Happy Independence !!

On 16th September 1975, Australian flag was replaced by a new flag of a newly-born country, Independent state of Papua New Guinea. This year marks 35 years of its independence.
People who normally don't think about the country become very patriotic for this moment, national flags all over the places, people wearing PNG flag-designed shirts, caps and dresses. Celebrations going in the capital Port Moresby and other parts of the country.

Happy Birthday, Papua New Guinea !!

Between the Tradition and Development

The city of Port Moresby is changing very fast. Lots of New Hotels, Apartment Houses, Shopping Centres and Office Buildings are being built under the name of Development.
Here you can see the new Harbor City Development site, with new ANZ bank headquarter, New Executive Apartment and land reclamation site for further construction.
Right at back of it is Hanuabada village of Motuan people; life not much changed for hundreds of years since they have built the village on the water after migrating from other pacific islands.
It is a clear contrast of tradition and Development facing each other.
Everybody wishes for a comfortable modern life but if you believe in development and chase for it, you will lose your identity forever. Papua New Guinea is one of the last countries in the world which still keeps its own identity but it may have gone very soon....
Nobody knows where this country is heading for.

Miss PNG Contest

Miss PNG Crowning Night was held over the last weekend in Port Moresby.

The Event is organized by the Red-Cross Society and thus the charity side of the event is more emphasized than ordinary beauty contests.

The traditional part is unique for Papua New Guinea; each contestant dressed up in their tribal costume and being asked about the knowledge of their indigenous culture.

The Title of 2010 Miss PNG went to Ms James from New Ireland Province.

Unlike some other developed country, Miss PNG contest is still one of the biggest annual events of the country in Papua New Guinea.

Best Cot in Papua New Guinea

This is the Best cot in Papua New Guinea.
The baby is in a Bilum (string bag) hanging under the High-post house - it's cool, soft and tender.
I wish I could go back to baby and sleep like this......

Future for PNG Football

Soccer World Cup is around the corner.

While Papua New Guinea is not doing well in the FIFA ranking -ranked 202 ----last on the list !! - at Club level, PNG's Hekari United won the Oceanic Club Cup Championship recently. (See Oceania Football Website for more detail.) Congratulations for Hekari !!

At Junior level, inter-school football match is going on in Port Moresby.

(Photo - Under 6 Koroboro Hunters vs. TEMIS Tigers)

During the colonial era, Football was brought by Germans to New Guinea. After the change of colonial master, Rugby League is the most popular sport across the nation.
But there are lots of young kids playing football these days. By the time these kids become senor level, PNG may be going for World Cup -- who knows ??

Divine Word University Tourism Expo

The main reason to visit Madang this time was to attend "LIKLIK DIWAI TURISM EXPO", - the tourism exhibition by Tourism & Hospitality Management (THM) students by Divine Word University, Madang.
As a Tourism Promotion Authority officer at that time, I remember the discussion to establish Diploma course of THM at Divine Word Institute (later became University) back in 1995.
Now I am very glad to see that the course is well-established and have been providing resource persons to the Tourism industry in PNG.
Congratulations for the students & teachers involved for the success of Expo and once again, "Tenkiu Tru" for inviting me to this great event !!



Photo with Nadia (centre), who was one of the student coordinators of the Event.

New Service Started

Air Niugini has commenced its Second Port Moresby-Narita flight from 31st March.
This will make connection from Japan, North Asia, Europe & USA much easier than before.
Photo above, CEO of Air Niugini making speech before the inaugural flight.
The lucky first passengers were escorted by Dancers to the Boarding Lounge.

Back home in PNG

Finally we are back home in Papua New Guinea.
As the airplane was approaching Jackson International Airport, Port Moresby, we saw the the ever-green landscape & reef-fringed blue ocean.
We normally complain about the heat & humid, but for now, the warm sunshine is comfortable for the body after spending sometime in ice-covered land.
The words came out naturally - "Thanks God, we are back in Paradise..."

It is funny we always admire sophisticated & efficient society in "developed" countries, but when we come back to Papua New Guinea, we always feel healed from inside. It is difficult to express in words, but Papua New Guinea has something special, for sure.

As soon as we were back, we ate Kaukau (sweet potato), Banana and chicken cooked with coconut milk. Although I like Eisbein & Pilsner, nothing is better than home food with SP Beer !

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.

Merry Christmas !!

Management & Satff of PNG Explorers Internatioanl express Big "Thank You !!" for your support in 2009 and we wish you all a Happy Christmas &
a prosperious New Year 2010.

Season for Flower

Port Moresby is starting to rain these days, and becoming greener and greener.
Colourful flowers have good contract with the green back ground and decorate the town with Red & Yellow. This is the start of flower season in Papua New Guinea.

Home-grown Aibika for Dinner

Yesterday, we have harvested the Aibika leaves from our home garden.

Some of you have never heard "Aibika". It is a green leafy vegetable common in South Pacific countries. It goes very well with chicken & other meat and a "Must" ingredients for coastal people of Papua New Guinea.
I did not know that Aibika flower looks like Hibiscus, because nobody awaits here until the plant is flowering - harvest and eat before the flower blossoms.

