Tag Archives: Port Moresby

Malaria is crap

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Worst than the dreaded manflu, even a mild dose of malaria is crap.  I’m not exactly the best patient, as I have found out – I have to play nurse and patient with Jacinta still in New Zealand…

Apparently I only have a low dose of malaria… Well strike me down and smack me in the face – I can’t wait for a good dose!  In fact, until seeing the doctor yesterday, I did not have malaria – total denial.  I didn’t have the cold sweats, the vomitting, or the feeling that I was on some mighty good drugs (hallucinating).  I just felt like shit, very tired, sore neck, headache, diarrhea, nausea, not hungry, you know… The normal stuff you expect to get. I was really sick on Saturday, but that might have been more to do with how much alcohol I consumed Friday night more than anything else.  Then Sunday, I was still blah.  Went to work Monday, and felt “average” – which meant I felt like shit but really needed to be in the office.  Monday night came, and all day I had been having ups and downs – so I went to bed early, and slept for eleven hours.  Yesterday, Tuesday – got up, felt worst than Monday – but thought I would see if I felt better after a shower and some breakfast.  Of course, felt much better – so off to work I went 🙂

The guys at work said I looked worst, and the banter was – you have malaria…  Bullshit!  But by 10am, I was going downhill, so thought I had better see a doctor.  I grabbed Billy, just in case I didn’t feel like driving – but by the time we were about to go I was feeling good again.  So we went to the doctors which in true PNG fashion was full, but with possibly only had a half dozen actual patients – the rest were the hangeron’s like Billy – lol.

The doctor was rather amused by the self-diagnose from the boys at work, and even more amused when I said I just needed some drugs.. (hell – it works at the pharmacy).  Proceeded to take my weight, and send me off for 3 sets of bloods.  One is a rapid test, the second is a more detailed test, and the third let’s them look at any parasites.  A little pinprick on my finger, and then it was a waiting….

Half an hour later – and lots of philosophical discussion with Billy about religion, God, and a 500kg coconut, and the doc called me in, with the fantastic news that the boys back at work knew exactly what malaria is…

D’oh

Thankfully, the parasite count was low, which explains why I just like crap.  And then she told me that the malaria parasite was a nasty little one called Plasmodium falciparum and proceeded to tell me how we could get rid of it.

  1. Have a jab, then go on a course of pills
  2. Have lots of pills, then go on a course of pills
  3. Have a jab a day for the next few days
  4. Get some really cool hardcore drugs that cost K600

So I chose option 2. just give me the pills so I can get out of here…..  I’ve got a wee stash of: Artesunate (take 6 the first day, then 3 each day for 6 days – with food) and Fansidar (take 3 tablets on the 3rd day).

Back to work, and still feeling off, I went home for the afternoon.  Early to bed, hoping that I’d feel better today and be back at work.  Another eleven hour sleep, and this morning I just felt completely wiped out, huge headache…  So feet up at home today.

Thanks to Wendy I downloaded blogsy to my iPad and am now able to lie down and blog – awesome!  The only problem is, the ole brain ain’t working too good – so this is taking a hell of a long time to type.

Hopefully, I get well rested today – and am back off to work tomorrow.  There nothing like having nothing to do, to get you back to work!

Later

Aaron

Port Moresby Compound Photos

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Yes the title of this post says it all. Sitting here Sunday morning, wife and kids still back in NZ, stereo blaring MY music – and it’s a cracker day here in Moresby. Due to popular requests, I have taken some photos of our small compound. There are only 7 apartments, split 4 and 3. There are all three levels with the top 4 apartments having ground garaging, middle living, top bedrooms. Our’s is the opposite way with the garage on top – although this is odd, it actually works really well, all the hot air ends up in the garage – so we stay cool at night in the bedrooms. Our apartments also have a better view – however the best view is from the garage balcony… But to be honest, the living room view is pretty special, and in our bedroom we wake up to birds in the tree canopy next door (sometimes they are up singing all night though). Each floor has a toilet on it, except for the bedroom floor – it has two… The laundry is up in the garage area, and as our Haus Meri Maria hangs out up here it works out really well. She feels that she has her own space and that works for both Jacinta and her.

This is looking out to the front gate. Note the guard house to the left, this is manned 24/7 by some of the nicest people we have met here.
PNG Compound Gate

Here is the expanse of concrete that Jacinta runs 5km in… Yes – 5km!! Sometimes she zones out and does 7km… There is enough room for the kids to ride bikes. Not all compounds are concrete jungles, some have nice grass area’s, tennis courts and playgrounds. We like our concrete jungle though – right next door we are surrounded by trees, so our view is totally different.
Inside the compound
expat PNG compound

Of course, before heading indoors – the pool… Used mainly by us – it is shallow at one end and drifts out to about 160cm at the deep end, the perfect depth for kids bombs!! Some pools are very deep, more like diving pools… There is also a BBQ for use here.
PNG Port Moresby Swimming Pool

A few photo’s of our garage – we have a spare single bed up here, there is the laundry, a toilet and lots of storage. We have set it up so that the kids can play up here – but also so that Maria feels like she has her own space when she is at work (Maria only works from 9am – 2pm, Monday – Friday)
Garage Entrance
Our Garage from the balcony

And the view from our garage is stunning. Yes – those are security bars, but they no longer bother us. In fact they keep the washing from flying off the balcony into the neighbours property!! 🙂
Ela Beach from our garage

