The Lake and it's surroundings are breathtaking. From my first day to my last day at the Lake, I enjoyed every minute of it. All the enthusiastic, wonderful people of the region were so happy to see us volunteers. They welcomed us wholeheartedly. We made friends instantly; friends for life.

The landowners didn't hesitate to explain us everything about their lives, even though they already told the same stories again and again, to each new group of arrivals.

The foresters from FPCD were great. Without Bonte, Kafuri, Peter, Linzon, Brian, Samuel, Amele and Bazaki the project wouldn't have been the succesful it was. They made a big sacrifice, leaving their families and friends behind for three months.

The whole project was a great collaboration between many very different people. We all had the same goal: save the Paradise Forests! This common goal bonded an interesting group from all over the world. It was a great experience - working together.

A few weeks ago when I left Camp Kewe, I had a hard time keeping my tears down, just like all the other volunteers. Being back in Port Moresby was interesting. On my last day in Papua New Guinea, three hours before my flight, my backpack was stolen from our car. In it was the diary where I'd written about all my wonderful experiences in Lake Murray. Fortunately, these experiences are much more than words. I still relive my experiences every day, especially when I show my pictures to family and friends.

I keep on dreaming about life in the Lake. I miss the outdoor life at Camp Kewe, the forest and the natural environment, the silence. There is no traffic noise or other western sounds, only the calls of birds and animal, the sound made by paddling a canoe.

I definitely miss enjoying a good piece of meat with Sep and joking around with him.

Last week I had an interview about my adventures in Lake Murray for a magazine and the journalist asked me what was the most difficult thing about living a very basic life in the forest. I replied: "Well, I don't think anything was hard except leaving all the friends I made behind. I don't know if I'll ever see them again."

It is hard being back home, suffering from culture shock. I went to the supermarket - what a horror. It amazes me, just how much rubbish is sold there. You don't need about 75% of all the items in there, maybe even more. I could barely find anything useful in there.

We in the Western world are so far removed from nature. Meat is not coming from a cow, pig or chicken. It's coming from the supermarket in a plastic box and it doesn't look very natural at all. How can I ever get used to that again?

In my appartment on the third floor of an Amsterdam building, I have a model canoe, made for me out of rosewood by Daya. I also have a mat made out of Pandanus leaves, made by his wife. I look at them every day and it makes me think about my friends at Lake Murray.

I don't know when I will be able to come back but the people of Lake Murray have touched my heart big time with their hospitality and enthusiasm. I want to thank them all. Sep said all the volunteers are part of the Kuni clan and I certainly feel like it's true.

Keep up the good work and Lukautim Bus! I'll try to come back!

Love you with all my heart,
-- Anne