11.30 – When we have walked for almost another hour, we reached a clearing, rest for a while and climb up for about 1400m as Alola came into view ? a nice small village located on the top of the mountain and with clean surroundings. Here mango trees, passion fruits, mandarins, bananas grow in abundance. By then everyone is hungry after a long walk…[Read more]

10.00 ?After an hour?s walk we come across huge boulders some with flat surface and others appear to be in unusual shapes ? one was actually shaped as a chair. Russel says that this is where medical work during the war took place. This place was also tipped to be a probable location for Kingsbury?s death. The rocks appear to be a little unusual…[Read more]

9.00 ? Hey we are not alone in this. No! We came across some wantoks from Australia and Papua New Guinea too. They were trekkers from Australia and were heading the opposite direction ? towards Kokoda station. The group was with a local trekking company. Steve, Ross, John and Geoff stopped for a while and chatted with their wantoks from Australia…[Read more]

8.00 ? We came across a fallen tree on the road ? looks like it fell from heavy rains last night. The branches completely blocked the road and we had to wait till they cut them off before we could actually pass through. While everybody?s waiting and looking for bush knives to cut off the branches?I start making my way over the top of the branches…[Read more]

7.00 ? After the shots we start walking. I asked the guides and they said today should be easier. There is less climbing accept for the stiff ascent to the aircraft wreck which was supposedly there before but have now been removed._LWF0085.jpg

DAY THREE ? ISURAVA TO EORA CREEKTuesday 30th September 2003 ? A STEP AT A TIME?Taking our time?..a step at a time?6.00 ? It?s raining. It has been raining very heavily all through the night. We have an early breakfast We are supposed to move very early but the rain now mars that plan. As it slowed down a bit we all proceeded towards the…[Read more]

8.00 ?The guys are calling out ?goodnight? as they are heading for bed. They are sleeping in the guesthouse with bunkers.KingsburyRock.jpg

7.00 – Over a hot cup of tea Justus relates the story of how he had brought Australian war veterans here at Isurava to try to locate the place where Kingsbury was killed so they can build a monument. They have spent days at Isurava searching the length of the area trying to figure out where the likely location was. He said several times they have…[Read more]

6.30 ? The cold?s picking up and everyone? is in their jumpers including me as we are heading for the tent for a hot cup of tea and delicious meal of corns, sweet potatoes, rice, greens (which happens to be choko leaves) and again tinned proteins; pork meat and tuna with noodles.isurava3.jpg

6.00 ? And it certainly is! As I sit here with your T-Shirt and bandana on, thinking simply of how beautiful it is. I wore your T-Shirt purposely for this moment ? I know it is very significant ? and it?s just is as you are not able to see for yourself. As I sit here, at the foot of the monument, gazing at the panoramic view of the twin valleys,…[Read more]

1.30 ? [Sounds of flowing water can be heard straight ahead ? a good sign after a long day?s walk from Hoi]. As I approach the guys are sponging themselves and filling their water bottles. There are big round and smooth boulders here among the creek. Appear very beautiful under the thick rainforest. This crossing is a bit slippery. We went on for…[Read more]

1.00 ? We are coming up this steep hill ? we see a clearing ahead?? ?Is that it? Isurava?? I couldn?t help asking. ?Yes. That?s it straight ahead!?, again the small reply from Glen. I glanced back towards Geoff in the front line leading others who were struggling behind ? ?Did you hear that? That?s it! That?s Isurava!,? I exclaim pointing straight…[Read more]

12.30 ? Are we there yet? ?Klostu nau, Klostu nau na bai yumi kamap!? (We are closer now, closer now, sooner we?ll be there!), came the tired reply from Glen one of our group porters who was probably tired of being asked that question more than once.Porter_on_his_own.jpg

12.00 ? We are almost there ? the guides are telling us?. so we are pushing on. Seeing that I could not control my hunger any longer I stop for a while and had some biscuit with cheese spread before gulping them down with fresh water from the creek. I am still very full of energy.While back on the way Geoff is telling us names of specific plants,…[Read more]

11.00 – Yes! Here we are in this thick rainforest, and still walking ? I mean what else would you do? Of course no leeches as yet, Blisters? No way mate! Except for the annoying little flies which always seem to fly nowhere else but in front of your vision. I realized everyone had trekking sticks except me. I didn?t ask for one but my porter…[Read more]

10.00 ? Rainforest at last ? after walking in the clearing and to the mercy of the sun I am grateful that we have reached the jungle. Here I am taking in mouthfuls of water and this is where I decide to put my shoes back on before walking the rest of the way. Steve must have noticed so he ask how come I am walking without my shoes. I tell him that…[Read more]

9.00 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…[Read more]

7.00 ? 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…[Read more]

6.30 – 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…[Read more]

DAY TWO ? HOI TO ISURAVAMonday 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…[Read more]