We cooked the Aibika with pumpkin & chicken for a Dinner.

If you are next time in Papua New Guinea, don't forget to eat Aibika.

Visit Team Eastern Highlands

Yesterday we have visited Team Eastern Highlands at Taurama Primary School outside Port Moresby and donated Rice Bags, Chicken & other food stuff on behalf of Goroka Trek & Tours.
They are here to participate in the 4th PNG National Games and are cooking their own food while staying at school dormitory.
The donation was a big surprise but much appreciated by the team members. - Hope it has filled up everybody's stomach.
Team Eastern Highlands are currently at 3rd Place after NCD & Morobe Province.

Jelly Bean or Passion Fruit ?

The other day, I have found a funny-shaped orchid - Dendrobium smilliae - in the botanical garden. Well, this orchid was "found" in 19th century, so it is not "new" spices but the shape of the flower is very unique compared to other orchids.
For me, the seeds resembles like the inside of a tropical fruit so I named it "Passion Fruit Orchid".



However later, I found that it is called "Jelly Bean Orchid" by village children.



I have looked at pictures but I still support my idea of "Passion Fruit Orchid"......
What do you think ??

Pacific Cup Rugby in Papua New Guinea

Pacific Cup Rugby Championship is on the way in Port Moresbty and we have Fiji National Team "Batis" at Gateway Hotel. Here is the snap shot with the Batis members.
Batis members were so friendly and now the samll boy is at a loss whether to support his own National team "Kumul" or Fiji "Batis"......

Tsunami panic

After huge earthquakes hit Vanuatu islands yesterday morning (local time), Tsunami alert was sent across the pacific island countries including Papua New Guinea.

Being our memory still fresh after Samoa Tsunami disaster in late September, people are rushing out of downtown Port Moresby for higher area.

I was in a meeting in one office in downtown and around 1040hrs, I was told to vacate the building because of Tsunami alert, some even saying that Tsunami has already hit neighbouring Solomon Islands and on its way to PNG !!

Later I came back to office to find out that there was no Tsunami, and the alert was cancelled at 1018hrs, some minutes before I was told to vacate the building.

Most of the offices, including Banks and schools were closed for the day, even after the Tsunami alert was cancelled as most of the staff has gone home and never returned....

Nation's birthday

On 16th September 1975, Australian flag was replaced by the flag of a new country called Papua New Guinea.
We will have 34 years "birthday" of the young nation tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Papua New Guinea, despite all the problems, I trust your future is bright.
The photo was taken at Independence celebration at Korobosea International school.
From top left, Tolai (Rabaul), Mekeo (Central), Rigo (Central) & Simbu groups dancing away with their traditional costume.

Sudden change of Flight schedule

Air Niugini has announced its New schedule on 23rd Jun, and effective on 02Jul, only less-than -10 days notice, in the middle of tourist season.

It is almost impssoible to connect any destination in the morning because of the late arrival of Internatioanal flights, and the reason is because of the bad weather & morning fog ???

Many tourists have to change their itinerary, tours & hotels with very short notice......

While Air Niugini has its operational reasons (if not political reasons) , more consideration should have given to the international tourists who are affected by a very short notice.

Is there any way to do such a drastic change with ample notice, and maybe early in the year so that peak tourist season - with Summer Holidaymaker from North hemisphere & Winter Holiday Tourist from Down South - are less affected with sudden changes ??

New Schedule 108A can be downloaded from Air Niugini website.

http://www.airniugini.com.pg/pxmisc/SCH108A.pdf

Landmark ? Pinapple Building

In September 1975, Port Moresby became capital city of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. New government buildings were constructed at Waigani area to house government departments, including a spectacular National Parliament Building, which was opened in 1984 by Prince Charles of United Kingdom. Other important national buildings such as Supreme Court, National Museum, National Library are also located in the same area. Before those government buildings were constructed - according to the early settlers to Port Moresby - Waigani area was grassland all over and many wallabies were seen hopping around.

Among the buildings, there is a strange-shaped building opposite Sir John Guise Stadium.

This was originally one of the government buildings called "Marea Haus", but now everybody calls it as the "Pineapple Building" because of its shape resembles the tropical fruit.

Pineapple building has been long abandoned but become one of the landmark in Port Moresby, just like the "Leaning Tower of Pisa". Don't you think that "Pisa" & "Pineapple" are also look alike ??

French Guidebook for Papua New Guinea

We had a workshop in Port Moresby to meet with a French journalist who is making a country wide trip to write a guidebook of Papua New Guinea in French language for the first time.

For quite a long time, only Lonely Planet (in English) was available as a comprehensive tourist guide book for Papua New Guinea. We are grateful for the Lonely Planet for its publication, however, I believe a guide book in other language in which report is also done by their own country men will be much better.

I hope he will get good report & photos of Papua New Guinea and make a nice guidebook.

Phillipe, je vous souhaite un bon voyage!