Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Welcome to our travel blog site, "Robert & Rosanna are Going Tribal: A South Pacific Cultural & Diving Adventure". After moving our youngest child off to college on the East coast, we are now official empty nesters. And what a great way to open up a new chapter by taking a 30 day exploration into the South Pacific and the fascinating and primitive culture of Papua New Guinea !
This type of travel blog has dual purpose for us. Rather than coming back from a 30 day adventure with countless memories, pictures and stories to tell, and try to recollect and share them all with family and friends at once, it is much more fun to document and share them along the journey. As some have said, you'll get to travel along with us and live vicariously in this very distant country -- a country where time has stood still, where ancient ritual and ancestral customs are still followed in daily village life among some of the most hospitable people in the world.
There will be blog postings, stories, and pictures uploaded when accessible. There will be several days that we'll be remote and without any electricity or connections. When a new story is posted, you'll receive an email notification, but you may go to the blog site at any time and view the stories and photos. The website is www.offexploring.com/going-tribal (with the dash in between). At the bottom of each page with a blog story, there is a place to add a comment (and complex math problem to verify you are a real person ). Please feel welcome to post comments as often as you'd like -- more the merrier, it's fun for everyone, and lets us know you're enjoying !
You'll notice the previous blog entries, as this is a continuation of my first trip to Papua New Guinea in 2016. The Moko Moko tribe in Goroka invited me to return again as their special guest to spend more time with them, as they stated "you are one of us". Being a country with historical traditions of cannabilism and flesh eating, although the thought might be there, I feel confident that we're not going to be on the menu. As long as dinner preparations don't include us cutting carrots while standing in the pot, we'll be just fine . I found them to be very genuine people and I look forward to introducing my wife to the Moko Moko tribe.
Our long adventure has been in the works for over 1 year, with a tremendous amount of planning and preparations. We begin with our 14 hour flight on Virgin Australia from LAX to Brisbane, and connect for the 3 hour flight to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The itinerary includes a total of 9 flights, with 36.5 hours in the air, just over 17,000 miles traveled, and a 12 day cruise through the South Pacific islands. The Air Niugini flights from Port Moresby to Wewak and Goroka are always the unknown variable, as the airline is notorious for delays and cancellations and who knows what else. But it's the only way to get around the country, and we'll hope for the best when it comes to our flights and itinerary.
SEPIK RIVER
Our first destination is a new one for both of us, a 5 day expedition down the Sepik River, starting in Wewak and Pagwi, onward to the tribal villages of Kanganaman, Korogu, Palembei, Kimindibit, Aibom, Govermas, and Mameri. It will be just Rosanna and I, along with one couple from Australia, and our guide, as we travel by motorized dugout canoe downriver stopping at different tribal villages along the way. This part of the Sepik River has villages dotted along the riverbanks, each with its own distinctive style of artifacts, woodcarvings, and variations of culture. The area is steeped in rituals, ceremonies and customs that are still very much part of the tribes' daily lives today as they have been for thousands of years. It is renowned for its ancestral "Haus Tambarans (Men's Spirit Houses)", where for centuries the amazing Crocodile Initiation Ceremonies have taken place. This scarification of the skin is made through hundreds of fine cuts to the torso and tops of the arms. When the skin has healed, the scars keloid and give the appearance of crocodile skin markings, which represent the initiation from boyhood to adult warrior. Rosanna and I will sleep in the homes of the local tribes, eat with the families and observe and learn about their cultural practices and daily life. It's primitive, with pit toilets and bathing in the river, but we experience it all first-hand without any filters or amenities. With crocodiles in the river (and a big part of their culture), malaria infected area, and polio outbreaks, we are going in prepared -- polio booster, malaria medication, mosquito nets etc. While it has some wondering why exactly we are doing this ?? -- I am confident it will be a rewarding experience, one to talk about for some time. I've taken Rosanna out of her comfort zone for sure, and she is earning huge kudos for taking this leap along with me. And with her being a medical professional, she's hasn't appreciated my humor when I jokingly pronounce the Sepik River as the "Septic River", so I'll stay away from that one unless I want to go alone ! And if I play my cards right and she's stayed with me through the end of the Septic River adventure, then we will celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary on September 11th in Wewak !
Goroka Show
After the Sepik River expedition, we will fly back to Port Moresby for a connecting flight to Goroka, located in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (and world famous for its coffee production). Once per year a "Sing Sing" is held over Independence Day to showcase traditional songs, dances and tribal rituals, with more than 100 tribes traveling to participate in this event. While there are only 400 passes sold to foreigners, the local attendance is close to 40,000. It was quite a sight to see 3 years ago, and I look forward to Rosanna experiencing it this year.
FIJI
After going tribal for almost 2 weeks and roughing it out in the villages, we will shift gears and enjoy the resort life with a trip to Fiji. At the Wananavu Resort, we'll be waterfront and go scuba diving for a couple days and enjoy all of the other resort/spa amenities.
PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISE
For our final 2 weeks of the trip, we board in Fiji the Paul Gauguin luxury ship for a 12 day South Pacific cruise around Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, and 3 of the islands of French Polynesia/Tahiti. We'll dive in Savusavu Fiji, and we hope to see and swim with humpback whales in Moorea, as it is prime season in certain parts of the area. And there will be a lot of scenery to enjoy, relaxation, and quality time together in the South Pacific.
This adventure has been in the making for over 1 year, and we are now here. We are looking forward to some very rewarding cultural sights during this journey, meeting other visitors from around the globe, and meeting the amazing local people and learning their customs. We anticipate experiencing some outstanding scuba diving and encounters with large marine mammals. And we anticipate having memories for a lifetime.
So, away we go, we're "Going Tribal". Thank you for joining us on this journey - we hope you enjoy the blog site, the stories, the photos & videos, and please feel welcome to post comments as you wish. We'll see you back here on October 2nd. Cheers !!
Robert & Rosanna
- comments
Bob & Judy H We are looking forward to receiving your blogs. Have a great trip.
heidi Love these blogs. Looking forward to this adventure. Stay away from scalpers, you just got your hair. Keep an eye and hand on Rosanna at all times. Too pretty to be swimming with crocs.
Debbie Sariana What a adventure, enjoy and be safe.