- This topic has 9,957 voices and 21 replies.
- Posts
Its hard to believe its almost Christmas 2010 and the New Year is just around the corner! With the holiday season fast approaching, we thought it was time to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
xmas10.gif2011: This year our numbers once again have been down but we have battled on and managed to keep everything going and now look forward to finishing our trekking season when our last two trekkers come off the track on Tuesday.
Kokoda Track Authority announced trek numbers for 2010 were down some 35% on the previous year but bear in mind that 2009 was down on 2008. So it seems walking Kokoda is no longer the flavour of the month or there are other factors influencing the downturn.
Walking the Kokoda Trail still remains one of the hardest but certainly one of the best things you can ever do. To this day I still enjoy seeing our trekkers come off the track knowing they have successfully completed what they set out to do. I do not know how in advance, to explain to them the way they will feel when they complete their trek, its something one has to experience.
IMGP2736__800x600_.jpg
Nov_Graph.jpg
2010_table.jpgStaff: Sadly due to low trek numbers, our guides and porters have not had the work they enjoyed prior to 2008 but they have cash crops that help them survive and are all doing ok.
Treks: We have still been on the track on a weekly basis throughout 2010 but just lower numbers then in previous years.
Highlights for 2010:
- Only 1 medevac for 2010 so either trekkers are better prepared or taking more care whilst on the track. We also feel the 60 minutes program on Kokoda helped and that trekkers followed their advice as not even one person suffered from dehydration problems this year.
- The road from Sogeri to Owers' Corner. A big thank you for the upgrade as its like a super highway compared to what we have been used to in the past.
The photograph below shows what the road used to look like. On a regular basis trekking companies would get bogged as the majority would hire buses like in this photograph. As we were one of the few with 4WD vehicles a lot of our time was spent towing them off the road so we could get our trekkers to Owers' Corner. The road has been graded and improved, whether it will last only time will tell as the wet season is fast approaching. Lately we have noticed more work being done with culverts being put in; more gravel still going on the road, so even now they are continually working on the road. Excellent work to all involved in this project.
We can only live in hope that the road from Kokoda to Popondetta gets some attention as it remains the same if not worse then in previous years. Bridges have still not been replaced and the road plays havoc on our vehicles.
Bus_bogged.JPG- A big thank you to all trekkers who chose to walk with us in 2010. An even bigger thank you to all of you who returned and brought with you other family and friends as its very much appreciated by all of us.
- Orohaven Kokoda Retreat now has a bar, the Kokoda Wantok Tavern. This has proven popular with our trekkers and the local community.
For those of you who are wondering how we came to choose this name, the answer is, that it is a pidgin word that describes 'one talk' which they spell 'wantok'. Seeing as there would be Russell's Wantoks (PNG locals) and my Wantoks, ('Aussie Trekkers'), it seemed a wise choice for a name! Besides the word 'wantok' is a word that is used frequently here in PNG when meeting up with friends.
P1080011__640x480_.JPG
P1080032__640x480_.JPG- We are proud once again to have contributed to the new look of the Kokoda Airstrip. Our staff have mowed it monthly for several months and managed to get it back to its former glory of a couple of years ago when we did this on a regular basis. We were given some funds to do this work but the majority of it was spent on purchasing new lawn mowers; drums of petrol; labour and supplying all the soccer clubs in Kokoda and surrounding areas with uniforms. We also supplied them with long socks and goalie uniforms which cost close on K30,000.00. However, it was a proud moment seeing for the first time ever, sides playing against each other with correct gear. Some of the boys were able to purchase soccer boots but some missed out and played in sneakers. If anyone out there has some soccer boots lying around the house, you might like to donate them for next year's season. The cone markers were supplied by the Kokoda Track Authority.
- We were happy that some the grieving relatives of the Airlines PNG crash along with Lady Carol Kidu chose us to organise their visit to the crash site on the anniversary in August. This was a huge success despite the sadness of the occasion as Russell and John Eroro also lost their eldest brother in the crash.
- We have now built two walls at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat which are there also for any of our trekkers to place a plaque on behalf of their loved ones.
We would also like to thank the people from all the villages near the crash site who went out of their way to provide accommodation; food and support to allow them to visit the crash site as it was very much appreciated by everyone.
Since this visit we are now seriously considering running short treks via Haila village up to Eora Creek and then back down to Kokoda via Isurava to Orohaven Kokoda Retreat. If you are interested please contact us as its a way of giving back to the people who live around this area and who are taking such good care of the crash site area.
IMGP2280__640x480_.JPG
IMGP2334__640x480_.JPG
IMGP2335__640x480_.JPG
IMGP2364__640x480_.JPG
SDC12316__640x480_.JPG- Kokoda now has an archway similar to the one at Owers' Corner. A huge THANK YOU to the Kokoda Memorial Foundation and Eric Winn for instigating this so that trekkers can enjoy a start or finish line for their treks and another photo opportunity for everyone as well. I have been informed that the people in Kokoda fully support the construction of the archway and gave it their blessing and even helped erect it.
