Exploring on the Explorer. Lautoka, Fiji to Broome, Australia

[highplanesdrifters]

RABAUL TOUR

Now that I've started at the end with the last post, I'll go back to the beginning. 

 

It is HOT! Even the locals said it was jot.

After 30 minutes in a cramped no AC van over dusty bumpy roads we arrive at our first destination. 

The Hot Springs. 

No tour is complete without some local drama. After sitting at the very secure security gate for 15 minutes the police arrived an magically the gates were lifted.

Much discussion, hand waving, and phone calling.

I bet that truck has AC

And we're in. Past the very secure security gate.

 

Local trinkets to be had.

 

The exciting Hot Springs

 

A very cool beach with close up volcano views.

Kids always coming out to wave along the roads.

Tree knot

 

Former site of WWII Japanese runway. 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by highplanesdrifters

[highplanesdrifters]

Grrrrrrr. Cruise critic software 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by highplanesdrifters

[highplanesdrifters]

Rabaul Tour

Yamamoto's Bunker and

Peace Museum

 

It's still HOT. Sweat is my constant companion. We drove for 15 minutes down a very bumpy road then turned around and came back the same way. I have no clue why.  Didn't even bother to ask. Eventually we made it to the Museum and bunker. A few artifacts and some faded history, not a bad little place. Especially the part with fans and chairs. 

 

 

 

No longer the New Guinea Club. 

 

 

 

Notice the flag/emblem similarities?  Fyi, the Germans were here WWI. Much of the infrastructure was built by them.

 

I have no idea how this fits in.

 

 

 

Yamamoto's Bunker

Yamamoto was the Japanese Comander in New Guinea. This was their stronghold for the last years of WWII. Worth a Google. 

 

Rather spacious down there.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Rabaul Tour

Stop 3 & 4

A memorial rock

Picture of Explorer 

 

Ahhhhhh - A comfort stop at a local hotel.

 

A few beers with our guides.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Rabaul Tour

Stop 5 was the overlook posted earlier

Stop 6 Local Market

 

Often my favorite part of a trip. How do people live and eat?

 

The Beetle nut stalls were something. They took up half the market. Who knew it was such a diverse product.

 

 

 

 

Lots of yams. Lots and lots of yams.

 

Peanuts, huh?

 

 

 

 

 

Nope, not touching whatever this is.

 About $1.50

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Rabul

So that concludes the whirlwind step into civilisation. Our last city until we reach Cairns in a weeks time. Back to island hopping and lazing about the surf.

Yes the heat was brutal.  But let's face it, we knew what the temperatures would be on this trip. No one did a thermal bait and switch. All in all quite happy we did the tour. A lot to process. I'm sure we'll think about it for days to come.  

Now, let me tell you about that cold shower.  😉

 

Ugh, we've just been informed of a 3.5 hour departure delay. They are waiting for crew to aarrive. Earlier flight canceled. Gee don't they know about getting in the day before?  Disappointing as this cuts into our daylight sailout. Lots of birds, flying fish, Dolphins and possibly whales.

Smoke is moving in and we are once again in the ashtray. 

[drron29]

That German flag was because New Guinea was a German colony until WW1 when Australia invaded and occupied New Guinea. At the Treaty of Versailles it officially became an Australian protectorate.

 

Really good to see that they are improving the things that could bring tourists to Rabaul.

[highplanesdrifters]

8 hours ago, drron29 said:

That German flag was because New Guinea was a German colony until WW1 when Australia invaded and occupied New Guinea. At the Treaty of Versailles it officially became an Australian protectorate.

 

Really good to see that they are improving the things that could bring tourists to Rabaul.

@drron29Thanks again for chiming in with your depth of knowledge.

We were told that there is almost no effort to increase tourism due to the volcanos which are still considered active. After all, they have devastated the city twice in the last 30 yeara.   

FWIW, the city for the most part is run by the Chinese. Except for one or two outliers, all shops and businesses are owned by Chinese. The fishing fleet in the Harbour, Chinese. The NON air-conditioned vans - Chinese. Our driver complained that they were too cheap to pay for it.

It was interesting to see vestiges of German infrastructure 100 years later.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT

Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea 

 

Jacquinot Bay is a large open bay on the eastern coast of the island of New Britain. It is a tranquil place with white sandy beaches and tropical palm trees all around. There is also a well-known beautiful waterfall that flows out of the mountainside with freezing cold water right onto the beach. But during WWII, however, it was not a quiet place. It was, in fact, an important base for the Australian Army who liberated it in November 1944. This base was used to support Australian operations near Rabaul which were conducted in early 1945 in conjunction with advances on the northern side of New Britain.

[highplanesdrifters]

Jacquinot Bay, PNG

Should we have a lie in, or go out in the rain to see the welcome dance and waterfall?  We choose wisely. Best welcome dances so far! Choice of long or short hike.  Followed by a refreshing roll in the surf or waterfall. Perfect day!

 

 

 

 

Love the balloons. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short hike to the Village. I aborted quickly as it was akin to a traffic jam of humans.  Rolling in the surf much better.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Jacquinot Bay, PNG

Welcome Dance

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Jacquinot Bay, PNG

Dudes with the balloons are crushing it. Love watching the excited kids.   As the whirling grass hut people lost their tops there was a mad rush from the kids to retrieve them. Who's having more fun?

