Robert@PNG

Tomorrow I head up to Goroka (Eastern Highlands) for a few days… I leave in the morning and plan on being back on campus sometime Monday.

I look forward to getting away from Lae and UNITECH for a few days and do some serious “chilling out”. Two of my AVI friends are based in Goroka (Jason and Eden) and I will be catching up with them while I am in town.

Goasa (my offcie buddy) is thinking of coming along but he is still in the process of deciding. Travelling around PNG is always safer to do with someone, espeically if that person happens to be a local. When I 1st arrived in Lae there is no way I would of embarked upon such an adventure but nowadays I am feeling alot more relaxed and besides, the security situation isn’t as bad as is madeout by www.smarttraveller.gov.au. Having said that and for the benefit of family and freinds back home the security situation does need to be managed tightly. Generally life is safe here if one is around people.

The PMV to Goroka leaves from the main markets in town and costs K20 (approx AU$8). The trip takes any where between 4 and 6 hours and can be a bit of a bumpy ride as the road to climbs up the hills on its way to the Highlands. As with all other PMV services around here the PMV will leave when it is full, so tere could be some wait. I expect to be well on the road by about 8am. To get to town from campus I am allowing myself the luxury of a taxi ride into town which I have booked for 6:30am. Note that Lae does not have a taxi service as such although a couple of bus companies operate a service (during daylight hours) but you need to ring up and book.

There have been stories about “Raskols” holding up travellers just outside of Lae but apparently these inciudents have been few of late. There was story in the local paper recently about a truck getting held up by a group of armed “Raskols” just outside of Lae unfortunately, the truck was full with policemen on their way to a shooting competition. Bad luck for the “raskols” becasue three of them got shot and killed.

PNG - The Land of the Unexpected

Just for your interest…. this is my 2nd attempt at writing this post. I was rudely interrupted by a power outage (the 2nd one today).

Only in PNG !!!

Before I forget… my contact details for the next few days are my mobile# +675 6823935 and a local number you might get me on is +675 7323886 (emergencies only).

I have included some info on Eastern Highlands which I got from www.pngbd.com website :

Symbol of Eastern Highlands
With a history of gold mines and coffee plantations, Eastern Highlands Province has had more exposure to European influence than any of the other Highlands provinces. It has a history full of colourful characters - miners, missionaries, patrol officers, plantation owners. Traditional dress is seldom worn these days, although the Highlanders still live in villages of neat clusters of low walled round huts built amongst the rolling kunai-grass covered hills.

Goroka, a small outpost station in the 1950’s, has developed into an attractive, well organised town with modern facilities and relaxed atmosphere. It is a major Highlands commercial centre of 25,000 people and at an altitude of 1600 metres it has a climate of perpetual spring.

Today Goroka has become known for its annual show, held every August. It is a marvellous opportunity to gain an overview of PNG’s cultural diversity. The shows were first held in the 50’s as a means of gathering together the different tribes and clans. At times there could be more than 40,000 painted warriors dancing to the beat of the Kundu drums. The scenario was an amazing success and grew from its original concept of a local get-together into a major tourist attraction.

Amongst the performers are the legendary mud men of Asaro. Tribal folklore records that centuries ago the warriors of Asaro were defeated in a tribal fight with a neighbouring village. Honour compelled the men to retaliate with a “payback” raid, and, to make themselves look fierce in the process, covered their bodies with grey mud. According to legend, the ruse worked, and their enemies fled at the sight of these ghostly apparitions. The mud men recreate the drama at the Goroka show and for hotel tour groups.

The Raun Raun Theatre Company, based in Goroka is a highly acclaimed performing group which tours both nationally and internationally. The theatre is located near the market, just a short walk from the town centre.

The J.K. McCarthy Museum in Goroka is named after one of Papua New Guinea’s legendary patrol officers. It is second only to the National Museum in Port Moresby and exhibits a wide variety of artefacts, handicrafts, war relics and a collection of photographs which portray early contact between Europeans and Highlanders.

From the Post Office, the street leads to a track that climbs to Mt Kiss lookout. A long steep walk ends with a magnificent vista across the valley. More serious trekking can be found south of Goroka at Lufa, the base of Mt Michael. There is a cave nearby with some interesting prehistoric paintings.

From Goroka on the old road to Kainantu is the village of Bena Bena, a centre for weaving. The men operate the hand looms, weaving pleasantly coarse rugs, bedspreads and place mats.

Eleven kilometres out of town by four wheel drive is the Mt Gahavisuka Provincial Park. This is an area of around 80 hectares set in beautiful mountain scenery. The Park includes a botanical sanctuary, where exotic plants from all over PNG have been added to the local, natural orchids and rhododendrons. There are clearly marked walking tracks and a lookout at 2450 metres with panoramic views.

Hotels can arrange day tours to any of the attractions near Goroka including visits to working coffee plantations, processing plants and the Kotuni trout farm - a favourite on local menues.

There are a number of options for accommodation in Goroka, ranging from the top of the range Bird of Paradise Hotel to the Teachers College Campus.

Air Niugini has daily direct flights to Goroka from Port Moresby. Third level airlines also provide connections to Goroka from various centres. Local PMV buses travel regularly between Lae and Goroka.

Map of Eastern Highlands

Bye for now….