No place like Lae

It was good to be back home again in Lae the previous weekend, from Dec 2-4 and boy, did I enjoy it.
For me, there's no place like Lae, a town where I was born and bred.
I talked a walk through my old stomping grounds in Top Town  and caught up with old friends.
Here is my visit in pictures:

The first person I bumped into was an old schoolmate of my brother David at Lae International High School in the 1980s, Chris Davies,  and he thought I was David...another Mangi Lae from the glory days of our town has returned home...Chris is a born and bred Lae boy who did all his primary and high school here...and sad to see it going backwards...

I stayed at Lae City Hotel along 3rd Street, where the food and service was absolutely tops, not to mention the free Wi-Fi.

Brian Bell Plaza behind Lae Main Market...Lae's version of Vision City in Port Moresby..not bad...such developments are long overdue...

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Lae Post Office

3rd Street, Lae, with what used to be the IPI Building in the background.

The new Bank of PNG branch under construction, 3rd Street.

Sign at The City Cafe, Lae City Hotel

Good morning from Lae

Melanesian Hotel along 2nd Street, Lae, is closed for construction of a New look "Melo"

Santa Claus at Food Mart, 7th Street.

7th Street, Lae, where a new shopping complex owned by Papindo is going up where Lae Fish Supply - the most popular fish n chips joint until it burned down in 1995 - used to be.

Bus stop at 8th Street.

Legend of Lae...the Wan Jin Wah shop along 7th Street is still standing...

7th Street Lae, where in the 1980s, all the high school girls and boys would hang around on a Saturday morning.

Lae Police Station along Coronation Drive.

6th Street

The Telikom Building, once the Empire State Building of Lae.

Crowd outside the old Burns Philp store along 4th Street.

Coronation Drive

4th Street, Lae, where Theatre Lae used to be.

The "New  IPI Building" along 2nd Street.

Bumped into rugby league legend, Steve Malum of Siassi, outside Food Mart. He's 63 now but looking fit as ever.

This was once-upon-a-time, before mobile phones and Internet came along, one of the busiest spots in Lae where people lined for miles. The public phone booth outside the Lae Post Office is now closed and deserted...a relic of a bygone era...I'm thinking it should become a museum for those who come after us...

These potholes along 3rd Street, Lae, are an eyesore amidst all the concrete roads...just when I thought the infamous "Pothole City" tag was a thing of the past...from past experience, these will grow and spread like a cancer, if unattended to...we don't want to go back to the bad old "Pothole City" days...

Visiting the Lae WWII Memorial at 2nd Street. It was on Sept 16, 1943, that Australia took back Lae from the Japanese. A town with no past has no future. Our history must never be forgotten.

Lest we forget

Looking out to the Huon Gulf from 2nd Street

Niall Community Centre along 2nd Street. What used to be the Town Hall of Lae is now a rundown building.

With longtime Lae resident Fred Cook, who's now 84.

With my old mate Sir Bob Sinclair...owner of Lae International Hotel..builder of Lae and PNG over the last 50 years...

Merry Christmas from Lae, our fair home...this is the big Christmas tree at the foyer of Lae International Hotel...

Crystal Rapids is the perfect escape from Port Moresby

Crystal Rapids is indeed the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Port Moresby.
All former and current students of Sogeri National High School know about that, however, my elder brother David and I are both ex Aiyura National High School.

The magic of Crystal Rapids

Today, Sunday, Dec 11, my niece Zarin, eldest daughter of David, had her 14th birthday, and invited my kids and I to a day out at this beautiful part of Papua New Guinea.

David pointing out Crystal Rapids to me

David and family picked my tribe at our 8-Mile home, in two Toyota Landcruisers to our rendezvous, along the Sogeri Road past the rolling Laloki River and magnificent mountain grandeur.

Magnificent scenery At Crystal Rapids

The Sogeri Road is a busy stretch with new developments and houses all along what was once a quiet country track.
We drove past the breathtaking Rouna Falls and up to Sogeri, past the road leading to the iconic WWII icon of Owers' Corner, the start of the famous Kokoda Trail.

Peace and tranquility at Crystal Rapids

Rain started falling lightly as we made our way to Crystal Rapids, stopping at a roadside market along the way, for some fresh bananas and water cress.

The market at Crystal Rapids

Wows all around as we drove into our destination, took out the steaks and chicken for a barbecue, as the kids and some of us took a plunge or just sat along the riverside enjoying the views.

I wish you were here with me

The park-like settings of Crystal Rapids are kept in tip-top condition by rangers from the local Koiari villages, who also maintain  good security.

It only costs K20 per vehicle entry fee.

The park-like settings of Crystal Rapids.

