Hi everyone,
Finally found time to write on the blog. The pace has not stopped here with something new happening everyday. This rotation has been less fun and more work. Well, I did get a Sunday off to get out of town about three weeks ago. I went with some friends to a park that is the start of the Kokoda trail. The trail is the old trail the Australians used to fight off the Japanese during World War II. From this point the Australian army could fire canons and hit their target three mountain ranges over. Now the trail is used by adventure group to hike across the mountains to the other coast. It's a 10 day hike through some of the toughest jungles and forests around. One of the guys that went with us is a guide for an adventure group out of Australia. He says the trip is long, hard, and not for the timid. It costs about $3000.00 per person to go on this trek.
From there we went back down the mountain to a small village called Segari and to the the Crystal Falls park. Segari had an open market to walk through. Most of the vendor were selling vegetables, smoked fish, and other items they have grown or made. Of course there were the betel nut vendors selling their products too.
So, on with the show:
One of our first stops was to visit the memorial cemetery for the Australian solders that fought during WW II. Most of the head stones depict unknown solders.
On higher ground is this cross overlooking the graves. The landscape was beautiful around the area.
Further up the hill was the memoral for all the PNG people that also fought in the war. The columns are lined with bronze plaques with names of all the people involved.
This is a typical head stone for the majority of the graves. Unknown solders from the war.
We left the memorial and headed up the mountain toward the start of the Kokoda trail. Above is a typical road side stand. this one sells vegetable. All the fruit and vegetable stands have items that the families grow.
This is the main road we traveled to our next stop. Yes, it is a dirt road up the hill that is barely wide enough for two small cars to pass on. There were some paved parts, but, they were full of ruts and some were slow getting through. During the rainy season this road is sometimes not drivable.
The next stopping point was a viewpoint the one of the largest waterfalls on the island. These two girls were the gate keepers to the entrance of the viewpoint. It cost 2 kina per person to walk down the path to the viewpoint. Later I found out from our guide that they actually do keep the area clean and tidy and they get paid for their work by people like us coming to see the waterfall.
This was the best viewpoint of the fall I could find. the path was steep and part of it was on a rock edge that went strait down to a viewpoint landing. The water is coming from a lake higher up the mountain.
We finally got to the top of the mountain. Well, top of the hill at least. This the the start of the Kokoda trail. The trail goes over the furthest mountain you see in picture and then down to the ocean on the other side. Our guide said we should climb down to the stream. I looked down the trail and it was mud, wet grass, and pretty steep. I declined to go. Also I was wearing my sandals at the time. The other 4 people started down an ended up sliding most of the way. It took them about 10 minutes to climb up the 100 yards they slid down.
After getting muddy (of course I was clean) we went to the market in Segari. Here you could buy all the fruit and vegetables you need plus other items.
This is local river fish that have been dried. There were a few stands selling the fish.
These two ladies were selling home made donuts. There in the buckets in front. No, I did not try one. I am a little leery of eating any of the local food.
This family were selling potatoes and some leaf I couldn't pronounce.
This is the back side of the market area. All the products are locally grown.
And there is always a betel nut stand with ample supply of nut, lime, and mustard stick.
These two teenage girls didn't know I was taking their picture until the third click of the camera. When they saw I was taking pictures they hid there faces and started laughing. Their a little shy.
As we left the market I couldn't resist this shot. Mom and baby waving bye.
There is a part two to this blog. I will be working on some more pictures and posting soon.
Take care,
Ken
