Photos from West Taraka

It was six months ago that I started the exciting but tedious process of migrating my blog from one Service Provider to another and from one Blogging platform to another. Let me tell you right now that as much as the exercise has been worth it the task has been drawn out, tedious and in some way a pain in the proverbial.

Having said that I am happy to report that all of the photos from 2005 and 2006 have now finally been moved across to my new online album. Well over 5000 of the little critters!! And all of this over a slow and it times unreliable dialup connection. Job well done mate!

(Just giving myself a little pat on the back!)

The last batch of photos to go online were the ones taken at West Taraka during 2006. From my 1st Visit through to Isaac’s 1st Birthday Party and not to mention the Graduation Ceremony at Duna Elementary School. There are also photos from when Anthony and Geoff first ventured into this Lae suburb sometimes referred to as the Wild West.

From street boys to raskols, from a new found family to the people themselves, from the Kerowagi markets all the way to what is known as the Last Market. 12 Albums and 246 Photos worth of memories and insights into what life is really like inside a PNG settlement (basically a No Go Zone!!). All of these snaps and more can be found right here.

And here are some of my favourites…

(My 1st Visit and the day I met the in-laws! Eli’s Dad, Mum and Bubu Kandoni)

The kids from West Taraka…

(Babs – the daughter of Eli’s cousin Wara (also known as the “Hammer”)

Young and old…

(Bubu Aute with one of his grandkids…)

And how could I forget those afternoon naps by the Bumbu River…

(Meditation, sleep or coma-tosed?)

And of course my dearest of sweethearts…

(Eli handing out balloons at Isaac’s 1st birthday party)

All of these and the rest of the West Taraka photos can be viewed by going to the “West Taraka” photo online album.

So now that the photos have all been moved and posted. What’s next? Believe it or not there still remain some clean up tasks from that Blog move six months ago!! Next two important tasks which I now want to knock over fairly quickly are:

1. Fix the remaining broken links.
2. Tidy up excerpts.

At the rate I’m going there’s a good chance I’ll be “lapun” before it’s all done! But as a wise man once said: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with single step”.

Chip, chip, chip… slowly but surely!!!