I have been pondering on the ongoing problems arising from disputes of land, and the impact it has on the life of so many people on earth, just to unload my heart. PNG is no exception and it has had its share of land headaches and quarrels. I take you back to my area where this issue is fast becoming a topic of discussion as now there are lives at stake here. My opinion might not count anymore but if I was running a land project or building a house or maybe just picking a fruit from someone else’s yard or making a fence or decided to make a track with my car or just simply walking across a lawn believe me I would be inviting a series of aggressive attacks from owners who are related to me in most cases, hilarious right? But it happens and I am just wondering if this so called land owners are aware that in reality nobody owns this land, we never did and we never will. The human mentality on this very confusing subject is grossly outrageous and ridiculous and I will always never understand people’s reaction to this subject…happy digging!!
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Mr. Betel Nut
It’s a well known traditional practice, a favorite past time and now has already made its mark in the modern era and with so many people enjoying it, the complications it brings when chewed doesn’t really matter to anyone, or does it? Especially to the natives of this lovely land of paradise. Yes, I’m talking about the quite popular and famous trio:
The Betel nut – the leader of the pack, has on outer greenish skin layer when its ready but turns yellow when hard, this is peeled off revealing the nut within which is the part that the people consume. By itself the nut is quite soft and bitter on taste and causes a lot of salivary secretions, but sometimes the harder nuts can be just chewed all on its own without the mustard or lime.
The Mustard – is a soft long thin fruit which has a outside greenish color with a light green interior and white tiny round seeds, and it grows from a creeping plant. Occasionally if there are no mustard fruit available than the stem of the plant will almost do the same job as the fruit itself when chewed. There is a variety to choose from and all quite sour but one or two are sourly pleasant and anyway it is this sourness that gives the added nice flavor, well that’s my opinion.
The Lime – this is probably the most vital of the three ingredients that combines and completes the mixture. The substance is derived from Sea shells or coral which is burned until quite powdery and then strained until all that remains is a fine, smooth white powdery finish. Nothing else is added, the substance is consumed just as it is, but in small quantities as too much does burns the inner mucous tissues of the mouth and consequently leads to diseases you don’t want to know
That’s what all the fuss is about in the Pacific countries especially in Papua New Guinea, in no particular order are these three ingredients chewed together and either of them cannot be left out. The result of these substances put together is a reddish mixture and a taste that is indescribable, but it is that wonderful effect that it gives to your mind and body that most people would probably highlight.
The feeling is amazing, as what a sedative drug would do to you. For a short period, you experience a feeling of comfort and well being with heightened excitement and an overall sense of pleasure and satisfaction of life which ends in ten minutes (can be longer) but starts again when you chew another one. Of course there is an added bonus of spitting the juices every now and then which I think gives the consumer a feeling of freedom (I think) and everything turns red everywhere you spit, not a pretty sight. Also the fact that it can sometimes give you bad upset stomach if swallowed in excess.
Well there you have it, a brief description on this mind blowing addictive habit that we have here. It does also have an impact on the social issues of our communities but that of course is another story, stay with me.
LOVE YOU, WILL YOU?
Ladies, have you prepared yourself for the once in a life time question that would be thrown to you in this life time? of course not, you want to be surprised or rather pretend to be surprised because you already knew (I think in most cases..hehe!), but you would agree with me that your so called male counterparts are not very romantic these days. In fact they seem to have a way of popping the question without saying much…top of the list “WAY”?, getting you pregnant! now that’s a sure way of saying “I LOVE YOU, WILL YOU MRRY ME?” without much effort on your part, its a sealed and stamped deal! Steady girls…don’t even move an inch…
A SAFE STORY
What do you think could have happened to this man made necessity? I could only just imagine the pain and suffering that was gained from possessing this safe and the lives that were changed because of this incident both good and bad. What do we gain from such actions, is it for the good of our families and society or is it just the violent nature of men and the struggle for survival. I am no stranger to mankind and the hardships we endure and the story of this once used safe box is probably a good example, it not only portrays the downside of human nature but also the qualities we share. What could have been did not happen, but for this tough and strongly designed safe, it still stands proud.
WALSBLOGZ 