- This topic has 11,993 voices and 99 replies.
- Posts
(It looked like the small community put such an effort in organising this small reception and I tell you Rich, Steve?s one hell of a lucky guy! Why? Because here in PNG only the Prime Minister and his ministers gets to be treated this way, not to mention that it was the first time ever in Kokoda such a show was put on for trekkers coming in from Overseas ? and Steve, John, Ross and Geoff were ?very, very fortunate? to experience this.
_LWF0022.jpgIn fact that was probably one of their main highlights while in Kokoda. (The guys will have to tell you themselves!) Word about Steve and his group had reached the village long before their arrival. So the dancers and everyone, even his mural was put up to officially welcome him!
_LWF0028.jpg10:00 ? Whew! After almost a half an-hours? entertainment a series of speeches are made and more surprises. Kokoda Station mayor Ori Keni who eventually surprised Steve by announcing that he was a long distance runner who represented PNG on the Commonwealth Games and that he knew Steve from one of the commonwealth games; It is indeed a day of surprises ? a local lady that goes by the name of Pricilla Ogomeri surprised Geoff by saying she has been to Maloolaba and was once a customer at Raw Energy, his restaurant. Later we found out that she was an Australian citizen.
Stadiium.jpg10.30 ? 11.00 ? While here we visit a small war Museum and the monuments. Pictures of World War II and the informative history of events during the war are written down in English, Pidgin and Motu. After some minutes reading we head out for the monuments to the war. It seems a lot of activity happened here during the war. We are on top of a small plateau. (The locals call it the ?Kokoda Station from the days of Australian Government control.) The station is a small area, with a police station, a school, post office plus other administrative offices, small canteens and an attractive looking hospital supposedly built by Australian Rotary Club.
_LWF0065.jpg11.30 ? 12.00 ? We begin the walk of our life ? The sun is a bit unfriendly today. I am already hot and sweating – I took off my T-shirt and put on a sleeveless shirt ? I brought three and they proved very useful during our trek. So here we are on a 3-hour walk to Hoi village where we would camp for the night before heading on to Isurava. The road we are walking on is all straight ? an old war track specially built for trucks. This track is marked by ever-green ferns, flower plants and big tall trees with a beautiful canopy. On the way I am chewing ?buai? (betel nut), with lime and mustard. Geoff tasted it and I think he hates it! I formerly informed the guys that betel nut was a mile drug and that as first timer it makes you talk and laugh a lot. As for me I just wanna keep moving!
_LWF0073.jpg12.00 ? 1.00 pm ? We reach a Rubber plantation. You can just imagine what it?s like for the guys in this humid day??. They are perspiring, Rich! As I am turning around Steve?s wiping his face so as John before sipping water from his water bag. The others are catching up while we stop for a rest under the shades of rubber trees. There are no shades in some parts and these guys are lucky they have their hats on! We still have two more hours to go before we reach Hoi. After some minute?s rest we start walking.
_LWF0069.jpg2.15 ? We reach Kovello the first village along the track and of the Orokaiva tribe in Kokoda. Not many people live here, it appears very quiet. We slowed our paces as the guys try to take pictures of the Kunai thatched houses built on posts (you probably seen them in the pictures).
I am starting to feel tiredness on my shoulder. Somehow my backpack proves a little too heavy ? not at all what I expected. Not used to walking with runners in the bush I start to take them off only to be interrupted by Eric our guide who urged me to move on. We passed a few small creeks along the way ? I had to sponge myself several times because of the scorching sun.
Ross__John__Steve___Geoff.jpg3:05 ? We arrived a little earlier than expected and to the welcoming sound of smooth flowing creek of Hoi village. Man, I can?t wait to jump into the water! I take off my pack and unzip it and what do I find? Six 355 ml bottles of cheese spread. I was doing a porter?s work today! I actually feel like breaking all the bottles of cheese spread on the rock I was sitting on. The porters laughed and apologize after they found out but that didn?t make me feel any better. Hoi, a small quiet and peaceful village directly located at the foot of the mountains is a home to over 100 people.
Trekkers_ad_guides_walking.jpg3:05 ? The guys head straight for the water minutes after we arrive and set up our tents outside on the grassy area. All four of them are now having a refreshing bath in the cool water, sitting on rocks talking and laughing. One of the porters just informed me that the owner of the house on the other side of the creek was selling beer ? warm beer of course. I inform Steve, John, Ross the Geoff as soon as they finished bathing. ?Hey no kidding! Go and see for yourselves!? Now it was my turn to jump into that cool water.
The three hours went by aimlessly. They guys are bored! John is suggesting they should have brought reading books with them.A nice warm plate of rice, bananas, corns and a hot noodle soup with all tinned proteins was just what I needed after the cold bath ? and we certainly had that for dinner.
