by Kerrie Phipps
Making new friends in Brisbane Airport.
Unpacking thinking, notes, photos and videos from my time in Kokoda – so we start with a snippet including a video – Day 2 in Kokoda (below)
Sunday 28 October, travel to Port Moresby via Brisbane, where we met our first Papuan friend, Amos. Facebook friends saw the photo (my last post for 8 days) along with my comment “Grandad talks to more strangers than I do!” – I loved that he was so excited about the whole trip and talked to everyone we interacted with… once we overcame the first and most surprising dilemma. My mum’s passport expires in March – they need to be more than 6 months current – you might already be aware of this, but I include this for those who don’t know. Many people mum have told are shocked and heading home to check their passport expiry date…
So mum headed back to her parents house a few suburbs from the airport to wait for Monday to come when she could get an express passport in Sydney, and join us in Kokoda on Thursday, on the next charter flight from Port Moresby to Kokoda.
Grandad and I arrived in Port Moresby and met others who we’d be flying into Kokoda with. Grandad had met them a few nights earlier at the Kokoda Track Foundation dinner and they seemed like old friends already.
Garnet Tobin and Owen Baskett enjoying a peaceful Kokoda.
Monday afternoon – this picture was taken as Grandad and Owen enjoyed the view and chatted about their time in PNG 70 years ago in WW2, and this return visit….
Owen: “never thought I’d get back here”
Grandad: “it’s a lot more peaceful this time”
Owen: “no bang-bang! No bang-bang”
Their reminiscing was funny, fascinating, and an honour to listen to. I have so many moments to share, I could write pages (and have, and will) but I’ll keep blogs short and regular to get it out… In the meantime, see my reflections on Day 2 in Kokoda video.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYTsUOlUs-w[/youtube]
Stay tuned for videos with our hostess, entrepreneur Priscilla, our guide and transport host Elijah, (a difference-maker with friends in Geelong), an introduction to Francis, the beautiful Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel we met, chats with Bede Tongs (92) and Grandad Tobin (94) as they reminisce and have great attitudes and insights about leadership and thinking…
Let me know what you’d like to read/see more of, and I’ll see what I can find in my photos, videos and journal. I know there are lots of insights for living purposefully and I hope to share them well over the coming weeks.
Cheering you on,
Kerrie
