Marc's Five!!!

It seems like just a heartbeat ago, but it was five years ago that I called my neighbour (we were living here in Papua then) and said, "I think it's time." And off we went to the Catholic hospital about 20 minutes away, I made her drive - I didn't trust Hugo to drive safely at a time like that (it was already dark outside). An hour and a half after our arrival, Marc made his arrival. A few hours later we were on our way home. It was an adventure we'll never forget!

He was quite excited to turn five. He told me that he felt bigger right away. Naturally, he was totally thrilled with his new bike.

Yesterday was also Papua's "birthday". Up here on the hill there was a pig feast but it was not about Papua's birthday, but it was a ceremony to open Christmas. I wanted to go and take photos but the event started much later than scheduled (what a shock...) and then it began to rain really hard.

In town the main street was blocked off by those attending the festivities by the burial site of the leader of the Fre* Papua M*vement. Earlier in the morning I passed by the fire station (with it's circa 1950's fire trucks that are more ornamental than anything) and I observed that they were readying a large riot truck with guns mounted on the top. The sight of that confirmed my earlier thoughts of not going to the post office downtown later that day.... Apparently at one point they did raise the forbidden flag of Papua... I haven't heard anything about any violence or the like so far. Thankfully...