“Hi, Jasmine.
Here are a few of my favorite moments…and my photos (public Facebook albums)
Hogave, Lufa
- Day 1: I am warmly greeted by David Kima, who recounts the story and conservation movement of Hogave. We arrive in the middle of the local village mourning of a recently deceased member, a very rare and local experience, totally unplanned. After 3 hours of very rocky road driving, I arrive at the Hogave Conservation Centre welcomed by two villagers who performed a traditional wind instrument that very few locals can play, and incredibly, I become only the second (or third) tourist ever to stay here.
- Day 2: I trek through a truly “virgin” rain forest, one of very few remaining in the world (Congo, Amazon, and PNG), guided by three locals bushwhacking the way with machetes, climb a very wild and steep mountain side equivalent of 200 floors (according to my iPhone) to become the first tourist to reach the top of Mt. Michael. (The way down in the pouring rain was our least favorite moment.) As someone who has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, I can truthfully say this was a much more challenging level of difficulty – There the most I’ve climbed in one day was 134 floors, 3-4 hours max, with a different day dedicated to a descent, but in Michael, it was 200 floor, up and down in one day, for 10-12 hours, with far steeper and unpaved paths without camps. This hike/trek is only for the fittest of the fit!
- Day 3: I become the first tourist to visit and stay overnight at Hogave Village, an isolated and remote hour-and-a-half walk from HCC, and join the villagers in peeling potatoes and taro, preparing, and eating mumu. I stay overnight with David (another David) and his family.
- Day 4: I join the villagers gathered to enjoy a traditional hunting performance
- Day 5: I get cellular reception for the first time since I arrive in PNG and get to upload and share my first batch of photos with my friends. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837672754956.1073741876.3501655&type=3
Rabaul/Kokopo
- Day 1: I ride a local bus (!) with my guide Pauline Puipui to Ratavul where I visit to stay with her family. I visit the local beach, listen to the stories of Pauline’s parents, and join them for dinner which is mumu with the biggest giant claims I’ve ever seen in my life! I stay overnight at an authentic hut and bed made of woven coconut leaves.
- Day 2: I try weaving coconut leaves, scraping coconuts, etc. in preparing mumu that we enjoy with the family and neighbors, then string together local currency of shells. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.836154502546.1073741875.3501655&type=3
- Day 3: I am amazed by the first day of Mask Festival with the early morning Kinavai and nighttime Baining Fire Dance. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837870833006.1073741880.3501655&type=3 In between during the day, I snorkel and sail with dolphins on the way to/from Duke of York Islands where I explore and picnic at the beach. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.836148634306.1073741874.3501655&type=3
- Days 4-5: More amazing moments at the Festival
- Day 6: I climb to the top Mt Tavurvur volcano and explore Rabaul, including the Japanese bunker and barge tunnels, and Rabaul Museum/Rabaul Hotel. What a history! https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837875388876.1073741881.3501655&type=3
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact me if I can add more information for future visitors.
Thank you for the one-of-a-kind memories!”
-Grace Forker, Comprehensive Multi-Destination PNG Expedition
“Jasmine,
This thank you is long overdue! Last summer you assisted me in launching my Sepik River voyage. I think I’ve waited so long to thank you because this means my Sepik adventure is over and I must say goodbye and let go of what an amazing experience it was and begin to plan another trip. The Sepik will run within me the rest of my life! The people I met captured the very best of the human spirit and I felt a sense of peace throughout. It was beautiful!
Derek
P.S. I’m developing and catching up on my travels and pictures. Those works are to come…”
-Derek Schrok, PNG Sepik River Voyage Deep Version, (Repeat Visitor after PNG Essential Odyssey 4 years ago)
“This is by far one of the most remote and primitive places I’ve been in the world.”
-Jason G, PNG Essential Odyssey Tour
“Hello Chris,
I wanted to reach out to you and thank you. I’ve arrived home from my travels and you were absolutely correct about PNG. It was a lot, but it was very rewarding and worth it. Thank you! I really do appreciate PNG and your help in opening it up to me!
Thanks again.”
-Derek Schrok, Essential Odyssey and Simbu Culture Tour
“Chris,
All went perfectly!!!
All my expectations were surpassed.
Everybody so friendly and helpful.
All the guides were wonderful and made sure everything went as planned.
Many, many thanks,”
-Arthur Hislop, California, PNG Essential Odyssey, Madang Coasts and Culture, and Mt Wilhelm and Simbu Zone Panoramic Custom Tour
“Sam himself was a great guide, very reliable, responsible, honest, and hard working. Anyhow, in my opinion the tour was largely a great success. I have great memories from the experience and great pictures too.
Thanks again.”
-James Maccallan, USA, Goroka to Madang Walk and Madang Extension
“You were quick as I was about to email you myself with information regarding my tour last Saturday Chris.
On a good point I get your message – Your guide Florence Bunari was outstanding.Florence was an amazing source of valuable information, and we laughed a bit at my wish list of things to find. The driver and the other guy in the van were also great. Helpful and smiling all through the tour.
The War Cemetery was so special and peaceful. We did see from the outside the Parliament House.
By far my favourite place was the wonderful Port Moresby Nature Park (they have recently changed its’name). Plants, flowers, animals – absolutely terrific.
The security is such a sad part of life in Port Moresby and the scary prices of EVERYTHING, guarantee ones stay will be brief ! I am presuming that this huge security staffing makes all things so massively expensive. I can’t see any other reason why the prices are sky high !
It certainly will put visitors off from exploring Port Moresby and I wasn’t aware of seeing any tourists at all in my stay. Everyone I spoke to were there on business. PNG value tourism is therefore so so needed!
While I will discuss should anyone enquire, what my trip was like, Please give my best wishes to Florence and as a big traveller ( I have been to 55 countries ) Africa, India, Myanmar , Indonesia, Solomon Islands, etc etc wont bore you – Florence was the best tour person I have ever had. A nice person, educated and I admire her for actually walking the Kokoda Track – sadly I think I’m a bit too old although fit, to do it myself. My days of backpacking are now over.
Thank you for organising the tour.”
-Richard Bitot, Port Moresby and Jackson Field Culture and history tour, UK
How was your trip and guide?
“Thomas Payape and Tony Hateya from PNGVT looked after me very well. There was a funeral of a PNG pilot on the land next to Lakwanda Lodge and there were over a thousand Huli people there for 4 to 5 days.
I arrived on the day that they were preparing the mumu with 60 pigs to be slaughtered. Thomas was able to use my iPhone to get great movies shot of the preparations.
Since I had walked with a student from Tari High School to Margarima (2 days I think) in 1974, retracing Tari to Ambua Gap & Margarima was probably the highlight for me.
I cannot recommend Rapheal Kogun enough!! He is very honest and cared greatly about my safety. Same with Thomas Paypae in Tari.
The Guest house in Goroka was excellent, with ensuite bathroom and a continental breakfast provided – also very clean.
In Madang, Raphel told me that there were pirates at the moment, so we did not go to Dazib guesthouse, but stayed in the Lutheran Gusethouse in Madang – again excellent.
And would you recommend this tour to other adventurers who’d like to come to PNG?
Definitely. I had a great time thanks. Best holiday yet.”