[highplanesdrifters]

Jacquinot Bay, PNG

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

 

Jacquinot Bay, PNG

One more because the internet is working and they are just so darn adorable.

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT 

Kiawah, PNG

 

Kuiawa (Kuyau) is one of the Trobriand Islands, the northernmost islands in the Milne Bay Province. Kuiawa is found some 200 kilometers from the province’s capital and to the southwest of Kiriwina, the largest and best known of the islands. The Trobriand Islands are of uplifted limestone and gardening is not that easy –but Trobriand Islanders are known for their magic to improve the growth of yam, a highly desired plant for ceremonial reasons and as food. Certain islands and villages have yam houses where the larger yams are stored and displayed. Houses are strung along the main road through the village and beach almond, casuarina and frangipani trees give shade. Trobriand Islanders are famous carvers and dancers and local groups and school classes love to compete dancing or playing their version of cricket, especially during harvest time.

[TLCOhio]

On 5/6/2023 at 8:49 AM, drron29 said:

That German flag was because New Guinea was a German colony until WW1 when Australia invaded and occupied New Guinea. At the Treaty of Versailles it officially became an Australian protectorate.

 

Appreciate this interesting background and follow-up.  We forget at times how Germany and other Europe countries had colonies in varied parts of the world, including the Pacific.  Good to have that historic background.  

 

Next is the big question as to if and when Australia will declare itself a "Republic" and not as attached to and under the British King.  Has the new Aussie PM started to move forward with that change?

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[drron29]

Don't worry Terry as us oldies die out the republic will happen.

As far as I am concerned Australia has done better with a Monarch as a ceremonial Head of State than a lot of Republics with an elected President.

[highplanesdrifters]

5 hours ago, drron29 said:

Don't worry Terry as us oldies die out the republic will happen.

As far as I am concerned Australia has done better with a Monarch as a ceremonial Head of State than a lot of Republics with an elected President.

It's not a very high bar. 😉

[highplanesdrifters]

On the surface you are seeing a pattern of welcome dances, walks in the jungle and a swim or snorkel. As we peel back the onion layers we find striking anthropological differences.  The Baining tribe discourage their children from playing and are encouraged to adopt each others children. Each tribe has their own level of sorcery or black magic.  In general across this region we are asked to cover our shoulders, knees, and not to wear bikinis. The missionaries did their job. Tribes walk in two worlds.

 

 Today we sail in to Kuiawa Island, part of the Trobriand Island group. It is quite a different story.  Did the missionaries skip this area or just fail?  Sex is big, really big, and lots of it. Promiscuity is encouraged at a young age and will be reflected in their dances. Sadly their customs have hastened the spread of AIDS/HIV.  There are now government programs to educate and distribute condoms. BTW, it is taboo to eat in front of each other.

 

It's worth a further dive into this fascinating culture.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trobriand_people

[highplanesdrifters]

Kuiawa, PNG

The day started off with an entertaining, albeit very slow canoe race. A dance in the water by the little ones and their whistle happy leader. He's clearly seen The Music Man too many times. Good fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by highplanesdrifters

[highplanesdrifters]

Kuiawa, PNG

 

Off we go to their cricket field for the obligatory speeches. This included fifteen minutes of donation requests. There was a large basket brought out. Silversea staff were not happy. On to the hip-thrusting.

 

 

 

Locals out in full force laughing up a storm

 

 

 

That Whistle!

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Kuiawa, PNG

We slipped off quickly for a free roam in the village and had it mostly to ourselves.   Trinkets for sale, a friendly chat here and there, best part of the day.

 

 

A man and his pigs. Charming fellow.

 

 

Tough negotiator. 

 

 

The fisherman queue up every day hoping to catch Chef Pia's eye. 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Jackpot!

Chef Pia's German Lunch

Food coma and a nap here I come.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT

TUFI, PNG

 

Tufi is located on the south-eastern peninsula of Cape Nelson in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea. It is situated on a tropical fjord which is the work of ancient volcanic activities and was not shaped by ice as the descriptive name might lead you to believe. Surrounded by uncharted coral reefs the underwater world has attracted many divers wanting to see for themselves how the area earned the description of having more fish than water. Although Tufi has been the administrative centre of the region traditional ceremonies are still very important with natives wearing tapa cloth made from the bark of mulberry trees found in the local forest. Dance is predominant in the culture and performers sport fanciful headdresses decked with bird-of-paradise plumes and a rainbow of iridescent feathers. Tufi’s wide range of colourful birds and butterflies is well-known throughout Papua New Guinea boasting several ‘largest’ ‘biggest’ and ‘smallest’ records.

[highplanesdrifters]

TUFI, PNG

 

We skipped the welcome dances and had an indulgent lazy morning. Folks did say it was quite beautiful and dances were excellent. No regrets.

With our newfound energy we went for the afternoon snorkel.  The reef was quite bleached and overfished. Still a few interesting things to see. Some of the staghorn already coming back. Lots and lots of stars. Water is warm and we are happy.

 

 

A tiny nemo.

A giant powdered donut.

 

These Giant Coral always remind me of a Star Trek set. Can't you see Spock shooting his phaser from behind one?

 

 

A good beach for a laze about.

 

The morning queue to sell produce.

We are told that the ship isn't buying much now. Before we reach Australia most produce will be thrown overboard due to strict bio security laws.