Cultural display rekindles Prince Charles memories 50 years ago

The Prince of Wales surprised Papua New Guineans this morning at the Sir John Guise Stadium with his introduction in tok pisin.

In tok pisin the prince told the crowd: “Mi bringem bikpela tok hamamas biltong Mejesti Kwin bilong Papua Niugini na olgeta haus lain bilong mi lon dispela taim bilong Diamon Jubili bilon misis kwin na olgeta haus lain bilong mi lon dispela taim bilong Diamon Jubili bilong misis kwin.”

The crowd responded instantly with cheers echoing through the stadium.

The translation: I bring you greetings from Her Majesty The Queen of Papua New Guinea and from all my Family Members during this celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of The

Queen.

The Prince then asked the crowd: “Mi tokpisin orait.” (Was my tok pidgin all right). The crowded responded ‘yes’ with cheers and smiles.

The Prince’s recall of his first visit in 1975 during the country’s Independence proved how much the future king has grown fond with Papua New Guinea.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you will forgive me reminiscing a little.

“For I paid my first visit here nearly 50 years ago, the happy result of an extension to my school career in Australia. I have never forgotten  the profound impact of that visit.

“I vividly recall the powerful worship in Dogura Cathedral  which affected me greatly; and, I was overwhelmed to learn that, at Wadua, the drums had been beating for several days in anticipation of my arrival.

“The importance of Papua New Guinean culture has remained with me ever since. It was therefore a particular pleasure, having welcomed Papua New Guineans living in Britain

to St. James's Palace a few days ago, that my wife and I could depart to the beat of a kundu drum.

PNG to feature at major travel show at UK

Papua New Guinea’s potential as an exotic and alluring tourist destination will be featured for the first time at the World Travel Market, which will take place between November 5 and 12 in London’s Excel Arena.

The event will see 4000 exhibitors and travel service providers from across the world and is known to be the place to be for spotting trends and forecasts in the tourism industry.

Retracing the track of Saidor Campaign

This tour was taken under the request of David Anderson and his son Dave, who wanted to visit some of the areas around Saidor in the Rai Coast area where David's father (also named David Anderson) who once took part in a military campaign during the World War 2. David's main intention was to understand better the terrain where his father once fought and campaigned against the Japanese invasion. His father was in the US 128th infantry and was engaged in January and February 1944.

Below are some of the photo highlights:

Dave trying out a beat of a kundu-drum with Maiyau (in traditional dress) and David Anderson clapping after a warm traditional welcome at the Yamai village - Photos by Theodore Baworo (Theo'...)

Theo's Guide scouts Saidor in the Rai Coast area

Below are some of the photo highlights - Photos by Theodore Baworo (Theo'...)

Papua New Guinea: Expanding Tourism

Papua New Guinea: Expanding tourism Asia | 6 Aug 2012

With visitor arrival numbers and tourism spend both up in recent years, Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) tourism sector is showing solid signs of consistent growth. A renewed focus on niche markets, particularly adventure and ecotourism, has seen international recognition of the burgeoning sector. However, a lack of infrastructure and security issues could frustrate further achievements.

Maximus Film Crew of German visits Madang

Maximus Film crew of German, does a documentary film in Madang province.

Thanks to National Film Institute and Madang Provinical Administration for approving their visit and a special mention to Caspar Guide in collaboration with Theo's Guide and Barum's west-tourism community.

Maximus Film Crew of German (based in Munich). 

Below are some of their photograph highlights of a village cultural experience at Barum Village.

An Adelbert Mountains Bush Trek

By Catherine Frerichs, Visiting Professor of Writing

Divine Word University

On my immediate left, I’m standing by a traditional, white, European statue of the Virgin Mary. On my far left are the upper ridges of the Adelberts. Out over the lower ridges of the Adelberts and across the Vitiaz Strait, I can see the peak of Mt. Konigoi, the dormant volcano on Karkar Island, just above a collar of clouds. On my far right lies the Madang Harbour. I recognize islands from the Saturday morning kayaking I do with my friends: Pig, Little Pig, Long, and a finger of Krangket.

I am enjoying this spacious view from Halopa Station, to which six other expatriate friends and I hiked with our guide, Theodore Baworo of Theo’s Guide & Wantok Tours, and Arnold Sapurie, his assistant. Theo, originally from Milne Bay, is a 2010 graduate of Divine Word University’s Tourism Management and Hospitality program. He has devoted himself to developing PNG village tourism programs (http://pngvillagetravel.blogspot.com) of the type we were experiencing, as well as providing free tourism awareness and education to the potential rural tourism destinations as a tourism consultant.