- Sadly as mentioned above, the road from Popondetta to Kokoda has not been repaired as yet so the feat of moving all the steel required for the archway along with other gear needed to construct it, was a huge effort for everyone involved. Eric Winn and his fellow mates had to make several visits before the arch was finally assembled due to various problems that only living here in PNG we would know. Anyone who missed out previously will now have to come back and walk all over again just to get a photograph like this at Kokoda!
- In 2012 we have once again decided to run our Kokoda Challenge Race. So if you have a favourite porter or guide who wants to enter the race, why not sponsor them by paying their entrance fee and supplying them with a reliable head torch; new shoes; spare batteries; first aid items and energy bars! To win this race, one has to stay awake as the likes of Brendan Buka does not sleep! Towards the other end however, when they hear the race has been won, boys tend to take it easy and may rest awhile before walking out in Kokoda.
Photograph of the commencement of our last race in which Brendan Buka set the unbelievable time of 16 hours 34 mintues from Owers' Corner to Kokoda. Brendan is third from the front in this photograph.
Owers_Corner_Start_2008.jpgI will close off and leave you with the latest photographs of 'Orohaven Kokoda Retreat' which we feel is still the best place to finish your trek in Kokoda. It also has the added advantage of being situated right on the airstrip itself. It has beds to sleep on; outdoor showers; running water; a washing machine; nice creek for a refreshing dip; genset; water tanks; beautiful lawn and a tavern with cold cold beer along with an Italian pizza oven. We also have our own transport on the site so feel we have the complete package for trekkers who choose to walk with us.
P1080014__640x480_.JPG
P1080015__640x480_.JPG
P1080017__640x480_.JPG
P1080021__640x480_.JPG
Pizza2.jpg
SDC10491__640x480_.JPGMore Photographs of Orohaven Kokoda Retreat:
IMGP2137__640x480_.JPG
Double_Bed_Hut.jpg
DSCF1676__640x480_.JPG
SDC12078__640x480___640x480___640x480_.JPGThe Kokoda Track Foundation have some great gift ideas if you are passionate about the track:
ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL KRISMAS!
"Krismas" is just around the corner and there's just one week to go to order your gifts from the Foundation's "Krismas Givim" (Christmas Giving) catalogue.
Don't fear the crowds at the shopping centre this weekend! Order your gifts online and we'll send the Christmas cards directly to you in the post. It's that easy!
Why not purchase some chickens for a village poultry farm for your little sister? Or some school materials for your boss? What about a Kokoda cooking kit for Mum? And a Kokoda Krapper for Dad – he'll love it!
All gift purchases are tax deductible donations to the Foundation and we will send you a receipt along with your cards to give to your loved ones on "Krismas Dei".
Please help us to keep the Spirit of Kokoda alive this Christmas! Check out the range of life-changing gifts on our website and place your order today.
Special Mention: Due to the actions of two reputable trekkings companies, no trekkers from other companies will be accepted at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat without payment having been paid in advance.
Two prominant trekking companies have had several treks stay at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat throughout the 2010 trekking season but as at the date of writing no payment has been received despite a promise in October that settlement would be made. Unfortunately it gives Australian's a bad name and makes me feel ashamed when the subject is mentioned by Russell Eroro and other staff in Kokoda.
We can only live in hope that their clients and guides appreciated the services offered including the use of our huts and amenities and that one day the amount in question will be settled. As my daughter pointed out today, backpacker's accommodation is considered the cheapest in Australia and on average is $35.00 per night or more depending on where you choose to stay. Orohaven Kokoda Retreat is $25.00 per night so we are not talking sheep stations. Some of you reading this may think its trivial but having spent many years trying my best to insist on honesty and integrity among our PNG staff, its hard to explain this situation regarding my fellow Australian's who should know better.
orohaven_resized_pic__50__.pngReceived this phtograph and Christmas Greetings all the way from Sweden and thought I would share it with you all. If any of you would like to reply to this thread and put your own photographs, please feel free to do so. I guess he will definitely be having a white christmas with his family.
image001.jpgFootnote: Below please see the statistics that represent traffic to our website. For everyone who has logged on, its great, please keep coming back. For those of you who are looking to book and walk the Kokoda Track/Trail you will find heaps of information in our forum. If you wish to look up any subject matter, please click on the search icon and I am pretty sure you will find answers to your questions answered by trekkers themselves who have walked the track and who have given their time to reply.
To all students using our website for their research, its great to know we have contributed in some way. Perhaps one day it will stir up enough interest for you to want to walk the track in our diggers footsteps.
To all friends and relatives logging on to our website to check how their loved ones are going out on the track, we welcome you also and trust you got peace of mind knowing they were ok whilst not being able to contact them due to the remoteness.
So everyone, or as they say here in PNG 'OLGETA' please keep LOGGING on, as it helps keep me motivated to continuing posting!
Over 80,000 unique visitors to our http://www.kokodatrail.com.au web site in 2010. Show's there is still a lot of interest in Kokoda.
statistics_2011.jpg
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.