A road trip from Lae to Goroka

My daughter and I took a road trip from Laeto Goroka on Thursday, December 22, 2016.
I miss travelling the Highlands Highway, which was very much a part of life, when I worked with the Coffee Industry Corporation in Goroka between 1998 and 2002.
For my daughter, it was a completely new experience for her, and one which I'm sure she'll long cherish.
We started our drive from Lae at about 10am:

The recently-completed Lae-Nadzab Highway at 6-Mile outside Lae.

Bulolo Junction at 9-Mile.

The area at 11-Mile that was washed out recently.

Yalu Bridge.

Nadzab Airport Junction

Erap River.

Erap  Bridge.

Shady rain trees at Erap.

Our first stop was at the popular 40-Mile Marker for some fresh kulau (coconut)

Biomass project trees near 40-Mile.

Flats at Rumion heading towards Leron.

We had a short stop at Leron Market.

Leron.

Umi Bridge, so memories for me as a young reporter with Post-Courier in 1994, when it was ripped down by flood waters and crippled the Highlands...for weeks...

Having marafri (bananas cooked in coconut cream in clay pot over a wood fire) at Ragiampum village, Markham Valley, near the Kassam Pass, for lunch. A new experience for my daughter.

Watarais Junction with Ramu Sugar and Madang to right, Kainantu and Goroka straight ahead...

Yung Creek at the base of Kassam Pass.

My daughter and I on the top of Kassam Pass looking down to Ramu and Markham valleys.

At Yonki Dam.

Yonki Market with lots of tilapia fish for lunch...

Kainantu...'Mile High Gateway to the Highlands'.

Barola Hill, an area once infamous for armed build-up...

Henganofi Station.

Magnificent scenery, cool weather, heading to Goroka.

Korofeigu...always one of my favorite parts of the highway...

4.30pm: And I'm back in Goroka...a place I've never left...

From Lae to Salamaua

We travelled on a 40 horsepower dinghy from Lae to home at Laukanu village in Salamaua last Saturday for the opening of our new Lutheran Church building.
We crossed the waters of the Huon Gulf to world-famous Salamaua Point, had a breather, took a look at Salamaua Peninsula, and then dared south to Laukanu.
It was the first trip to Laukanu for my daughter, who has grown up in Port Moresby, and she was mesmerised by the stunning and spectacular beauty of the place.

My daughter on our dinghy Ranu Mero at Voco Point

With Uncle Lot Gedisa, owner of Ranu Mero. He is employed by Eda Ranu, hence the name, which means Water Boy in Motu.

After about 30 minutes across the Huon Gulf, the world-famous Salamaua Point appears

This is the busy  seafarers' market at Salamaua Point where mariners -  both ancient and young - stop to refuel, buy food, buai or a cold beer. Given the lucrative multi-million kina buai trade between Popondetta and Lae, this place is a thriving melting pot and crossroads, a far cry from the uninhabited coastline it once was. Given easy communication, you can swipe your bank card, as the entrepreneurs carry portable EFTPOS machines. The amazing thing is that this place has been developed by the local people without any Government intervention.

From the market, we headed around the point and south to Salamaua, the famous Town of Gold and site of some of the heaviest fighting of WWII. Picture is my cousin Yawi and my daughter on the narrow isthmus.

My daughter and I at Salamaua with Salamaua Point in the background.

Another postcard from Salamaua.

Past Salamaua we crossed the mouth of the Francisco River, which was made famous during the gold rush days.

More pictures to come...

Back home in Lae

I'm back home in Lae with my daughter for holidays and also to attend the opening of our Lutheran church building in Laukanu, Salamaua, tomorrow (Sunday).

We arrived yesterday (Friday) on a brand-new PNG Air aircraft from Port Moresby.

Flight delayed and a bumpy and cloudy ride over the Owen Stanley, but we're at home. Thanks to PNG Air for the safe ride on the new ATR home for Christmas.

And the flight continues on to Madang, Wewak and Vanimo...bringing our people home for Christmas...

The mighty Busu River empties into the sea outside Lae.

Descending into Nadzab with the Highlands Highway below and the Saruwaged Range in the background.

How green was the valley...coming in for landing at Nadzab yesterday with the Saruwaged Range in the background...the road below leads on to the Highlands Highway in the middle of this picture...

A lovely bouquet of flowers at our Butibam Village home.

Checking out the local market at Butibam Village.

Bumped into bro Moses "Balance" Philemon along the road and we were reminiscing about our childhood days in the village.Moses was one of the original "BMX Bandits" of Lae in the 1980s.

Sad to see that our main road through the village is gone. To think that back in the 70s and 80s, while growing up here, we had sealed roads and street lights.

Guys, what do you think about this huge Lae melon? 

These beautiful flowers planted by Mum are still here to remind us of her - and Dad, Jack my nephew, Alison my big sister,  and Hula my wife -  this Christmas...although they may be gone...so many precious memories...