Oure Keigen, from the local Auberi clan of Koiari, was keeping a vigil over children in the rapids when I had a chat with him.

Crystal Rapids' ranger Oure Keigen.

"Every weekend, we have so many visitors from all over the worlds, from Europeans to Indians to Filipinos to Papua New Guineans," he tells me.

"We look after our visitors and advise them where and where not to swim (because of the fast-flowing rapids).

In the rapids

" We look after the place very well and clean it up on Fridays before the weekend.

"We have haus wins (rest houses) with barbecues and firewood.

One of the haus win at Crystal Rapids.

" You just come and chosen whichever haus win you prefer.

"We also have tourists who come to walk the Kokoda Trail or who are staying at the Kokoda Lodge, visit here to relax and have a swim."

See you at Crystal Rapids

PNG among world's best travel destinations in 2017

Papua New Guinea has been given a huge vote-of-confidence by being selected as one of National Geographic Traveler’s 21 “Best of the World” destinations for 2017.

Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive officer Jerry Agus shows the National Geographic Traveler’s Best of the World 2017 destinations, of which Papua New Guinea is included.

The highly-anticipated annual list will be unveiled in the December 2016/January 2017 issue of the magazine, which became available on newsstands nationwide in the USA starting November 29, and online November 17 at NatGeoTravel.com/BestTrips2017.
The 2017 Best of the World destinations are (in alphabetical order):
• Anchorage, Alaska, USA
• Baja California National Marine Parks, Mexico
• Banff, Alberta, Canada
• Canton Uri, Switzerland
• Cartagena, Colombia
• Central India’s National Parks
• Chengdu, China
• Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
• Ecuador’s Cloud Forests
• Finland
• Georgia, USA
• Guadeloupe Islands
• Hamburg, Germany
• Kauai, Hawaii, USA
• Madrid, Spain
• Malta
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Moscow, Russia
• Papua New Guinea
• Seoul, Korea
• Via Dinarica, Western Balkans

“The selection process was competitive and involved nominations from National Geographic Traveler’s worldwide network of editors, writers and explorers,” the magazine said in a letter to the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority.
“National Geographic Traveler has the largest audience of any travel magazine, with more than 8.5 million readers.
“Our readers love to travel, with the highest passport ownership, most international and domestic trips, and most outdoor recreation spending of any travel title.”
A jubilant TPA chief executive officer said that the vote-of-confidence by the widely-circulated magazine was just what the doctor ordered for PNG.
“Most of the tourist agents, wholesalers, everybody within the tourism and travel industry regard this as one of their very-important magazines,” he said.
“People read National Geographic to find out which destination is the best destination they can go to.
“For the first time, Papua New Guinea has been identified as one of top 21 destinations that tourists want to visit in 2017.”
Agus said one of the major attractions was PNG’s cultural diversity.
“There are a lot of places in the world that also have cultures and traditions, but Papua New Guinea is rated as one of the cultural meccas of the world,” he said.
“There’s no other place in the world where you get the cultural diversity and uniqueness.
“You travel every kilometre, the language changes, the culture changes, the way of doing things completely changes.
“We always say that in terms of cultural diversity, nobody beats us, and National Geographic reaffirms what we’ve been saying all along.
“Our cultures and our traditions, together with our natural attractions, is one biggest strength.
“Papua New Guinea is not a destination where you go to five-star resorts, it is not a destination where you go for shopping, our attractions are our cultures and our natural beauty.
“National Geographic has truly picked that out through their own independent assessment.
“It truly reaffirms that Papua New Guinea is truly one of the must-see destinations.
“It is not easy to get into the exclusive club of these 21 destinations, and for Papua New Guinea to get into that is a big story for us.
“We are happy, excited, and we want to take advantage of that.
“On the back of that, next year we’ll be doing more marketing and promotion throughout the world, especially in our major source market.
“On the domestic front, we want to do more product development, more awareness, so that people know the importance of tourism.
“Once people embrace tourism, everybody will play their part, so tourism can really flourish.”

