Friday, 19th September.
There is a rumour that the road to Madang is now open. I take the risk and try it out. The tribal war is avoided.
I spend the night in Madang at the owner of the PMV (see article later on this page).
The next day I make a small city tour. It's very nice, airy and calm with water everywhere.
There is a rumour that the road to Madang is now open. I take the risk and try it out. The tribal war is avoided.
I spend the night in Madang at the owner of the PMV (see article later on this page).
The next day I make a small city tour. It's very nice, airy and calm with water everywhere.
page created 15th December 2014
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I come across the fisherman's market. The fish are more colourful than at home.
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All photos clickable to enlarge
One way to get around is by PMV. These are mini buses. Many are extremely unroadworthy. This is the main transportation used by the locals to get around. They are very cheap. When you need to get off, just call out for the driver to stop.
Something you must be aware of is that on occasion, PMV's are held up by armed raskals. This happens everywhere around Port Moresby but be particularly mindfull of this when travelling through the 2 Mile area. Also remember you're going to stand out on these buses and if you have valuables you risk loosing them. You probably won't see many (if any) foreigners getting about on PMV's.
I wouldn't use PMV's due to the high crime rate and the possibility of being held up. That's my personal choice. I don't believe it's worth the risk.
If you decide to travel on a PMV may I suggest you go with local friends, know the route of the PMV so you don't end up in a dangerous area and make sure you don't display any valuables.
Something you must be aware of is that on occasion, PMV's are held up by armed raskals. This happens everywhere around Port Moresby but be particularly mindfull of this when travelling through the 2 Mile area. Also remember you're going to stand out on these buses and if you have valuables you risk loosing them. You probably won't see many (if any) foreigners getting about on PMV's.
I wouldn't use PMV's due to the high crime rate and the possibility of being held up. That's my personal choice. I don't believe it's worth the risk.
If you decide to travel on a PMV may I suggest you go with local friends, know the route of the PMV so you don't end up in a dangerous area and make sure you don't display any valuables.
Sylvain travelled on a PMV - Public Motor Vehicle. I found this VirtualTourist article about PMV's in PNG:
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The 'biloum' bags are used for everything!
I now leave for the Gogol River. First we have to wait for the PMV to be full.
On the way I start my enquiries and a passenger said that there was no need to go so far.
He knew this plant (Clymenia polyandra) and said they were in his village called Bau. I trust him and I get off the PMV with him. He is a teacher of mechanics in a vocational school. I sit in the village square and after two hours Clymenia polyandra is found! So, that was really fast.
He knew this plant (Clymenia polyandra) and said they were in his village called Bau. I trust him and I get off the PMV with him. He is a teacher of mechanics in a vocational school. I sit in the village square and after two hours Clymenia polyandra is found! So, that was really fast.
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Mundu was the finder. The only fruit was immature, but the vesicles were round - as in C. australasica. There were no spines, and leaves were not articulated.
Now that the whole village understood what I was looking for, they brought me mature fruits.
Now that the whole village understood what I was looking for, they brought me mature fruits.
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Notice that someone has brought their grandmother to be in the photo!
The preparation of samples for the photos is always a spectacle worth watching.
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The seeds carry the imprint of the vesicles that were touching them.
At night I sleep in the vocational school. It is the holidays and there are only five students in the dormitory. There is enough room.
It's Saturday, the post office is closed on Sunday. So I decide to stay in Bau until Monday.
It's Saturday, the post office is closed on Sunday. So I decide to stay in Bau until Monday.
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The Quest for Wakonai!
part 10 of Sylvain's adventures in Papua New Guinea
part 10 of Sylvain's adventures in Papua New Guinea