Just a Rather Ordinary Day in Port Moresby

For what seems to be a normal day for somebody else, Thursdays and Fridays, for sure aren’t one of those days that simply dart across me. Especially when it’s Thursday, during which I become preoccupied mostly with running an errand around various shops.  Fridays however, are a bit of a relaxing day to which I attributed most of my feeble triumphs in basic cooking. That day, I prepared a Sinigang Na Hipon for dinner. For Filipinos, we’re kind of addicted to Filipino Cuisine although we don’t usually take notice and may not admit it. And for me, Sinigang is one of a kind. There’s always a silent notion in my head that says nothing can come between me and my Sinigang.  But what is better than Sinigang Na Hipon?

Yes, free meal.

The Jollibee-Like Hamburgers In Dream Inn Hotel and Restaurant

Not so long ago, I have come to realize that there are three variants of managers in my workplace: those who like to spend time mostly at home, those who hardly stay at home and those who cannot be classified as both.

I am more of the latter.

Having Fun Writing In One's Own Language

The opportunity to write using one's own language  decreases as one finds himself happily embracing a foreign language in the bosom of a foreign land.

I've started living in Port Moresby in 2011 and have not since written much anything with Tagalog except for the numerous simple words that I've typed in chatboxes when communicating with my friends and relatives.

With simpleness, I mean that it's something that anyone who's familiar with it can fairly understand although the composition of the words being used is of a literal "text-mode" form. 

Hypothetical conversation that involves common "text-mode" lexicon:

Kuya Jun: "oist!"

Me: "y kua!"

Kuya Jun: "Heypi bday!"

Me: "tnx. gift q!"

Drawing Sue Ramirez With Faber-Castell Classic Colour Pencil

In Papua New Guinea, an expat may find himself contemplating at some point in time about how his life closely resembles the saga of our solar system wherein the Earth is revolving around our sun in a circumscribed manner in which the strong gravitational pull of the sun keeps the earth from being swept away of its orbit. Let loose a bit and the Earth will find itself taking a path to uncertainty while infinitely sailing through the darkness of the ever expanding universe. Like a planet, depending on how one should put it, the life of an expat might take a spin only within the collective encasement of three familiar entities: the house, the office, and the shops.

A Barbecue Party In Port Moresby

The last few weeks in Port Moresby have been, as what most responsible media would call, intense. There has been a few standoffs between the authorities and students of UPNG. Like any other democratic country, it is a common knowledge that every once in a while, incongruity between the citizen and the government can become temporarily highlighted. As an armchair observer with no specializing degree in political science, I find myself to be fundamentally unfit to comment on such a delicate matter and it is best left to those who really breeze through the complexities of politics. 

However, my views stand still that in general, Papua Guinea is a peace-loving country.

But having preceded this post with such substance, I’m now having a hard time finding the right words to swiftly transition my ideas from the intricacies of governance into the joy of cooking barbecue in a Barbecue Party.  I guess it’s easier to begin with finding out what’s on the menu today? 

Filipino Foods You Can Cook In Papua New Guinea

A very little concern that most Filipinos have in mind when moving from Philippines to another country is food. Some will find it daunting to try foreign foods during the first day of stay while others take it as an exciting feat. 

I, myself, is a fan of eating unfamiliar recipes. It's nice to try them every once in a while. Initially, I was pondering on the thought that If I ever came here, I would have to say goodbye to Filipino foods. That was swiftly proven otherwise after making a few trips to various shops around here. Although what's readily available here were not as much as a neighborhood sari-sari store has, what one needs to have is just a wee bit of resourcefulness to come up with something close to pinoy recipes.

Rain In Port Moresby

Before my journey in Papua New Guinea has even begun, I had already looked its geographical location up on a globe as part of self-mind conditioning approach to leaving home for another country. It is located in an area just below the equator at around half the longitudinal line. 

Google says its exact coordinates are 6.1360° S, 143.9555° E.

If you take a ruler and measure out the distance between Port Moresby and the Equator, and use the same measurement to outline the space between the Equator and the Philippines, you will end up in areas around the Northern Mindanao. As a child, I have lived a couple of years in Cagayan De Oro. At around May to July, that place will receive a lot of rain throughout those times.

Life Goes On At POM

 “And when darkness dawns upon us all, fear not and stand tall, because only in darkness that light may appear bright and noticeable.” Said I.

And while I was composing this, I hastily asked my staff these through the LAN Messenger, “Dispela tupela kakaruk na rais, em hamas?” 

(Translation: This two-piece chicken and rice, how much?)

Papua New Guinea Trivia #1

Did you know that Cuscus is commonly found in Papua New Guinea?

Cuscus is a cute animal resembling that of either a monkey-like or possum in appearance. They vary in color but the most common I see in Port Moresby has a mixture of white, brown and orange fur. It is a marsupial and is a sub specie of possum but is considered distantly related to other species such as koalas, kangaroos and squirrels.

Saying Goodbyes

In every three years or so, the managers being in this company will either grow or shrink in numbers. While it has not evolved into a consistent trend yet, I believe that this phenomenal marvel will stay as an observable matter for a few years to come.

