I immediately went to buy a flight ticket to Goroka for the 8th September, so leaving a good week free. I hitch-hike to the university where I find a quiet place to settle. I fall asleep and hear strange and repetitive songs close to where I am.
In the middle of the night I am woken by security guards who are the university guards. They explain that it is too dangerous to sleep out here because there are "settlements" (in fact, shanty towns) nearby.They take me to their offices where I can sleep in a large hall, although I prefer to sleep outside because the breeze repels the mosquitoes. The first 3 nights 'encampment':
Saturday, August 30th.
8am, I visit the botanical garden alongside the university. There are no citrus.
Video of cassowary.
Video of tree kangaroo:
At 11am I go out and find a university group preparing for a 'sing-sing':
From Wikipedia: Sing-sing is a gathering of a few tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea. People arrive to show their distinct culture, dance and music. The aim of these gatherings is to peacefully share traditions. Villagers paint and decorate themselves for sing-sings.
Everyone climbs into lorries and leaves for the sing-sing.
Once there, I now understood that the singing I had heard in the night had been a practice. This was the first sing-sing of this group of students representing a new province - the province of Jiwaka.
A panoramic view - click to enlarge photos!
So, that was my first day in Papua New Guinea. A cultural shock!