Here is some photos from the living area, I haven’t taken any of the bedrooms – cause the bed isn’t made! The bedrooms are a good size, with the master having a huge walkin wardrobe and ensuite…
Excuse the mess 😉 The dining suite and lounge suite came with the place, as well as the fridge, washer, dryer, outdoor furniture, TV cabinet, coffee table, beds (but we brought our own). Ultimately, you can leave most of your stuff behind if you move here – just bring electronics, and kitchen/bedding etc – the staples. We decided to move everything over (we gave away a lot of stuff) as we didn’t know what the future held and where the adventure might take us.
Living Room
Living and Dining Area
Kitchen

And lastly, the little 6yo girl who lives across the road posed for a photo – I’m off this afternoon to get it printed for her. Her father Mark runs the buai stand outside our compound and his wife Latu is currently heavily pregnant with their 2nd child. Elizabeth calls me Uncle – very cute. Sadly, Mark told me today – that the disabled boy that often sits with him passed away over the Xmas holidays. The boy lives in Koki, but somehow finds his way all the way up to our place, where our neighbours feed, wash and clothe him. He was severely disabled but always had a smile – very sad, but as Mark said – he is in a better place as he was always in pain.

So anyway – here is Elizabeth 🙂
Elizabeth

If you have any requests – hey, leave a comment 🙂

cheers
Aaron

Elevala Village – right next door to Hanuabada

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On Saturday we went to Billy’s village – Elevala. Elevala Village is commonly mistaken as being part of Hanuabada – but the village is quite separate, and even feels and looks different. We were there for the annual sports fishing weigh in, and were gifts a beautiful Red Emperor fish by Billy’s father. I’m not at all sure what we can give back in return, but no doubt we will figure it out.

Here is a shot within Elevala Village
Elevala Village

And of Jacinta and Xaria with Billy’s wife and a local kid. Xaria was just getting susu out of the sun 🙂

Sitting watching the weigh in

We also attended Xavier and Xanthe’s last day of school and the Xmas Assembly, I caught Xavier unawares in this next photo – the kids both were up on stage, and considering how old the kids are that organise this event – it was awesome…

Xavier at Xmas Assembly

Finally, (and lets please not talk PNG politics) one of our compound guards Rocky told me tonight that he has handed in his notice and is heading back to live in his village. He will be missed, not only is he a terrific guy, he is very much respected by his team. So here is a photo of Rocky, taken tonight – the pool is directly behind Rocky 🙂
Rocky

The final leg. Dunedin-Brisbane-Port Moresby-Brisbane-Dunedin

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I am so glad that in a few short hours I will be home. I am very tired. I’ve never felt this tired before, but I think trying to stay on kiwi time, but burning the candle on PNG time, the sights, smells and sounds – and the prick in the hotel room next to be (I got my own back this morning)… Have really contributed to my sleep deprivation.

I arrived in Brisbane last night, and Sue, Dion and Satu were waiting at the airport for me to arrive, it’s been 5 years since I have seen Sue, about 7 for Dion – and I hadn’t yet met his lovely bride-to-be – Satu. We had a nice evening catching up, Barramundi and Chips for dinner (considering I don’t eat a lot of fish – Barramundi is superb). And then Dion and myself caught a taxi into town so that he could go off to work and I could try and sleep.

Royal on the Park didn’t upgrade me this time around, but I didn’t have any energy for a spa anyway… 🙂 The dickhead in the next room was having a party until 10pm when he and his friends left, but they were back at 4am, and obviously got lost as they started banging on my door. So at 6am I turned on the TV, and on leaving gave their room and door a few good bangs. I bet they didn’t hear, but I sure felt better. Checked into the flight home early, tried to get an upgrade, exit seat or something. Not sure what seat I have but it maybe right behind premium, which will give me a bit of legroom and a quick gate exit. Just had the 10 minute call for boarding, so I suppose I will find out soon.

I had a chat on the phone to my father last night, he is in Daru, which is somewhere between Lae and Madang – it was an interesting conversation, as we both have the exact same feelings about PNG. I haven’t had much to do with my father over the past 20 odd years, buts it’s obvious that we are very similar – I am taller though :). Andrew, my southern highlands friend from the plane, is only a little fella, so Dad (who is normally the shortest man around) must be enjoying the fact he is taller than most :).

On Virgin Pacific now, again, have primo seat 4C, aisle right behind Premium economy (which is empty). Empty seat beside me and yet the rest of the plane is full…. I’ll be first out of the plane which is nice. So apart from being completed stuffed, the actual flying has been well above average. For lunch today, there will be a packet of m&m’s, ham & cheese wrap, and a ginger beer. No alcohol for me today – I want to be able to function 100% tomorrow….

Some advice from me to you, my avid reader (of which I know there are just the two of you), aisle seats are better that window seats, the window allows you to look at clouds and skies, the aisle give you stewardess bums, not that I am looking of course – it’s just an observation. If you are traveling to PNG and want to buy duty-free cigarettes, buy them on the plane $15us a carton, as opposed to $75AUD in Australia, or about the same in NZ. In fact, with the dollar the way it is, I actually wouldn’t buy too much in Aussie. A pair of men’s pants cost slightly less duty free in AUD than normal but when you convert the dollars to Kiwi I think it’s actually cheaper to buy clothes in NZ… Weird, or maybe my brain is so tired I can’t get the dollars and cents right. Funny thing is, the clothes in Brisbane, were the same as Dunedin. Polyester mix pants. So I think what I have will just have to do – might have to have a wee trip to Singapore to get more appropriate clothing eh 😉

Please, if you want any information on my experiences in PNG, or indeed once I am over there for good – let me know, I’ll be happy to help. I have an extremely good recall memory, so ask away.

For now – I am going to sit back, enjoy my book on my iPad, and relax before the flurry of activity that is the wife and kids descends on me in Dunedin.

tangio tumas