| DanAlon05:44 UTC30 Nov 2011 | Most of what you need to know is in the guidebook, just read the damn thing!
Sepik
# A guide for the river is very expensive and not very much needed. ask locals.
# After two weeks on Sepik i'd recommend Kaminabit village.
its easy to get to (on market days) but a bit hard to leave until the next one.
activities:
making sago, fishing, swimming, tamed cuscus to play with, and if you're lucky - slaughtering, skinning, and eating a croc.
Accomodation:
Diana - 10k per night, meals included. private room in the rundown Kaminabit lodge. find her house 100m to the left of the "revival center" sign.
Croc farm: 30k per night, has electricity and mosquito nets(but still BYO). phone: 73971564.
#At angoram, next to the "wharf", a cheap and good guest house (Jim - 71215387)
# From Angoram you can catch a Buai boat for 50K, all the way to Bogia (the night ride is very cool). this can be arranged through Jim's guesthouse.
Mt. Whilhelm
# Don't think of going up there alone. its stupid.
# Don't hire a guide that doesn't live in Kegsugl (as he is less experienced, and not a wantok of the landowner).
# Kugsugl Guesthouse (Rambo - 72653078). cheap, has a great kitchen, gives you free food, right in front of the market, arranges the cheapest guides up the mountain, has free books (reading ones!) for taking up the trek, and after.
Goroka
# Best place to stay is the Sports institute. cheap, clean, and private.
# Bird of paradise hotel sells used reading books for 4k (ask at the gift shop)
# Do not miss out on the JK McKarthy museum!
Lae
# To get to Labu Tali (leatherback turtles), go to the Ibris market, and ask for a boat to Labu 3.
# While waiting for the turtles (sometimes a few days), you can ask the village kids to take you river fishing, or up the mountain
# This woman is very interesting, and can arrange home-stays around the Houn Peninsula (Miti - 71602574)
Kimbe
# Rabual shipping goes from Lae to Kimbe on TUE, FRI (220k)
# Lutheran shipping goes on SUN (around 150k)
# Queens head is a great place to stay. it is renovated, and fairly cheap. run by Peter (72050194)
Kavieng
# Elroi Guesthouse. 25k per night, meals included. incredible value for money. good spot to learn surfing if you wanna do it free. run by Richard (71645570)
# You can go all the way from Kavieng to Kokopo in one day, for 110k, with the "Solwara Meri". cheaper then the big boat/plane, and the road to Namatani is beautiful!
PNG backpacking tips
# Things you should always have with you: Umbrella (against sudden rain/ scorching sun), small camera, mosquito repellent (the best is Aerogard tropical strength - 15k), Toilet Paper, notepad+ pen, broad-brim hat, sun lotion, your documentation.
# BYO SIM-free cellphone, and buy a Digicel SIM card at the Moresby airport for 15k. don't forget to top-up!
# PNG is truely the land of the un-expected. try not to book flights too much in advance, as you may be f*cked.
# Always check your flight is still going at the date and time booked. Air Niuguini changes things without letting anyone know.
# Even if your backpack has a rain cover in-built, you might prefer buying a separate one, to guard your bag during PMV and boat rides, and keep the original clean and in one piece for your next travel.
Last and final tip - most important!
# Write down all these tips, and any others you may come across. reading them now does not mean you understand any of it, but you may find it very useful when you're there.
May you enjoy PNG as much I have. Truely this is an extraordinary place, with wonderful, loving people, and worth every Kina you spend.
Hope I've been of service, feel free to inquire further.
Dan.
| |
| watsoff17:47 UTC30 Nov 2011 | Good informative report; thanks for sharing.
| 1 |
| pngmangi23:15 UTC27 Dec 2011 | Great tips.
Just a small correction.... The market in Lae where boats depart for Labu is called Igris (pronounced eye-grease).
| 2 |
| lewoski19:06 UTC27 Mar 2012 | Thank you for this post!
I plan to go in PNG : maybe the most fascinating country in world
About boat from Lae to Kinbe how much time about for the trip boat? is kinbe and around is nice? volcanoes around?
i dont see any road to go in rabaul FROM KINBE by boat hom much time to go in rabaul? because wish to avoid to come back in PMoresby for taking an other flight.
What is exactly "Solwara Meri"? godd news its possible to take boat to new ireland and bus to kavieng.from near rabaul?
the road to Namatani / i see 2 roads on map west and east which one is beauiful? do you see beautiful sea and beaches in this road or its landscape?
Sea near kavieng seems very beautful but resort exensive.
aBOUT RABAUL AROUND DO YOU KNOW SOME VILLAGES? I DREAM TO SEE FIRE DANCE
IS IT POSSIBLE TO RENT A BIKE OR MOTORBIKE IN nEW IRELAND BRITAIN?
Price for sepik seems crazy for 1 week! so thanks for advice.
Madang seems very beautful also.
Thanks
N
| 3 |
