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On the 31st May we met up with our latest lot of trekkers who arrived in on the Airlines of PNG flight from Cairns. We met them at the airport and took them to the departure area to book in for their domestic flight to Kokoda.
This is the first lot of trekkers who have decided not to overnight in Port Moresby on the first night of their trek.
After booking in, we were informed their flight was down for 12:30pm so time for a drive around Port Moresby via Parliament house and into the CBD and back to the airport.
Trekkers all arrived back as planned at midday and a short time later were on the flight to Kokoda where they were met by their guide Kingsley Boropi and our porters.
After a walk around the Kokoda Station they were welcomed into my business partner, Russell Eroro's family block by a traditional sing sing welcome and the words ORO ORO ORO, or WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME!
Trekkers as seen here at Jackson's Airport shortly before their flight to Kokoda….all were pumped up and READY TO GO!!!:
100_0121.jpgIts hard to get everyone looking at once….take two!
Trekkers on this trek include :
Chris Thomas; Andrew Thomas; Katina DeSousa; Andrew DeSousa; Ian Thomas; Gareth Thomas; Diana Thomas; David Thomas; Allison Thomas & Kirrily Taverner
Trekkers are not listed above in the order they appear in the photograph below. Sorry, as I only met them for a short time yesterday I am yet to remember which one is which.
100_0122.jpgTrekkers had a meal to eat and decided to venture down to the river for a swim. Around 8pm last night by sat phone I was informed they were sitting inside a win haus (traditionally built house) telling stories, getting to know their porters and having a sing a long with the boys and their uke'ule's.
Photograph: traditional welcome for last week's trekkers – trek 213 when they arrived at the Kokoda Block – just to give you all a bit of an idea of what happens in Kokoda when you loved ones arrive:
100_0114.jpgPhotograph: traditional win haus situated on Rusty Eroro's family block in Kokoda:
100_0112.jpgI have been advised by sat phone this morning from Russell Eroro in Popondetta that trekkers got away bright and early and decided to take the short cut from the block up to Kovello instead of going back through the Kokoda Station. He told me to expect an update from their guide Kingsley Boropi sometime today when they have reached their destination:
Received a phone call from Kingsley around mid afternoon to say everyone had arrived safely at Isurava Village where they will spend the night.
This is where Kingsley lives with his wife and their children as she is from this village and he seems to spend half his time there and the remainder in Kokoda near his own parents.
No doubt he will introduce his trekkers to his family.
Kingsley Boropi is pictured here on the left with our KTL porters on one of his previous treks:
Kingsley.jpgAround midday I received a phone call from our Guide Kingsley informing me all trekkers had made it to Alola Village and after a short stay were going to head off to Iora Creek where they planned to spend the night.
He informed me that all trekkers and porters were ok and coping well with no problems at all at this stage.
He added they enjoyed last night sitting around the campfire with our KTL boys having a singalong.
Some of our KTL boys singing and playing their uke'ule on a previous trek:
KTL_Boys.jpg
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