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I must be the only expatriate living in PNG who has kokoda guides and porters to look after on a regular basis throughout the trekking season who have all been welcome in our home.
Where do they stay? Up until now they have stayed underneath our rented premises in Gordons but sometimes it is stretched to the limit when we have big treks on the go and some even sleep on our verandah. In 2004 our garage was converted into a room for the boys and an adjoining room a place where they could watch TV, cook a meal or hang out. Two showers and a toilet were also built for them however we are expanding and we need more space.
So what to do with our boys as the number of porters are growing and we would like to encourage this as it gives more employment to the people who need it most. As I was thinking about this problem a neighbour outside our front gate came to see me.
He asked if some of the boys could stay in his small house he started to build on his property some years back but ran out of money. I discussed this with Russell Eroro (Kokoda Trekking) and he replied the house did not have a toilet or shower and that the boys would still be coming back and forth to my home to use our amenities.
The end result was a 'win win' situation for both my neighbour, us well as Russell & I and the guides and porters of Kokoda. It was decided that if we finished off the house, our boys would stay there and the rent would be offset against the cost of completing the home.
I am happy to report that Stage I being the inside of the main bedroom, toilet & shower is almost finished with the tiles in the bathroom and toilet area being laid today.
Stage I:
100_3493.jpgAt the moment a carpenter is working on a win haus (lockable verandah area/kitchen and big open area) where the boys can sleep…watch TV…cook…play their uke'ule's…have a beer whatever after their trek:
The Carpenter working on the foundations before tomorrow laying the bearers and floor boards. The same plumber who put Russell's showers and kitchen on his property in Kokoda has done all the plumbing work so it is a team effort:
100_3494.jpgUnlike in Kokoda, living here in Port Moresby, iron bars have had to be installed on all windows plus flywire to keep out the mozzies. A steel door is yet to be installed on the back door.
Stage II will be as mentioned above have a verandah on the left hand side all the way around to the back of this building which can be sealed off.
Stage III will be a cemeted patio from the left hand side of the window to the side where the other window is situated.
The Porters and Guides will then have an area inside and also a place outside to sit and smoke, chew their buai or whatever they wish to do to relax following their kokoda trek.
On average our treks come back into town on a Monday and they have to wait until Wednesday to return home. On other occasions they arrive back in on a Thursday and cant return home until Sunday.
This area like now at my home will allow our boys to go home with their pockets full of wages. Russell & I try hard to make sure they do not have to pay for 'anything' unless it is of a personal nature or a request from their wife back home. All porters and guides are fed and looked after from the time they arrive off a trek until they fly back home.
On the day of their travel they are also driven to the airport so they do not have to pay for a taxi fare.
100_3495.jpgDuring all the years Russell used to trek he said trekking companies would pay him off….give him an 'open' ticket back home and it would then be 'his' problem to find somewhere to stay…money for PMV (bus) rides back and forth to the airport, meals etc until he finally he managed to board a flight back home. In fact when I first met Russell he used to spend half his life in Port Moresby at the MBA (Airlines of PNG Office) begging for a seat to get back home.
According to Russell by the time he finally got on a flight he would have hardly any money left because he would have to pay wantoks (friends) for allowing him to stay at their residence and feeding him…plus transport.
When he finally got his chance to run his own company, it was his dream to take care of his boys. It was also a dream to employ first time boys who had never had the chance to visit Port Moresby. Now his dream has come true…we employ….we pay wages….we look after them…and we make sure they have a seat on the flight back home with money in their pockets for their families.
Photograph: today Manu the painter worked on the inside room of the house including the tiling of the bathroom area. This room pictured will be Russell Eroro's (Kokoda Trekking Ltd's Base) Office/Bedroom/TV Room/Radio Room place away from home when here in Port Moresby. Often when I walk downstairs I find guys sitting under my house in the hope of finding employment. Hopefully this will eliminate this problem as the base will provide an area to interview and talk to people involved in trekking.
100_3498.jpgA change from a swim in the creek like these boys are used to, in Port Moresby they will have a shower. Today, the carpenter put the final finishes to a bathroom cupboard and Manu painted it for them. Tomorrow laminex will be added to the benchtop and it should be almost finished subject to one more coat of paint.
For the past three weeks the boys of Kokoda have been talking about this premises and cant wait to move in. The main reason is at the end of their trek they want to relax, tell stories and just hang out with their mates and the older ones to have a beer or two.
When staying in my premises, they know they have to be real quiet as all people staying in the compound are mainly pilots and engineers who have to go to bed early and get up for work anywhere from 4am onwards. Hence from 9pm at night a curfew is in place and the boys have to whisper…now in the new premises they can be themselves from the time they arrive until the time of their flight back home. Hitron TV has been installed so they will be able to watch TV all night long if they wish too as back home there is no TV/electricity/tap water etc etc
As for myself, for the early morning dropoffs at the airport, they are close by and the area is safe. They will also be close enough to supervise and make sure they have enough food etc before they return home to Kokoda. The guys just like you our trekers will be able to shave, wash and freshen up after a trek.
For the ones who have already sighted their new home away from home, they are really looking forward to the day that it is completely finished and they can move in and out on a temporary basis whilst here in Port Moresby.
Their families back home should be happy as well as they will know like now they are in a safe environment and that we will make sure they are ok until they board their flight back home.
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