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Kokoda - The
Movie
A feature film titled KOKODA is set for release around Australia on ANZAC Day (April 25). Directed by Alister Grierson, the movie is based on true events on the battlefield along the historical Kokoda Track in 1942. The action/adventure movie tries to capture the struggles of the war and highlights the spirit of endurance, courage, mateship and sacrifice. It captures the significance of the Kokoda Track then and now under the sub-title 'Mates Became Heroes. The Track Became Legend'. Director Grierson was on the Kokoda Track six months ago to research the film and shot footage with the help of tour operator Kokoda Spirit. For more info on the movie and a sneak preview visit: www.kokodaspirit.com
Eco-Wildlife Park for Kokopo
A New eco-wildlife park is being built in Kokopo, East New Britain at the cost of K400,000 (US$124,800). According to the Post Courier newspaper, the major sponsor of the park is Cosmos Oil Company of Japan. Foreign Affairs Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu when launching the project said it has the potential to become an important tourist attraction for Kokopo and Rabaul.
Russians
interested in PNG products
THE interest from the Russian market in Papua New Guinea's tourism products is growing every year. Another 17 representatives and executives of major wholesalers, retailers, travel agents and operators arrived in PNG on March 28th visiting Alotau, Madang, Kavieng, Rabaul, Kimbe, Tari, Goroka, Lae & Loloata Island Resort outside Port Moresby. Russia has a big dive market with interests in nature based activities as well as our culture. A separate group of 8 Russian divers including a local politician arrived on April 4. The group is currently diving in Alotau aboard MV Telita. Email info@pngtourism.org.pg or visit www.pngtourism.org.pg
Village
Home Stay for Aussie Kids
The Mornington Peninsula in Australia
is thousands of kilometers away from Awala in Papua New Guinea. But 14 students
and 3 teachers from Mentone Grammar School are keen to enrich their lives by
sharing in the cultural experiences of their hosts, the Oro Kaiva
people. The group arrived on April 3 and will spend the next 12 days living
and learning the ways of the local people of Awala Village. The 12 & 13
year old students including 3 females will each have a host family during their
village home stay. This is the sixth such exchange between the two communities
begining in 2000.
Pacific Village Wins 3rd Best Stand At ITB
Kokoda's Bower BirdsDid you know that the Owen Stanley ranges has two of the most spectacular engineers in the animal kingdom?
Paul Chatterton of World Wildlife Fund writes that the Macgregor’s Bowerbird - an olive and orange bird the size of a crow - builds a bower made sticks stacked on top of each other and glued together that can stand up to three meters high. The bird generally cleans out the area around the pole and covers it with a moss carpet. They then lay flowers, leaves etc of a red or rust colour over this. It must be quite spectacular to see.
But dwarfing this is the bower of the similar sized and coloured Streaked Bowerbird. This small bird builds a hut with a meter wide dome shaped roof supported by a central maypole. The hut stands up to 80 cm off the ground and generally has back and side walls. Again the ground is scraped bare and decorated with moss, flowers, fruit, fungi and leaves of a variety of vibrant colours. This would have to be one of the most spectacular built constructions in the bird world.
Both birds live in the mountains above 1000 m elevation and place their bowers generally on or near ridge tops. David Soru of Alola Village along the historical Kokoda Track says that although the birds are shy and a hide needs to be constructed to view them effectively it is not too difficult to find the bowers and birds dancing in them. I believe that at least one and perhaps both of these birds are featured on David Attenborough's extraordinary documentayr on the Birds of Paradise. Email pchat@wwfpacific.org.pg
MS
Statendam tourists embrace Lae
700 passengers and crew of cruise ship
MS Statendam graced the port of Lae with a short but memorable visit for the
tourists on March 10. Some 500 tourists left the cozy comforts of their first
class cabins to participate in a Lae Highlights Tour that visited the Rainforest
Habitat, Lae War Cemetery, and Botanical Gardens. The Morobe Tourism Bureau
commissioned various cultural groups to perform for the tourists at the
Botanical Gardens. All tourists were captivated by the rich natural and
historical beauty of Lae, and especially the smiles of the local people.
Bonavetura in PNG
ITALY's popular television series Donaventura is set to come to Papua New Guinea in September. Donaventura is the first TV series committed to adventure & outdoors travel exclusively performed by women. The protagonists of the unique TV series are selected through a national competition and from more than 22,000 applicants only 12 are selected for an extraordinary expedition. In the course of their adventure, the girls will act as 'travel reporters' for very popular travel magazines in Italy to relaese their discoveries, emotions and enthusiatic travel experiences. Bonaventura's PNG adventure will be an extension from Australia and will cover Port Moresby, Mount hagen, Lake Kutubu, Wewak and the Sepik River. Visit www.donaventura.com
Air Niugini introduces E-Ticket
PAPUA New Guinea's national flag carrier Air Niugini has gone hi-tech with the introduction of Electronic Ticketing or 'E-Ticket'. The move is in line with IATA's directive for all member airlines to go 'E-Ticket' by 2007. E-Ticket is an advanced form of storing travel data in the form of an electronic record making it convenient for the traveler. Visit www.airniugini.com.pg
April's Hot Spot
The 'Hot Spot' for the month of April is Lindenhafen Fishing Resort in West New Britain. Situated in a gorgeous natural harbour surrounded by islands with gold clad sandy beaches, one might as well dump the fishing gear, slap on the sun cream and dream away. Lindenhafen was an old 800 hectare coconut plantation run by the Germans in the 1930's. The German's named it citrus (linden) harbour (hafen). Present owner John Scallan has built a resort on the beach front with 10 comfortable and spacious bungalows. Fishing fanatics have the option of deep sea fishing for blue marlins, billfish and mackerals or chase after the elusive black bass, spot tails and mangrove jacks that roam the nearby river systems. Email: info@pngtourism.org.pg
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