Dec 29 Port Moresby

A second stop in Papua New Guinea, this time at Port Moresby, a location prized by the Japanese during WWII.  There was much fighting in the jungle to the north of PM, and that's where we toured.

Our arrival at the container port in Port Moresby.  We were surprised by the high rise buildings, expecting something simpler like Alotau yesterday.  But PNG is on the rise, literally, hosting the APEC summit in 2018.  There was a lot of construction along the waterfront to our east to prepare for the big event.

We were concerned because crime is a problem in PNG, so we stayed with a ship's tour.  We heard of no problems, so perhaps our fears weren't justified.

 Leonard, our tour guide.  Notice the effects of a lifetime of betel nut chewing.

 We drove from the port towards the Kokoda Track, the passage over the Owen Stanley mountains where the battles were fought.  It was over an hour to get to McDonald's Corner through mountainous switchbacks in a 20-passenger bus.

This is 9-Mile Cemetery, a civilian cemetery.  I don't know where Mile 0 is.

 These are the components of betel nut chewing.  The betel nut is at the bottom, and the husk has to be removed to get at the nut.  The plastic container at the top contains lime, formed by burning, then crushing, coral. (This is also the process for creating cement.) The middle item is a flavorant spice.  You dip the nut in the lime and a spice and it becomes a gum-like substance which you then chew.  It's mildly intoxicating and invigorating.

 McDonald's Corner.  Australian troops were trucked this far, about 20 miles from PM, then walked the rest of the way.  Fighting took place about 60-80 miles up the trail.  We barely got a glimpse of the terrain they had to deal with. Australian troops are nicknamed "Diggers" and so are portrayed here.

 The most thrilling part of the trip was crossing a wooden bridge over a ravine.  This is the ravine.

 This is the bridge.  Our confidence was not improved by the driver's betel nut chewing during the trip.  Although maybe it made it easier for him to cross the bridge.

 Jungle waterfall

 Far wall of the gorge created by the river.  Two things of interest: PNG is volcanic in origin and the rocks on the far side look like columnar basalt, common to volcanic origin.  And, notice how the trees gain foothold in nearly vertical rock and grow.  Nature will find a way.

 The winding road leading to the waterfall overlook.  At the bottom left you can barely make out the remains of a car that apparently did not make the curve above and behind the picture taker.

 An amusement park back in town.

 We stopped at Bomano Cemetery, where over 3700 soldiers from WWII are buried.  This Golden Shower tree guarded the road in.

 Raintree canopy over the grave

 One of the new neighborhoods in PM--all up on stilts

 A pop-up service station along the road.  Perhaps you can purchase a replacement wheel cover for the one you lost near here the other day.  Or gas or oil.  I can't tell if the Coke bottles contain Coke or oil -- insert your own joke here.

 Back near the port, a monument of remembrance.  Originally it was for WWI, then they added the statue for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels of WWII.

 The local Melanesian population was drafted into helping the Australian militia and many served in support roles.  This statue recreates a famous photo where a Fuzzy Wuzzy is helping a wounded soldier to the hospital away from the front lines.

The Fuzzy Wuzzies got their name, in that delightfully British way of naming the indigenous peoples of their colonies,  from their tightly curled hair.  Look at the picture of Leonard up above to get the close view.

An interesting, and very hot, stop in PNG.  Two days at sea before a return to Darwin Australia.