Freezing

It is very unusual weather in Germany (& Europe in general).
There should be a sign of spring by now, but we had big snow fall on Sunday - Freezing !!

ITB Berlin is finished and we are on our way to Czech Republic.

Asaro Mudman is not a superman - ITB

"Asaro Mudman" is a popular figure at ITB Berlin. As he stands at Papua New Guinea booth, many people gather to get his photos, or even try to touch him.
Everybody expects him to stand whole day, but he needs a rest, since Asaro Mudman is not a "superman". If you really want to know who he is, please come to Papua New Guinea and visit Mudman in his Asaro village outside of Goroka.

On the way to ITB Berlin again

We are on our way to ITB Berlin, the world largest tourism industry trade fair.

Papua New Guinea booth will be Halle 5.2.a (Hall 5, second Floor), near South Pacific Village/Australia. (image from 2009 ITB Berlin show)

For those visiting the Show, please hop in and say hello to us.

See you in Berlin !!

New-Look Website is Up & Running

After some period of reconstruction, http://www.pngexplorers.com/ is finally up & running.

We hope the site is more user-friendly, and "sexy" according to Wolfgang, who was in charge of website design. Thanks for the good job, Wolfgang !

Please make use of the site for information, tour planning, and booking.

News Paper Artical about Goroka - from Sydney Morning Herald

The drive up the Highlands Highway from Goroka to the Daulo Pass not only reveals landscapes that earn this area a reputation as one of the most beautiful parts of Papua New Guinea, it's also a fascinating snapshot of the culture of a people who are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality.......

This is part of an Article called "Highland Hopping" on the Sydney Morning Herald by Ben Hall.

For a full story, please check

www.smh.com.au/travel/highland-hopping-20090730-e2mu.html

Goroka is one of the mot interesting places to visit in Papua New Guinea, full of culture & treks, from easy one to Mt Wilhelm Trek at 4,509m.

LNG project

(Project image by PNG LNG project)

No single day passes without hearing about "LNG Project" in Papua New Guinea these days.

It is US$15 Billion project joint venture led by Exxon Mobil to commercialize the gas reserve in Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea and connect it via Pipeline to the plant near Port Moresby. The gas will be cooled there to its liquid state at very cold temperature - "minus 160 Celsius" and shipped out overseas for export.

From politicians, businessmen to local villagers, everybody is talking about LNG Project which is said to bring economy up and thus to improve the life of every Papua New Guinean.

Well, I also wish it would happen, but at the same time would not be surprised if things get worse or nothing good would happen.

Clear example is everywhere - 20 Years of Oil export did not have positive economic impact for the majority of the Southern Highlanders, and what Gold production has changed the life of Western Province people or Misima island people ?

I don't want to see another Bougainville crisis - a civil war originated from world class Copper mine. I wish fair and transparent government will share the benefit of the LNG project via improved service delivery system.

Only Historian of the future generation would tell if LNG project was the right answer for PNG.

Bit of Science - Ornithoptera Priamus

"Ornithoptera priamus" is a common species of Birdwing Butterfly which lives from New Guinea Islands to Solomon Islands to the East.

We normally find Green-coloured male in mainland New Guinea.

On our last visit to Mioko Island. we have found the Blue-colored species, not knowing that it was one of the unique examples of Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

The Butterfly changes color from Golden-orange in the West Papua to Green in Eastern Half of New Guinea, and change to Blue/Green at this small Mioko Island. Further to the East at Bougainville and Solomon Islands, Blue dominates.

Just as culture is diverse and some 800 different languages are spoken, nature is also very much diverse and different in each islands here; After 15 years of living in this place, I am still amazed at the "Nature's Wonder".