, rubber hammer for putting caps on and foam bottle draniers.


On our second brew already - sterilising bottles for Ginger Beer

Breezo's Getting Married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes! You read right! Ben Briese, last bastion of Aussie 20-something single masculinity is engaged! To Charlene, who's surname eludes me for the moment (feel free to post a comment Ben!). Di and I had the pleasure of 'hanging out' via Skype with Ben and Charlene on Saturday and I can only say that we're incredibly excited and happy to hear the news!

CONGRATULATIONS BEN AND CHARLENE!!!!!!!!!!!

BOOK REVIEW!!! "Code Name: Ginger"

By Steve Kemper

This is a book about Dean Kamen and the development of the Segway “human transporter”. My boss gave it to me to read, because in many ways it’s a parallel (albeit on a larger scale) to the life of Vigil Systems (the company I work for). It’s about developing a great idea, about dealing with technical problems, egos, money hungry venture capitalists and trying to do something that is going to have a positive impact on the world.

As an engineer, I can see that many of issues and quotes are VERY relevant to my work at Vigil:

“I don’t have to invent anything. It’s out there somewhere if I can just find it and integrate it. Inventing is frustrating, it’s dangerous, it’s expensive, and inventors should avoid it whenever possible. Be a systems integrator” – Dean Kamen

Dean Kamen is an extremely interesting individual. A classic eccentric, self-made American billionaire. A REALLY smart guy, with a real desire to do great things for the world.

"I don't work on a project unless I believe that it will dramatically improve life for a bunch of people." – Dean Kamen

This desire to do good is matched by a massive ego and indulgent spending on items such as a expensive cars, huge estate with whacky technical house, private jet, helicopters (that he flies himself). He once thought of some improvements that could be made to his helicopter, so bought the helicopter company... He also holds on to power and ownership of his company with an iron fist, paying his staff little and working them hard… (that’s not as paralleled at Vigil)

He, and many other billionaires such as Steve Jobs in the book, seem to be so naïve in many ways. They believed, without ANY historical precedent, that the Segway was going to radically change the world within a year of their launch, that it would be the fastest growing startup in history and that they were all going to make billions and billions of dollars. None of that has happened and it’s been out for about 3 years now.

It should be compulsory reading for all engineers. A great case study on how to (and how not to) bring ideas into reality.

Night of Nights

It's over... or maybe not...

We had our last Sur Taj supper - and it was a biggie. We even had entrees. A rarety, since the size of Sur Taj meals makes entrees an over-indulgence.

The damage done:

Us with our heroes:
This sign won't actually be changing we don't think. But thought it was worth taking the photo on such an occasion:

Jo and Mikey (from Canberra) were there too - taking the above photos. I'm sure there'll be more pictures of them over the weekend...

I'll be sure to report back with our experiences once the handover of Sur Taj to Benny has taken place. Benny and his wife and 2 kids are from Kerala, South India. Nazeem and family were from North India. Benny's keeping the same menu initially, but it may develop over time.

I sort of feel like when Adam and Wil finished at the Js.