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Today I boarded a flight to Kokoda to deliver our canvas (tarpaulin) for our newly acquired Mitsubishi Truck.
Ray, from R & P Signs worked on the canvas until 2:00am this morning and delivered it to me at the airport for the flight to Kokoda which left right on time at 9am.
All artwork on the truck was also done by Ray and his staff and we are very thankful that he under pressure delivered on time for the charter flight to Kokoda.
All work on the truck was done by The Auto Clinic here in Port Moresby and the canvas was actioned by Manta Marine who only managed to finish the job late Friday afternoon.
The truck is now complete and after tomorrow will be registered to work as a PMV from Kokoda to Popondetta return when it is not in use by our trekkers.
Regional Air's Twin Otter taxing to a halt at Kokoda Airport, 12th September, 2004:
Regional_Air.jpgOur very first trekkers, aboard Kilo Tango Lima 1 (KTL1) this morning, 12th September, 2004:
Left to right:
Wikrom Tang, Tom Clark & a young 14 year old, Toby Francis who caught the first charter flight to Kokoda followed a short time later by a second charter carrying the remaining 14 passenger including his father Mat Francis. I was informed Toby will celebrate his 15th Birthday out on the Kokoda Trail:
Editors Note: No, Wikrom is not Japanese but hails originally from Thailand who has spent many years in Australia and now calls Australia home. He is also our very first Thai trekker and a keen photographer – hence stay tuned for his pics at a later date following their trek.
Tom is a Uni Student from Canberra.
Our_first_trekkers_at_Kokod.jpgOne side of our truck shows our association with Kokoda Trekking my Joint Venture partner based in Kokoda – Russell Eroro.
As you will note, the tarpaulin has clear plastic windows in it to allow our trekkers to look out as they drive around Kokoda and up and down from Popondetta/Buna/Gona area. This was suggested to me by Andrew Burke, a Lonely Planet Guide Reporter who himself travelled on a PMV recently from Kokoda to Popondetta during his research time in that region.
Andrew remarked, Gail it has to have windows for anyone who:
- Suffers from motion sickness (ME…yes, vomit in no time if a boat stops on the water and also who suffers from car sickness
- People wanting to view the countryside whilst travelling around inside our truck
So many thanks to Andrew Burke who left PNG today to head back home to work on his deadline of November, to produce the detailed information required for the new publication of the Lonely Planet Guide Book on Papua New Guinea to be published by March, 2005.
Photograph: Our Truck after it had the canvas attached today in Kokoda. This tarpaulin will help keep out the dust and allow our trekkers we hope a more pleasent ride:
Canvas_on_truck.jpgThe other side represents a website I commenced in January 2001 as a legacy to PNG for the many years I have lived here to help put something positive back into the market place.
http://www.pngbd.com I have been told, is the most popular website in PNG and we presently receive 2.5 million hits per month and approx 100,000 visits. It is because of this website that I am helping Russell and the boys of Kokoda and other areas to find work walking with our trekkers along the Kokoda Trail.
After 18 months of more hours than you can possibly imagine in my after hours time working on pngbd, The Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) along with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) wrote and thanked me for promoting PNG to the world. However, TPA went one step further and asked if I would consider helping a Papua New Guinean who either did not have the know how or the resources available to promote themselves overseas.
This is how I came to be doing Kokoda Trekking Tours. TPA introduced me to Russell Eroro a veteran of some 280 + treks and his brother John Derick Eroro 300+ treks. Initially I started a company PNG Trekking Ltd in July 2003 and hired Russell as our General Manager to see how the relationship would work out.
In March this year 2004, I helped Russell set up with his own company and appointed his brother as the General Manager and the rest as they say is history.
I have now been working with Russell & his family for 12 months and in all that time he has not let me down which is a real credit to him and his band of porters and guides.
Photograph: Myself, Gail Thomas seen here at Russell's family block (home) in Kokoda, today 12th September, 2004 after being presented with a beautiful bilum. (I have been sent an email asking what was in the bilum….answer – a stick to expand the bilum so it can be hung on a wall). If you wanted to buy such a bilum, all you need to do on your trek is ask at the block. Usually such a bilum, would cost around the K50.00 mark.
Also given to me was some family Tapa Cloth (tucked under my arm) which represents their families traditional markings. I was informed they take this very seriously and if anyone copies their pattern, they would be very cross. John Eroro can be seen in the background…(just check out the legs you need to trek 300+ times…quite an effort I think you would all agree!)
More recently, his family have opened up their home in Kokoda and invited our trekkers to spend their first night at their block to give them a truly Oro Province welcome and to share in their culture. Other wantoks (friends & relatives) put on a sing sing (traditional dancing) and welcome all trekkers to Kokoda where they call home!
Gail_Kokoda.jpg
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