Forgotten paths

So I decided to take a trip to Vanimo, located on the northern end of the PNG - Indonesian border. Typically I would fly to Port Moresby and then via Wewak. I decided it was time to change the way I travel so decided to do an epic trip... Lae to Madang by PMV, Ship from Madang to Wewak and then Wewak - Aitape - Vanimo by road....

I am back from that trip and here are a few observations/rules:

1. Ship igo, sepik igo (If the ship is going to East Sepik, sepiks will definetaly be on board) - packed like sardines in a small ship, sharing laughs with random strangers all trying to get home to East Sepik from Madang. Having never been on a passenger ship for that long period of time (the last trip I did was five hours from Lae to Finschafen)  and previously always travelling by plane, I was a little alarmed at first but my cousin summed it up by saying - well, now you know how the rest of PNG travels...


View of the bay, Wewak


2. Dad's little lecture on 'wantok system (nepotism) and networking' always pays off when your in a bind - I'm always onto dad about how much time and energy he spends feeding the bottomless pit (as I put it) of wantok system but people he knew helped out with getting from Wewak to Vanimo as the PMV's are few and far between still.




Many rivers to cross, road to Vanimo

 

Down a dirt road

3. Building a permanent road from Wewak to Aitape and Aitape to Vanimo is going to win someone an election someday or guarantee a second term in office...Why? This is a major undertaking, jokes aside...Not only does the road need to be sealed, you have to take into account the swamps, the weather and the many rivers you would have to build bridges across to get to Vanimo in one piece. I look forward to the idea of cruising on a sealed highway from Wewak to Vanimo, perhaps that would justify me getting a Mercedes. Over to you Mr Somare...

4. There is beauty everywhere....

5. If you wake up early enough, you will definetaly watch the sunrise....