11th July 2016 - last day on Pulau Biak

Monday 11^th July 2016

8am

Last night we had a big rainstorm.  All very good for replenishing the watertanks.  The fishermen on a neighbouring boat rushed out to have a quick wash in the water gathering on the tarps – I think everyone tries to take advantage of this lovely clean fresh water from the sky.

Raindrops not stars falling!

In the afternoon we had many many visitors.  So far they had all been boys; at 3.30 we had an invasion of cheery young women!  They swam out in their Sunday clothes and sat on the deck very happily chatting, giggling, eating popcorn.   

I asked them to write down their names and ages – May, Aplena, Herlina, Rosalina, Yemima, Martina and Irsun.  All of them in their early twenties except Irsun, who is only twelve and who looks exactly the same age as he others… They didn’t speak English but we managed to communicate quite well.  They all looked a bit affronted when I asked if they had babies – NO!  None of them!  This is surprising, in the islands, where most women in their early twenties have quite a few little ones surrounding them.  But not this lot – they are all student midwives, studying at the local hospital!

They stayed for a few hours and then plunged back into the sea, waving and shouting THANK YOU!

We still had a gang of young chaps on board…I took a punt and went to get The waterhole (Graeme Base.)  Our visitors on other islands have normally been quiet young – maybe 6-12.  Our Biak Boys are all much older, late teens, early twenties (much testosterone!!)  So…I showed it to them a bit tentatively and they were gathered around my cushion in seconds, breathing deeply and helping count tigers rhinos, tortoises.  They sighed as the waterhole depleted and cheered when the rain came.  I think I had better get some more storybooks!!

As soon as the storm abates we are going into town in the hope of finding Customs, Immigration and Harbour Master opens BUKA instead of TUTUP…And hen we can continue on our journey towards Rabaul, where I can catch a plane home for a few weeks.  Goodness knows if/when there will be internet connection but as always I will try!