World's largest privately-owned yacht visits Madang

The mv Octopus owned by billionaire Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft sailed into Madang over  Easter

mv Octopus is 126m, almost 3, 000 tonnes, costs US$200 million and travels around the world for the owner and his friends. Paul Allen, reported to be the third-wealthiest man in the USA and 12th in the world called into Madang for diving with Skita Libido from the Madang Resort.

The picture shows the garage housing a submarine, catamaran, numerous tenders and jet skis.

 It also carried two helicopters which have their own hangar and the ship is staffed by 60 including two US ex Seals.The Kalibobo Spirit and Madang Resort can be seen in the background. - Picture by SIBONA MANI

Source: Malum Nalu

Kokoda 70 Years On – Tourism aids community development

Monument at Ower's Corner - Photo courtesy of Kokoda 70.org

Sydney: The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority hosted an event in Sydney on the 29^th  of March to mark the 70^thAnniversary of the Kokoda Campaign. The event opened this year’s anniversary trekking season and highlighted the advancements and community developments that have occurred along the track as a result of the legacy of the Campaign and the special relationship between the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and the Australian Diggers.

Ruben Maleva, Chairman of the Kokoda Track Authority, reminded Australians of the special bond forged between the countries 70 years ago and encouraged people to trek Kokoda as the tourism revenue is a key contributor to development for the communities in the region.

“Since Australian soldiers left PNG an estimated 30,000 Australians have returned to trek Kokoda and this has made a huge impact to the local communities aiding development with increased education and health services, creating jobs for porters, guides and guesthouse operators and other small businesses.  Many of the local people have built friendships and renewed bonds through tourism development,” Mr Maleva stated.

Recent research has estimated that trekkers bring close to a few million Australian dollars a year to the Kokoda area, over time this will add up to significantly more than other, shorter term industries and a much higher proportion of it finds its way directly to the communities.

Source: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority

Kimbe Bay's Zero Wreck

The Zero wreck sits serenely in its final resting place in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea


Text & Photo by Don Silcock

As the story is told around the bar at Walindi, the day the wreck of the Zero fighter was found was soon after a small plane had crashed on take-off from Hoskins Airport at Kimbe Bay. So, when local villager, William Nui, saw the wreck lay- ing on the sandy sea floor,
he thought he had found the wreckage of the recent crash— not that of a WWII Japanese fighter plane that had remain undisturbed for nearly 60 years!

That the wreck was actually spotted in the first place is an interesting story in itself, because William was freediving for sea cucumbers at the time and noticed what seemed to be a large shadow on the sea bed.

Like many people in Papua New Guinea (PNG), William is very supersti- tious and thought that he was looking at a ghost lying face up with its arms out- stretched, soaking up the sun. Terrifiedhe shot to the surface and to the rela- tive safety of his canoe, eventually sum- moning up enough courage to go back down to take a closer look, realizing that it was actually the wreck of a plane rath- er than some demon of the deep.

Theo's flash-back of 2009 Karkar Awareness

Karkar Island awaits peacefully...

On the clear bright morning of Friday 8th May 2009 twelve of us, all 3rd year degree tourism and hospitality management students of Divine Word University, were on the ‘Elly 2' to Karkar Island.

Lynda, Ruby and Lissendra Wongoto with Elizabeth Goodyear at for  back. Girls on Elly 2 really  taking a pose with cool sunnies getting pumped up to visit Karkar Island.

The ‘Elly 2' is a 23 feet and 225 horse powered speed boat owned by the Goodyear family. 3rd year student Graham Paulus from the highlands and I stood at the boat's bow, thrilled with excitement as our boat soared over the waves aimed towards the island.

The Facial Tatoos of Oro Province

The beautiful tropical fjords of Cape Nelson offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Papua New Guinea. Combining the views with the excellent scuba diving on the isolated offshore reefs, it is easy to understand why the area draws visitors from all over the world.

The Tufi Dive Resort, situated as it is on the headland overlooking the main fjord and onwards towards Mount Trafalgar, offers a wonderful location to enjoy this special part of PNG.

But no visit to Tufi should be considered complete without some exposure to the local villages and their culture - either by attending one of the regular cultural demonstrations organized by the resort, or with a village homestay for a couple of days. If you have the time… do both!

While the homestays will take you right in to village life and provide a real taste of local traditions and customs, it has to be said that they are not for everybody as no electricity or running water is available. For this reason, most visitors opt for attending the cultural demonstrations.