KSL - Kina group completes Maybank acquisiton

Recently listed PNG financial institution, Kina Securities Ltd (ASX:KSL, POMSox: KSL) has successfully completed the acquisition of PNG's fourth largest bank, Maybank PNG, creating a new, dynamic and diversified financial services provider for the nation.
Kina has acquired the business from Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank Group), in accordance with the timetable outlined in the prospectus for Kina's A$97 million initial public offering, completed in July 2015.
The acquisition will enhance Kina's established position as a leading funds management and financial services institution in PNG, providing Kina with a banking licence, a substantial lending and deposit business, access to new markets and significant operating synergies and cross-sell opportunities.
Having completed the acquisition, Kina operates:
• the fourth largest bank in PNG, with more than 11,000 clients, seven branches and
an expanding electronic network;
• the largest wealth management business in PNG, with K5.3 billion in funds under
management;
• one of the largest fund administrators in PNG, with more than 159,000 clients; and
• the leading stockbroking company in PNG.
The acquisition was completed for a purchase price of K353 million (A$173 million).
As part of the completion process, the original purchase price was adjusted by an additional K12 million (A$5.9 million), with the variation due to changes in settlement arrangements, whereby Kina paid the purchase price to Maybank Group denominated partly in PNG kina
and partly in US dollars.
The vendor therefore will assume currency risk, and Kina has agreed to progressively exchange the PGK for USD at market rates over the next 12 months.
The adjustment to the terms of the acquisition will result in a slight increase in goodwill on the balance sheet of the merged entity, but will have no impact on earnings. Kina remains confident of achieving the forecasts set out in the prospectus, including the 2015 pro forma profit after tax of K45.3 million, and the anticipated dividend of K0.066 per share for the
year ended 31 December 2015.

Meeting Between PNG and Australia prime ministers

Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea and Australia discussed a range of issues of mutual interest including climate change, development support and APEC preparations, during their meeting in Sydney on the eve of the NRL grand final.
This was the first meeting since Malcolm Turnbull was elected as the Australian leader, and Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, said he was confident the relationship between the two countries would continue to go from strength-to-strength.
"I congratulated Malcolm Turnbull on his election as the Prime Minister of Australia and look forward to working closely with him and his Government in furthering our relations,"  O'Neill said.
"I have every confidence that our countries will manage the range of issues that confront our region in a progressive manner.
"We discussed issues relating to climate change, particularly the recent Declaration by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders.
"Mr Turnbull expressed his support and agreed that Australia should provide leadership and support on climate change issues.
"This is particularly important considering the gravity of the climate change in the way it affects to many of the smaller island countries.
"The upcoming COP-21 meeting in Paris is an important forum and Australia will actively participate in this discussion."
The two prime ministers also discussed the review of advisory and technical assistance provided by Australia.
"Our intention remains to change foreign advisory roles to become contract positions.
"This will achieve greater accountability and value for both countries.
"We anticipate that by December this year that these advisory roles will be converted to line positions, including the Policing Program with the Australian Federal Police."
O'Neill said his Australian counterpart was very well briefed on economics and politics in Papua New Guinea and acknowledged the National Government's work to deliver progress and development around the country.
Turnbull also offered his ongoing support to PM O'Neill's Chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum over the following year, and for Australia's support to Papua New Guinea in hosting APEC the Leaders' Summit in 2018.
"We are advancing our preparations to host APEC in 2018 and Australia will be an essential security partner as we welcome the Asia-Pacific leaders to Papua New Guinea."
O'Neill invited Prime Minister Turnbull to visit Papua New Guinea at a time of his convenience and he agreed to do so.

PM welcomes European Union decision to lift fishers' yellow card

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has welcomed the European Union's lifting the 'yellow card' warning on Papua New Guinea's tuna exports.
Speaking after the EU announced the change, O'Neill said the Government would continue to work with the fisheries sector to improve monitoring and enforcement.
"Illegal fishing and not reporting full catch amounts costs the people of Pacific island nations an enormous amount of money and undermines the sustainability of fish stocks," he said.
"Papua New Guinea is committed to ensuring we have full control of our fisheries and fighting those who would seek to illegally exploit our resources.
"Our fisheries sector has to last generations into the future and through coordinated monitoring and planning this will be the case."
O'Neill said coordination between Papua New Guinea's security agencies and industry stakeholders would continue to improve monitoring and enforcement.
"The European Union recognises the effort that is being made in Papua New Guinea to prevent the illegal removal of fish stocks and we will continue to strengthen these measures.
"We appreciate the concern that the European Union has for ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks, not only in Papua New Guinea but around the world.
"Global demand for fisheries products will only continue to rise in the coming years, so now is the time to be proactive and ensure monitoring and enforcement."
O'Neill said Pacific Islands Forum Leaders had continued to place a priority on ensuring proper management of marine resources, and this was reaffirmed at the recent Forum meeting in Port Moresby that he chaired.
"Forum Leaders have tasked fisheries, economic and foreign Ministers to undertake a joint comprehensive evaluation of systems currently in place.  This includes regional monitoring, control and surveillance, and compliance regimes, and to report back on their findings in 2016." 
O'Neill said the report would pay special attention to the use of modern information and communications technologies that can be deployed for fisheries surveillance.