Sue's AMAZING Winged creature photos
September 30, 2008
Check out these photos that I took in PNG and Lao!
Orange Dragonfly - Lao -July 2008
Moth and fly - can you see the fly? Hidden Valley, PNG - September 2008
Red Dragonfly - Lao - July 2008
Hello world!
September 29, 2008
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Crossing the swollen Mumeng River on the way to Hidden Valley
September 27, 2008
Here’s the story about crossing the Mumeng River in Papua New Guinea.
- Watching the morning river crossing is a major spectator sport for the villagers
During my September trip to PNG and on one of our travel days – we were on the road at 7:30am to travel the 3-4 hours of mountain roads up to one of our mine sites – Hidden Valley.
The journey promised to be exciting and the day long – as we planned to visit two sites this day – which required us to cross the swollen Mumeng River about an hour out of town.
It had been raining hard all night and steadily spitting with rain in the morning as we left Lae.
As we crossed over the bridges on the way – we felt that it was a fair expectation that the river would be up and this major crossing where there was no bridge.
Arriving at Mumeng
When we arrived at 9:00am- we joined a queue of 4WDs and trucks on our side of the river – and got out to survey the scene. We watched the trucks and vehicles crossing and decided to give it a go and fang it across the river.
Hairy scarey or WHAT! We crossed – went up to Hidden Valley mine site – and were back on the nose of 2pm – racing the rain clouds in the mountain – to cross back over before the afternoon rains from the mountains made it to this part of the river, making the crossing impossible.
- The big diggers are trying to build up the bed of the river so that the vehicles can cross
Surveying the scene and deciding whether to cross
- I stepped the wrong way – ended up ankle deep in mud – and entertained the locals….
Winter white as a ghost – I make small children cry!
September 27, 2008
I need to work on taking the glare off my very Sydney winter white skin, because on my recent trip to Lihir, I was making small children cry – mistaken as a GHOST.
I have only ever been mistaken for a “white” person once before – in Zimbabwe in Africa… and now here in PNG – it seems there is only black and white with no other shades or colours in between.
On my drive around the island of Lihir – we stopped half way around to visit a village on the beach who had just finished their church service.
I stepped out of our vehicle – and immediately spotted some children playing on the black sand beach.
I followed the kids down the beach – with my camera and was followed by more kids and we had ourselves a little photo session – most of them were fascinated!
One of the little boys in the group started to cry- and I was then told that he was scared because I am WHITE and he thinks I am a ghost. They don’t see any other people in this part of the island – so I am considered white and frightening.
Can you spot the ghost?
Here are some of the photos from my very short time with this village.
YOUR BOOBS – an issue close to my heart in OCTOBER
September 18, 2008
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – if anyone has a right to get on the Breast Cancer band waggon, it’s me.
Every October – I am faced with the issue of Breast Cancer as I remember my dear mother, Lynette – who passed away on 12 October 1993 at the age of 52 after a five-year battle with the disease.
I am considered “High Risk” for breast cancer because of my “significant family history ” with this disease . Two of my mother’s sisters have also had breast cancer, my auntie Marilyn losing her 17-year battle in 2005. Because of this history and having gone through my own breast-related issues/treatment over a period of years, I am monitored annually by the Hereditary Cancer Clinic and am part of the high-risk group the at Prince of Wales Hospital.
KEEP ABREAST OF BREAST CANCER
In particular – Women aged 50-69 should have a mammogram every two years. Just because you are not of this age group does NOT mean that you should not know what to be looking out for! To ALL women (and men too) – particularly young women who may think that Breast Cancer is not a topic they need to think about right now – please take the time to find out a bit more about this disease – that affects 1:8 women in Australia.
FREE INFORMATION POSTERS
Here are some FREE information posters that I produced for Breast Cancer Awareness month in 2007 for my client St George Private Hospital – who I thank for allowing me to use them here at Zulu.
Please do forward this post to your friends.
ALL THE VERY “BREAST” to you this month
Zulu's championing the cause for natural Soy Candles – the answer is clear
September 14, 2008
This is my story about discovering the benefits of candles made from natural soy.
I was given a beautiful candle at the beginning of the year which I loved! The fragrance was divine – and I loved burning it in my office. Toward the end of the candle – I noticed that the container was getting sooty.
Well take a look at this……..this is how the candle glass ended up! What is the deal with this soot?? PARAFFIN is what! Should we be concerned about burning paraffin candles?
My friend Jill has been making candles made of Soy and she gave me one as a gift recently. I decided to find out more about the differences between paraffin and soy – and here’s what I’m sharing with you today.
Once you read what’s below – you’ll see the benefits of using Soy wax candles are obvious and I for one am a convert!
Why are candles made of Paraffin BAD?
- Most candles are made of paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product that is classified as a petrochemical.
- Paraffin contains 11 different toxins, two of which are KNOWN carcinogens.
- Breathing in the soot released by paraffin is as dangerous as inhaling second-hand smoke.
- Burning paraffin wax emits harmful vabours, and black soot.
- To release fragrances, paraffin must be blended with chemicals.
- If you spill paraffin wax it is extremely difficult to remove from fabric.
Why are candles made from Soy better for your health and environment?
Soy candles are made from soy wax, which is hydrogenated soybean oil- a vegetable. Here are some facts about the candles that Jill makes.
- Candles made from Soy are 100% all natural, biodegradable and completely non-toxic.
- Soy wax burns cleaner and cooler and completely away.
- Soy wax is toxin and carcinogen free.
- Candles made from soy burn up to 50% longer than paraffin-based candles and produce 90% less soot.
- Soy wax burns cooler, which disperses the aroma more quickly. Even when unlit, a soy candle’s fragrance is evident.
- Soy wax is also water soluble and biodegradable, so with some warm soapy water it’s very easy to clean up if there are spillages.
- Using candles made from soy wax supports our farmers.
Which would you rather experience, burning paraffin or lighting Soy candles?
I know it’s fairly cheap to buy pretty candles or bags of tealights for cheap from discount stores – but when I think about what exactly I’m burning into the environment when I burn paraffin wax – it’s usually in an enclosed space and I shudder at the thought of toxifying my environment – regardless of the prettiness or the nice smells!
Stay tuned for Zulu’s next step in the war against paraffin and campaign for candles made from 100% natural soy wax.