To offer a simple explanation as to why such a thing happens uncontrollably, I have devised a list from my lightly expressed yet debatable opinions under the guise of deliberately euphemised statements on a descending scale as follows:

Interesting Places around Port Moresby

Whenever I’m driving, my focus is only about three things: the road, the car that I’m driving and the people who may try a sprint across the road.  The places I pass by have less of my attention. Both eloquent and meaningless conversation carried out by passengers in the car are deliberately ignored, regardless. A passenger told me once that with my traits, I can be a locomotive driver. Seems to me like I have reached a milestone with my career in driving until a close friend of mine had said, “Hey, a train driver is usually alone in a driver’s compartment.”

Hi! My name is Glen Villar.

Foods to Eat at POM

What can be a more rhythmic question than asking what is there to eat? It’s possible that while there may be a lot of people like me who don’t bother much about coming up with this question in mind, our kind has only a miniscule part of the entirety to which all human beings are represented.

A little vague, isn’t it? Generally, my thoughts can become aimless and without sense when I’m hungry. As such, I notice that my grammar becomes a bit weird and my statements hold a tendency to digress from my main point.

But going back to my topic, if you have somehow, wondered about the foods we eat here in Port Moresby, here is a photo-list that I prepared for everyone.  I did my best and tried to remember each occurrence in its chronological order as possible. 

Late Night Post In Port Moresby

Among the primary things of which everyone’s enthusiasm becomes apparently stimulated whenever a momentary congregation of semi-tired managers squeezed in together for a 15-minute ride home are the profound interest to know what sort of fish, in its size and form, is available at Malaoro Market at the time being.

Malaoro Market is a prominent open-air market and an alternative place for shoppers whose premeditated itinerary is to buy freshly caught fish and for those who are budget-wise alike.  Fish are displayed on temporary stalls in quite a number upon which prices of unquestionable modesty is coupled. 

Shop Hopping at Port Moresby

Port Moresy and Papua New Guinea in general is a home to numerous shopping store and supermarket.  Back in my country, I remember Cabanatuan, where I spent most of my school days, as a home to numerous schools and universities.  Walking around a few blocks in that place will almost always bring you to a different school. On busy weekdays, students can make up most of the public on every crowded street.

Port Moresby, having dwelt by diverse cultures comprised of the locals and expats from different countries, is adapted to meet what the multicultural community needs.  Thanks to the local farmers and poultry growers, we are enjoying a steady supply of fresh meat and vegetables.

The Boat Trip To Loloata Island, Papua New Guinea

In a sudden twist of event, the management in the company that I work with has come up with a decision from the accumulation of mass suggestions to hold our annual managers’ party at Loloata Island Resort. 

This was a news like no other news to us, and since our little shuttle bus can only accommodate a few partying hearts, the managers were separated into two little groups comprised of 11 and 13 persons.  I happened to be with the former group full of excited people.

Snapshots In Papua New Guinea

According to Albert Einstein, happiness becomes true if it is associated to goals and not with something else. An object, or money, for instance, do provide happiness at some point in time and pretty much they make living our lives easier. Yet at the end of the day, only us can tell if it's hollow or not.

For me, as being a man who is always in pursuit of happiness, I do think that my happiness is simple. But purely, as a result of my imagination, I am always inclined to believe that anything that makes me happy is tied to a simplistic goal.

Take my photography hobby for example, although I am not blessed with an inborn-talent that turns anything crap into a framed art, I persevere to learn the trend but I don't exhaust myself to the point that it's no longer a hobby.

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant In Port Moresby

In the eve of the Chinese New Year Holiday, the management of the company that I work with sets a dinner at Dynasty Seafood Restaurant which is located in the heart of Vision City Mega Mall in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

I actually never had a chance in my life to say Kung Hei Fat Choi to somebody during this celebration since I mostly grew up in a place where majorities of business owners are also the locals.

In Manila, where there is a prevalence of Chinese businessmen, Chinese New Year are actually being celebrated particularly in Ongpin where the community of Filipino-Chinese population is highly concentrated. Wandering there might actually feel like being in Hongkong. 

Cheaper Fruits And Vegetables In Papua New Guinea

So, you want to buy cheap fruits and vegetables in Port Moresby (POM) but you'are afraid to risk safety? 

The cheapest items like fruits and vegetables can actually be found in open markets and Malaoro Market is one of them. If an expat wishes to go there, I recommend that it is with the presence of a local friend or a staff in your company. Although this is not necessary, the local friend can serve as a guide and can be of help if something unfortunate happens along the way. 

If an expat is still conscious about safety then there are stores like Tango, RH Hypermart, Boroko Foodworld, Vision City or SVS that meet the safety standards. They usually have a sufficient number of security guards to see that peace and order around the store is implemented. But one must expect the prices to be a bit higher (around 4 to 8 Kina difference) which is reasonable after considering their operation expenses.

My Unforgettable Trip To Lea Lea Beach

Four years have passed since the first time I set foot on Papua New Guinea, and since then I was starting to wonder what it's like beyond the self-imposed limits that I had put myself into. 

 What it's like outside the 4 corners of my room? Well, technically, it was a patio which was changed into a canopied aisle, but beyond the patio and what's behind those hills in the horizon is still unknown to me. 

 What's preventing me from exploring POM is something that must have originated from various unsolicited advice that tells me it's not safe to go out there . There's probably an elephant in the room and I can only guess that the answer closest to reality is being afraid of uncertainty. 

 Well, I was given a chance one day, when a persistent cousin and his brave friend visited me and Harold (my cousin and an office mate) to brave those anaphoric warnings of don't go over there, don't lose your life. They want us to try a place where they had previously 're-discovered' unintentionally.

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