Tumbuna Singsing PNG

Am trying to find out about Tumbuna sing sing in May. Has anyone been? Have found 2 tours to it but little info. I want to see the fab bodypaint and body decorations like the Goroka or Mt Hagen festivals but in a more natural and maybe smaller setting. Hoping Tumbuna may be the answer. Ive read here about Goroka and Hagen being held in sports stadiums or areas fenced around with coca cola signs and thats not quite what I had in mind. I recently went to see the bull jumping in Ethiopia. No admission, no fences, no amenities, no timetable - just a few of us in the middle of the bush and everyone else was local.

So does Tumbuna have the same "tribal interest" of the better known festivals? ie the body paint and colour and Bird of Paradise headresses and wigs and stuff??? I dont mind a smaller festival but still want the beautiful colour and variety I have seen photos of from Hagen and Goroka..

I have been to the Goroka singsing twice and thought it was fantastic. Yes, it is at the spoprts ground and CocaCola are sponsors, but you can put that aside. The energy and vibrancy of the event far out weighed any distractions. And it is very tribal - when all the groups are singing and dancing the atmosphere is electric and I would say primeval. And all the performers and on -lookers are so 'into it'. All the colour, action and sound is there. One of the best experiencs in my life. You may not get the same atmosphere at a small singsing.

Sorry, haven't heard of Tumbuna.

Hi northmelbournedn
Thanks for that. Sounds fab. Have you been to the Mt Hagen one also? Do they compare? Im now trying to narrow down between two tours with Ecotours Melanesia.

Sorry, I haven't been to the Hagen Show. It's on my list of things to do for 2008.

hi

as many others i went to the mt hagen show last year. well, the show itself was very fine, but not everything else. there are just too many tourists. for some reasons I just can't enjoy that sort of thing if there's so many of them. tourists will be inside to see the show they paid a lot of money for. local supporters will stay outside as they can't get in really without the badge.

as you see there's pros and cons. the question might be how to find the ultimate local experience? these won't be the one's you'll find heaps of information about on the internet. you just gotta be lucky i guess...

penso