Malum Nalu: January 2017

I love second-hand book shops.
Yesterday I wandered through two second-hand shops along Waigani Drive in Port Moresby, hunting for books, while the place was chock-a-block with people looking for clothes.

Books on virtually anything are available at second-hand bookshops.

Such a treasure trove of information and English at a time when our literacy levels have reached alarmingly-low levels.
They are literally a gold mine.
You can look no further than Facebook to see how low the level of English in this country has stooped to.
The books and magazines at second-hand shops are so cheap too.

Good to see people interested in books.

Sometimes you find the latest bestsellers.
From Shakespeare to Twain to Hemingway to Fitzgerald to Hunter S Thompson to do-it-yourself to children's books.
A second-hand book does more to help our children than a buai, smoke or a beer.
I read profusely as a child (and even to this day) and this has has shaped (and continues to shape) my life.
I bought a couple of books for my kids and myself.

Some of the books I bought.

I believe strongly that "development is yourself", whether it be buying and reading a book, or stopping buai, smoking and alcohol.
Development does not come from politicians or government as we in Papua New Guinea like to think.
Reading is development.

Today was a time for me to spend time with family, read, write, take pictures, as well as think about the potential for agriculture in this country.
This is before I resume work tomorrow in what promises to be a busy year with the 2017 national election.

A green invasion...I see it as a good augury for 2017...a blessing...

More Papua New Guinean than those slimy, toxic brown Queensland cane roads...in my hands and I don't get poisoned...

Lae pineapples for New Year's Day brunch...

My three amigos are cooking up a feast...

My tribe on New Year's Day...

She's now busy writing a travel piece on her tablet about our travels to Lae, Salamaua, Highlands Highway, Markham Valley and Goroka...soon to be published...PS: She's only 12 but can write better than many of our "journalists"...