The Block

Today I went to “The Block” which is what Kuni Bert and Lucy’s house in the mountains is called.  It rained all night which made for very interesting road conditions.  Part of the road was paved, part was grated, and part was bush that had been cleared and driven through to make a road.  The first two parts were fine.  The last part, however, was like the real live version of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.  We rolled and slid and twisted and turned and got stuck in the mud a couple places.  We made it up (and then down) safely, thankfully.

Buai (also known as betel nut) is something chewed by pretty much all the locals here.  To get Buai you have to tie a leaf rope in a loop, put it around your feet, and shimmy up to the top of the tree.  While at The Block I was schooled on how to get buai by their daughters Monica and Gilmay.  I am proud to announce that after several fails and a ripped shirt I made it to the top of a tree to claim my prize of 5 buai.  Every buai rope – bundle – Monica got had about 30 buai. After Monica and Gilmay  calmed their laughter from watching me uncontrollably slide down the trunk of a tree they said I broke a record.  I was the first white lady from America to every climb a buai tree.  Now whether or not this is true I don’t really care because I climbed one and it was not easy and for all the doubters, which there have been many, I have photos to prove it!

Another fun thing about The Block, which is acres of land with palm oil, sugar cane, buai trees, and lots of other things of which I don’t know what they are, there are pigs running around.  Of the four pigs, one took a liking to me and we became pals.  Maroru came up to me, sniffed me, and after deciding I was worthy plopped down at my feet.  The first time this happened I wasn’t entirely sure what to do.  I thought, “hmmm if this were a dog I’d pet it, but it’s a pig.  Do pigs like to be petted?”  I bent down and gave it a couple belly pats then walked away.  Maroru got up and followed me.  When I stopped she then plopped down at my feet awaiting a belly rub.  So I rubbed her belly and when I stopped, just as a dog does, she urged me to continue, and continue I did.  Later on, when approached by Monica, Maroru ran snorting away. But when I approached Maroru she came right to me and rubbed up against my legs then plopped for a pet.  Yep, I’ve got a friend… a large, black, pig friend, but a friend none the less.

After giving Maroru plenty of lovin’ Monica took me to see the oil palms and her garden of sugar cane and pit pit.  I took pictures while she harvested the sugar cane to be sold at the corner market in town (Kavieng).  She threw a chunk to me to try and let me tell you that is some delicious stuff!  Refined sugar don’t got nuthin on pure sugar cane.  It’s not sweet like refined sugar, but more so sweet like a juice that’s not overwhelming like refined sugar can be.  Monica prepared the cane to be carried down the hill and I offered to help.  She set aside 3 for me and began to bundle them.  After convincing her I’m much stronger than that she added 2 more to my pile, bundled them up, and I hoisted them onto my shoulder and began my decent down the hill with Monica in tow talking about how she was wrong and I am a strong meri (meri means woman) not a weak meri.  Once to the bottom I dropped my pile, which was incredible heavy, and began picking all the fire ants off my body.  I forgot how much a fire ant bite hurts until I got about 10 bites on my hands and shoulder/neck.  They’re nasty buggars! Once I regained composure I looked down at Monica’s pile… about 20 sugar cane sticks.  Coming down the mountain I felt pretty bad A because it was not a light load…. Wrong!  It most definitely was a light load and contrary to Monica’s praise at my strength, I am, in fact, a weakling.

As my day at The Block was winding down Monica asked me to come visit her at her village at Konogogo (it’s on the West coast of the island).  We’ve arranged it so that I’ll go this Friday and stay until next Friday.  I’m pretty stoked about this.  I’ll get to experience village life first hand.  Monica listed off all the things we’ll do… feed chickens, garden, go fishing, go swimming, take pictures of the ocean and cliffs and caves… It should be a good week and I’m certain I will return with plenty stories waiting to be shared. (Below is Glimay, Me, and Monica.)

And now I’m off to the corner market to sell buai and sugar cane.