Village & Christians: 6 July

Today we were supposed to go snorkeling again but unfortunately it's raining and gray, and the sea is not particularly appealing. Bugao suggests that we visit a village to the north of Malolo Lodge in order to observe how people live here.

We are first taken to a small village along the ocean, and shown a typical Madang village home, and we meet a woman who apparently eats nothing but betelnut (and is probably ill with some disease or other). She is one of thinnest people I've ever seen, and she is chewing enormous gobs of betelnut juice, which make me rather nauseated just to think on.

{incude photo of very-thin woman}

Then we drive inland to another village, where we meet the village head-man and his wife.

Here we are treated to another demonstration of how to build a fire.

Review photos...


Upon our return to the Lodge, Rachel is tired and retires to our room to sleep.    I fetch my journal and take it to the pool-side bar to write.   Despite the rain, there is a small clutch of whites who are in the bar and using the pool.   After writing in my journal for awhile, I ask them if they are staying at the hotel.   They explain that no, they are missionaries from Ukarumpa (near Goroka) and they are vacationing in the Madang area for a few days.   There are two families, and each family has brought some of their children along.