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When I read the above subject matter I immediately thought they must have left some equipment behind at the Gateway Hotel where they stayed….but not so….read the email I received 10th October, 2005:
quote:
Hi Gail
We have arrived home safely, but we've left our hearts in PNG. What a wonderful family experience we have enjoyed. Our focus was walking the trail, and we are pleased for the preparation and research we invested as we all managed well.
However, what dominated the trip and the memories we have brought home is the people. What a shy, warm, generous people with a keen sense of humour.
The villagers shy, curious but always welcoming. The village children keen to pass a footy with our kids and grateful for the small treats we shared with them.
Your boys, our boys, the guides and porters were wonderful. 'Boss' John, calm and reassuring, yet authoritative.
Our personal porters who ensured our safety on the track – assisting with river crossings, extending a hand of help when needed, to occasionally stopping a fall!
Photograph: Trekkers out on the trail:
Village_pic.jpgTo the food porters – forever boiling water for a hard earned cuppa and efficient at organising dinner at the end of the day.
We were in awe of the boys' ability to quickly assemble shelters when needed. I guess that's what they are paid to do. But it was all the other things – their willingness to share their personal life, to take an interest in us, to continually humour and distract us.
Their singing and ukulele playing were a highlight, and their readiness to share a joke and always enjoy a laugh was so welcomed.
Photograph: Kingsley Boropi helping one of the trekkers in the same trek erect her tent:
Erecting_Tent.jpgJordy and Mitch enjoyed a wonderful rapport with their personal porters, Benson and Willford. To see our children so at ease with their porters and so well looked after was very reassuring. This is an extract from the diary Mitch wrote on the trip.
"The boys have been great, I have laughed with every one of them. They have been supportive and I feel we have become good friends. I am going to miss all of them dearly. I have really enjoyed my stay here and I will never forget it. It has been a really moving experience. I will be overwhelmed with sadness when I leave. I will come back."
Photograph: taken at Rusty's Family Block in Kokoda after they had completed their walk:
Kokoda_Block.jpgI was going to PNG expecting to be overwhelmed by the trek instead we were overwhelmed with its people. This has been a great adventure to undertake with teenaged children – a real journey.
Starting from the many hours spent training – at the gym, running stairs, to weekends hiking in the Blue Mountains. Reading books and watching videos, together researching the war history of the track. Culminating in walking and completing the track together, sharing the sense of accomplishment of that physical feat.
Photograph: Trekkers on a log crossing on the Kokoda Trail:
Log_Crossing.jpgKokoda Trekking came recommended to us, and we too will be happy to pass on your name. The organisation of the trip went smoothly, from airport pickups to hotel bookings. We appreciate your generosity of making available your truck and staff to show us around Port Moresby. Thank you.
Photograph: Village they visited on the Kokoda Trail:
Porters_in_Village.jpgSo many months in the planning but now only memories are left. But how precious they are! We are indebted to the staff of Kokoda Trekking. What a team!
"I'm just a simple KTL boy playing my ukulele, enjoying playing my ukulele, my ukulele on the track."
Kind regards
name withheld for privacy reasons.
Photograph: Porters on the trail singing and playing their uke'ule:
Kingsley_Uke__ule_playing.jpgPhotograph: Their daughter with her loyal personal porter Bensen. In the background are other KTL porters who helped the family complete their Kokoda experience:
Jordanna___Benson.jpgIf you would like to look at more photographs taken on this trek, PLEASE CLICK HERE – Trek 134:
Photograph: The author walking across a log crossing on the Kokoda Trail with her KTL trusted porters:
Lorraine_log_crossing.jpgJohn Derick Eroro our guide seen here at Ower's Corner making sure everything was in order before we commenced trekking. John is one of the most experienced walkers on the trail heading for 400 treks to his credit.:
John_Ower__s_Corner.jpgOn the steps of the Gateway Hotel before we headed out to Ower's Corner:
Gateway_Hotel.jpgCelebration time at the Gateway Hotel – Grant seen here receiving his certificate of completion:
Grant_Bowman.jpgauthor of email, mum – Lorraine receiving her certificate:
Lorraine_Bowman.jpgDaughter, Jordanna receiving her certificate:
Jordanna_Bowman.jpgSon, Mitchell receiving his hard earned certificate from Russell (Rusty) Eroro:
Mitchell_Bowman.jpgSpecial thanks must go to our KTL boys for looking after our trekkers and giving them the time of their lives out on the Kokoda Trail.
For taking the time to mix with them and show them that PNG is not all about raskols (criminals) but warm, fun loving people.
loyal_porters.jpg
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