End of second week starting to become acclimatized to the heat. Even the locals are struggling; it hasn't rained for nearly a month. People on roof tank supply are getting nervous.
We've been busy getting the house sorted and filling in details on some administration stuff (personal emergency plan, getting to know some of the other volunteers and locals, etc)

My work program for the next few weeks has been organised, basically travelling around and visiting farms with the local extension person, so I get to know how things work and what is required.  A trip to Goroka (where head office of FPDA is located). The FPDA has a training program wherby they take some young farmers under their wing and provide monthly training for a couple of years, with follow up support after than. I idea is to have some young blood coming into the industry. They want me to do some training at one of those monthly sessions.

My first impressions are that there is lots of potential; you could grow almost anything here, with some tweaks. The ground is fertile and growing conditions are great. I suspect that more attention to detail is required to get the best crops.

Just to show that there is some play, I've mangaged to get out on the water for a short boat trip.
There are huge schools (thousands) of dolphins close by. There are boat trips to islands and plenty of scuba diving on wrecks and reefs, as well as fishing.

Here's a view from a resort within a short walk from us.

This is the view across the sea to where we are staying, from another resort near Kokopo

Deck where we were sitting

View across the sea to the Volcanos around Rabaul. The sea is rarely rough, as the bay is enclosed by a whole lot of small islands. Pretty nice!