VIP ride by Crocodile

Please pick up the VIP guest from Art shop at 0800am, please handle with care.
That was a first job yesterday, nothing special .... until we found that the guest was not a human being, but a huge Crocodile Figure. As per an order from the client, we have escorted the VIP Croc into the 4WD, sit him on the seat, fastened the seat belt and transported him to airport with care....
The Crocodile together with fellow Ancestral Mask and Figure from Sepik region of Papua New Guinea are now heading for Europe.
After a long journey, hopefully they will find a new home in Bayern, Germany.
Thank you Michael & Xenia for the visit and looking forward to seeing you again !

Crocodile - A spiritual animal for Sepik People

You may find many crocodile artifacts while in Sepik river and wonder why.

Many Sepik people of Papua New Guinea beleive that they have originated from Crocodiles.

It is told that a woman who married a crocodile had children with features of half crocodile and half human. And so today a crocodile is spiritual animal to many Sepik people; in some part of Sepik there is a initiation ceremony still alive where young men gets their bodies cut to a crocodile-like skin.

Crocodile means many to Sepik people - is an ancestor, a guard and a symbol of strength etc..

And it also tastes good - a chicken like meat, little bit strong,but without smell.

You want to try next time ?

Coffee in Papua New Guinea

Coffee is Leading cash crop in PNG, especially in Highlands Provinces.

40% of the entire population depend on Coffee for most of their cash income.

Most of the PNG coffee is Arabica, a Premium variety that grows between 1000m-2000m above sea level, and needs cool air, high volume of rainfall, and well-drained ground.

Together with Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands Province is most suitable for the growth of Arabica Coffee: the provincial headquarter town Goroka is called Coffee Capital of PNG.

Never tasted Coffee form PNG ??

Many professionals reckon it is one of the Best coffees in the world.

And not only it is tasty- with very low or Nil fertilizer/pesticide used, it is also a very healthy coffee. Since more than 70% of coffee is produced by small holders, it is very difficult to promise the volume. And it does not get along well with the mass-producing/mass-consuming world, so this is a contributing factor that PNG coffee is not traded as high price despite its good taste/quality.

Actually, almost 50 % of Coffee is exported to Germany, and others goes to Australia, USA, Japan etc.. So you may not realize but already drinking PNG Coffee.

For your souvenir from PNG, make sure to buy coffee for your friend, family or yourself.

Best Bed for Baby

You will never miss Bilum or string bags while in PNG.
There are dirrefent types of traditional bags, some use coconuts leaves, pandanus leaves etc...

Today, Highlands Bilum made out of wool is more popular than others and even many coastal people are carrying them around. The strong bag is used for carrying the garden products in the villages and as a shopping bag in towns.

When I was new to the country, I was walking around the busy Mt Hagen market: a lady with Bilum on her head was ahead of me - looked like potatos inside, and I was shocked to see that Bag was moving, and next moment started crying !!There was a baby inside, and at that time, I did not know that Bilum was also a good bed for Baby. - It is a movable soft bed and protects baby from the hot sun, and has good air-circulation.

Shopping at Craft Market

Craft Market was held at Port Moresby Grammer School Ground on Saturday, 8th Dec.

We took some tourists there for shopping this morning.

On weekend, some schools are providing safe & affordable sales grounds for artifact sellers to get together and sell thier items to the residents and tourists as well.

Ela Beach Craft Market is the most popular one and held last Saturdays of the month (Between February and November), followed by Port Moresby Grammer school one.

Unlike street markets of Asia, the price is almost fixed even in street market like this, but there may be a chance of bargain. Please give it a try !

Living with a Hope - Malolo T-shirt

Like other developing countries, large cities and towns of Papua New Guinea have a problem of urban mobilization, producing lots of "street kids" every year.

They are thrown out of formal education system, no chance of employment, boring & hungry, eventually got into trouble, alcohol, drug, and criminal activities.

Thanks to the City Mission PNG, those street kids are given opportunity for the training and gained skill to be self-reliant. City Mission provides Agriculture training, Literacy class and now produce one of the highest quality screen T-shirts in the country- called Malolo T-shirt & products.

The boys once lost hope in life are now busy designing, cutting, painting, sawing and selling the T-shirts & other items. The profit of the sales is returned to the Mission for community project.

And it is not only helping the people, but it is one of the best souvenirs in PNG - the design is very unique and represent different cultures of PNG.

We support the initiative of City Mission and have been selling the Malolo products since 2003 at our shop located in Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby.

If you happen to visit PNG, please don't forget to drop in to our shop and buy Malolo T-shirt for your souvenir.

Presents for Christmas

Apart from religious meaning, Christmas is also a season for presents.

Bagi , reddish-pink shell necklace is probably one of the most famous accessories and valuable presents in Papua New Guinea. It is only produced in remote islands of Milne Bay Province, and was a important trade item in oldern days.

In a Kula trade circle in islands of Milne Bay, Bagi was used as currency, passed on from the islands to islands in clockwise. There was another item - Arm band made out of shell (Mwali) which was going anti-clockwise on the group of islands.

Unfortunately, it is not a mass-produced item and can not be found in shops.

If you visit Milne Bay, ask people if they have Bagi. If you are lucky, you may be able to buy one and it will be your treasure for life.