At around 6.00pm the guys are trying to get you on the Satelite phone and I think they did though the reception was not clear. I was speaking to you directly for the very first time over the phone and must say am more than grateful ? Can remember exactly what you said as if it was yesterday ?
?DON?T WRITE ANYTHING THAT?S NOT TRUE??.MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THE FACTS ONLY, OKAY??
Alison.jpgAt 6:20 I came to the camping area and was surprised to see the guys holding a bottle of SP beer each and sipping very slowly as if they had all the time in the world to finish those bottles.
At night, the sound of crickets and water toads are audible! Just as the guys heading out of their tent with their flash lights on?. we see fireflies! The guys are intrigue by this new appearance especially Geoff who continues to switch his flash light on and off saying ?See I am a big firefly.?
After a delicious meal we headed for our tents. However, upon Geoff?s request I accompany him to the creek to locate where the sounds of toads are coming. As we found out they were tiny brown ones with a transparent body that was basically stuck to the rocks. Finally we are headed for our tents but ho! Geoff stuck his head out of his tent and called to me that some animal rampaged his backpack (was outside the tent) and ate all the snacks. I call to him to put his pack inside but he said he?d put it back outside with more snacks just so he can see what kind of animal got it maybe if he had a chance???. He?d catch it.
I am telling him it?s probably a rat or something as I got back into my tent and slip quietly into my sleeping bag. As I fall asleep to sounds of crickets, toads and the water flowing, I couldn?t help wondering what tomorrow would bring.
John___Steve.jpgMemorable Qoutes of the day:
?There was no where in the world that I went to and received such a welcome. This is truly special for me and my friends and I thank you for such a wonderful effort? ? A mesmerized Steve said after some speechless seconds trying to find the right words to thank the cultural group at Kokoda who put on a show for him.
?This is a great experience. That is the best thing about having someone like Steve in the group. I will have to accompany him again next time (laughs)? ? JT comments after Steve?s official welcome.
?What do I think of the show? That was incredible! Are we getting anymore ?singsing group? along the way?? Geoff said on the way to Hoi when asked to comment.
?That was perfect! Beautiful shot!? – Ross exclaims heartily after capturing the dancers onto his roll of film.
?Bun ? nating Geoff? and ?I am bun plenty? ? Steve exclaims after the guys learn a bit of Pidgin English.
And the name ?King Steve? was mentioned several times that day. I wonder who it was! (Ha! Ha!)
_LWF0064.jpgDAY TWO ? HOI TO ISURAVA
Monday 29th September 2003 ? MAKING THE MOST OF IT!
We all realize today the real walk start ? but we are ready to make to most of it!
6.00 ? ?Splitter -Splatter Splitter ?Splatter? ? I could hear the sound as clearly as the water flowing from the creek nearby. It is very cold this morning and I am curled up into a ball of fist on one-side of the tent without my sleeping bag, my knees are practically touching my chin. As it continues to rain outside water continues to pile up in my tent. It had been raining since 11.00 last night. ?Bloody Rain? it soaked my sleeping bag last night including my clothes I unsuspectingly left on the floor of the tent before going to sleep.
Ross_crossing.jpg6.30 – It is still raining, though not very heavy this time. Over a nice hot tea (PNG?s very own made National Tea) the guys are talking about last night?s rain ordeal and how they couldn?t sleep because water was dripping into their tent. Richard and Geoff I think were okay I? not sure about Ross and Steve. I tell them water went into my tent last and I couldn?t sleep.
When we are done we dismantle our tents and start to pack our bags.
Hoi_Village_Stream.jpg7.00 ? Once it stopped raining, Russel commands everyone to start moving. ?Come on everyone. Let?s get moving. We start early!? he is saying. We leave the campsite and are heading for Isurava ? our next stop.
We are told that this is going to be a 4-hours walk. Despite the heavy rains last night it was bright and sunny today?.no signs of rain at all. I am beginning to feel a little hot and uneasy as we go along so I took off the T-Shirt I was wearing ? I made sure I always had a sleeveless top inside. The pair of runners proves very helpful too. It is light and I felt comfortable in it.
About 15 minutes walk, we bypassed Hoi village No.2.
From here we turn right and we started going upwards for a bout an hour. I am ahead while the guys are struggling at the back. Still not used to it I took my runners off and decided to walk with my barefoot all the way till our next stop. It was quiet steep and after 5 minutes rest we started walking again.
Hoi_Village_River.jpg9.00 am ? The temperature is about 27 degrees when we reach the Choko Fields at Deniki ? a huge clearing like a size of a football field.
(July 29, Kokoda was abandoned after a brief fight and the troops pulled back into the hills above ? and made a base at Deniki.)
Here the guys stop for a while to make the call on the Sat phone to Rebecca at the Radio Station. So Steve is on air all the way from Deniki Choko fields ?? along the Kokoda Trail, relating all the fun that happened yesterday back at the Kokoda Station. We start walking again soon after that.
Chokofields.jpg
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.