Milne Bay - worth the effort ??

[Centrals]

My travelling experience in PNG was many yrs ago. Thing might have changed from bad to worst, I do not know.
1. There is nothing in Port Moresby interested tourist but it is THE place of entry. Hotel is ridiculously expensive(same apply to everywhere) so I stayed at various Missionary Places. There was no road connection to anywhere else!! Plane is the only way out or you can start walking.
2. From Goroko there is a proper road linking all the way to Mt. Hagen and Mt. Wilhelm is along the route. The Higland area was "Dry" so road block was set up to search for alcohol!
3. I never experienced any unpleasantness because I stayed within the main route.
4. Never went out from late afternoon onward.
5. The cities are more dangerous because of tribal problem! Mt. Hagen was another not very pleasant place. But Madang was the opposite.
6. Rascal has complete different meaning in PNG.
7. Would I go back again? If the air fare is more reasonable and I am 20 yrs younger!!!!!!!!
8. Would I recommend the country? Yes but you have to do some research on the country.
9. Interesting country? No doubt about it.
10. Malaria is a real threat.
11. The out laying islands are supposed to be less dangerous(no personal experience though).

 

[Immeriswas]

Thanks for the information ! Looks like I have to do a bit more research on PNG ,especially on the surface side and the safety situation there. If I go, there will be a report as always.

 

[WetPup]

Ok, in all seriousness...

There is now a direct flight from Australia in to Alotau. Air Niugini ex-Brisbane, started in November iirc. You can avoid Moresby entirely if you just want to visit Milne Bay.

I was at Tawali a week after that hold up happened by the way. It was fine. They have beefed up security.

 

[Luko]

And yes ,I rather only take picture back home to avoid hassel at the custom.

There is no problem taking back home carvings providing you don't come back via Australia where they are very very picky with any organic import.
Done that lots of times from other Pac islands or Borneo : my flat looks like a museum now.
The cheapest fare from EU is via MNL with Philippines Airlines. AirNiugini flights from Hkg or S'pore are ridiculously expensive.

 

[WetPup]

Yet I have an apartment full of wooden stuff brought home to Australia from my travels...

They have an issue with soft woods like bamboo etc., but hardwood carvings and masks are generally fine. Declare them on the customs form, they take a quick look, and you're good to go.

 

[Luko]

Yet I have an apartment full of wooden stuff brought home to Australia from my travels...

They have an issue with soft woods like bamboo etc., but hardwood carvings and masks are generally fine. Declare them on the customs form, they take a quick look, and you're good to go.

But all woods need to be fumigated with the proper certificate, right?
If that so, I'm not sure the villager you buy the piece of carved wood from knows what a fumigation certificate is.

 

[Wingy]

It depends on if on inspection they spot holes bored by insects etc - I've had some stuff fumigated and others waved through

 

[WetPup]

Hardwood items rarely require fumigation. In 20+ years of overseas travel I have only had one thing fumigated - a tribal mask that had feathers on it, the issue wasn't even the wood. Everything else was waived through.

 

[Wingy]

I wore my feathers in my hair

 

[Luko]

It depends on if on inspection they spot holes bored by insects etc - I've had some stuff fumigated and others waved through

Good to know they're don't redtape that much.
Though I don't think they would have let me pass through with 2 fern statues from Ambrym and a couple of fern masks from the Banks islands/Vanuatu. Was better off leaving from Noumea.