Blogs from Papua New Guinea, Oceania - page 3

Lunedi' 18.1.2016 Si aggirava come un clandestino tra i vari livelli della Dobonsolo, giacca sempre in spalla come una moderna versione della coperta di Linus: cosa mai custodira' di cosi' prezioso questo malconcio giaccone invernale portato ostinatamente a spasso per i tropici? Simula dapprima per riflesso una noncurante indifferenza nei miei confronti, per poi rincorrermi e raggiungermi quando ormai stavo per lasciare il porto e perdermi per sempre tra le vie di Jayapura, Papua. Condividiamo una decorosa camera doppia, io col mio fidato zaino contenente tutto il necessario per mesi di viaggio, lui solamente con la sua inseparabile giacca; da quanto i suoi abiti incrostati (un paio di jeans ed una felpa con cappuccio) non avranno piu' avuto contatto con del sapone? Dorme completamente vestito ed i suoi calzini tumefatti emanano un fetore insopportabile. Martedi' 19.1.2016 ... read more

In many ways it is great that not many people know of Kiriwina Island because it stands as a largely unspoiled undeveloped community in the Trobriand Island Group. If you want to see how these people have lived for many hundreds of years, this is a great destination on the P & O Papua New Guinea discovery cruises. Once again we see some commonality with other island communities, and some unique things as well. This is the largest of the Trobriand Islands and supports a local population of around 12,000 people. We have returned to a Matriarchal society with some interesting values. (Rabaul with the groups we spoke to were community custodians of land) Possessions are passed mother to daughter, pigs are an indicator of wealth and are highly treasured, and we as visitors are known ... read more

After a comfortable over night cruise of 200 nautical miles or so, Sunday the 11th saw us anchoring off a beautiful tropical Island. It took quite a while to anchor the ship. Later the Captain told us there was a strong current as well as a little too much wind and swell, so the decision to stay and disembark took a little longer than usual. We were not all that surprised at the captain's remarks. From the ship's deck we could see that there was a definite rip running around the little island that somewhat protected Kitava. The anchor was 270 meters down!! Kitava is pretty much unchanged in thousands of years, and the island dwellers of the Triobriand Island group (Part of Milne Bay PNG) all move back and forwards across the islands in their ... read more

OUR TRIP ITINERARY April 2015 Tues 14th April - PER - BRIS Wed 15th April BRIS - POM (Port Moresby) Thu 16th April - Final prep & visit War Cemetary Frid 17th April - DAY 1 TREK - Owens Corner to Dump 66 ( 2.5km) Sat 18th April - DAY 2 TREK - Dump 66 - Ofi crk village (11km) Sun 19th April - DAY 3 TREK - Ofi crk - Agulogovillage (11km) Mon 20th April - DAY 4 TREK - Agulogo to Brigade Hill (10km) Tues 21st April - DAY 5 TREK - Brigade Hill to Naduri (13km) Wed 22nd April - DAY 6 TREK - Naduri to Templeton 2 ( 4km) Thur 23rd April - DAY 7 TREK - Templeton 2 to Alola (11km) Frid 24th April - DAY 8 TREK - Alola to ... read more

Day 9 Apr 25 ANZAC DAY The dawn service started at 0545. Everyone wanted to get there early so they started milling around the memorial at 0500. Crazy. Kris and I spent the time packing up all the gear we could. I put a coffee on and added a generous serve of rum. I have been carrying that small bottle with me from the start, I bought it duty free at Brisbane just for the occasion of the dawn service. Gun fire breakfast is an Anzac tradition, it is done on Anzac day at dawn. The original Anzacs did exactly that knowing that they could die as they step foot on the beach so a little rum gives them a bit of dutch courage and helps to settle the nerves. I put on my old beret ... read more