Papua New Guinea Pt

Papua New Guinea is made up of twenty-two different provinces, from hidden highlands to white costal paradise beaches, PNG has it all! At least 860 indigenous languages are spoken in the country, this accounts for over one tenth of the world's total, 80% of the population live in rurally and is home to hundreds of different ethnic groups and thousands of different cultural groups many of whom have there own art, dance, costumes, weaponry, music and architecture! 

According to Archaeologists, humans first arrived in Papua New Guinea between 42,000 and 45,000 years ago. Mysterious traditions and beliefs are still hugely popular in the local psyche, and spirit houses line the banks of the Sepik River. Witchcraft is widely respected and still practised, especially on outlying islands. Heading hunting and ritual cannibalism have been eradicated for several decades but were once practiced throughout the country mainly as warfare rituals. Evidence of these rituals can be found in an account of Harry Dauncey, an early twentieth century missionary, who is believed to have found 10,000 skulls in caves around New Guinea. Wood carving often in the forms of plants or animals is believed to represent ancestral spirits. 

In some regions it's also believed that the sexual intercourse and pregnancy are not related. Instead, a child's spirit hangs over the ocean until her brother orders it into the woman via her brain. Sadly, sexual and domestic violence is a major problem throughout the nation. According to the World Health Organisation, PNG has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. 

The deeply entrenched Wantok system is a fundamental part of Melanesian culture in Papua New Guinea. Wantoks are those who speak your language or what's known locally as a tokples. It works almost like a social security system; the shared language is the qualifying mark, and within each tribe or clan every person can be expected to be fed, housed, and have a share in community assets. 

The Second World War added yet another layer of history to the country. A major military campaign was fought between 1942 - 1945 during which approximately 216,000 Japanese, Australian, and United States service men died. The Japanese Imperial Army began invading Milne Bay in August of 1942 and soon established a 2400-strong army. They were rapidly defeated by the 5th of September. 

Alotau is a small town situated at the southeastern tip of mainland Papua New Guinea. It is the provincial capital of the Milne Bay district, and is also our point of entry into Papua New Guinea. The province sits between the Solomon Sea and Coral Sea, and the mountainous peninsula curves away protectively to the east to Cape Vogel.

The Milne Bay Kundu & Canoe festival runs annually in the first weekend of November. Dozens of canoes full of traditionally dressed warriors all paddling to the beat of huge war drums is the reason we've wanted to arrive in PNG before the 5th of November! This year over 800 boats have entered! Excited doesn't quite some it up. The photos will be something spectacular to share!