|
Port
Moresby,
the
nation's
capital
and
the
main
entry
point
for
international
visitors
does
not
present
an
immediate
picture
of
an
ideal
tropical
paradise.
During
the
winter
months
it
is
dry,
dusty
and
brown.
Summer
is
wet,
humid
and
overgrown.
It
is a
place
of
stark
contrast.
Ramshackle
huts
sit
alongside
glistening
glass
towers,
dusty
plains
turn
corners
to
expose
a
glittering
harbour
and
fearsome
frowns
turn
to
welcome
smiles.
Port
Moresby
opens
the
door
to
the
land
of
the
unexpected. |
|
The
annual
Hiri
Moale
festival
held
every
September
celebrates
one
of
the
epic
trading
voyages
between
central
province
villagers
and
the
people
in
the
Gulf
of
Papua.
It
is a
three
day
festival
of
traditional
dance,
singing
and
drama.
During
the
festivities,
Port
Moresby's
Ela
Beach
is
lined
with
stilt
houses,
canoes
and
swaying
dancers
decorated
with
leis
of
frangipani
and
hibiscus. |
|
Access
and
entry
fees
Most
land,
beaches,
lagoons,
bays
and
islands
in
Papua
New
Guinea,
are
owned
by a
village,
family
or
individual.
You
must
ask
permission
for
access
and
a
small
entry
fee
may
be
payable.
Markets:
Gordons
Market,
on
Gordon
Court
Road
off
the
end
of
Cameron
Road,
is
one
of
the
largest
in
the
country
and
always
bustling.
The
fresh
fruit
and
vegetables
are
superb,
and
they
also
sell
fish
and
exotic
meats.
Koki
market,
on
the
waterfront
near
the
Koki
shops,
is
the
main
seafood
market
and
best
on
Saturdays.
Parliament
House:
Built
in
the
style
of a
Maprik
Haus
Tambaran
(house
of
spirits),
this
impressive
building
was
opened
in
1984.
It’s
an
interesting
place
whether
Parliament
is
sitting
or
not.
A
small
shop
has
books
and
displays
of
Papua
New
Guinea’s
fantastic
butterflies.
Open
9am
to
noon
and
1pm
to
3pm.
National
Museum
&
Art
Gallery:
Located
on
Independence
Hill
close
to
Parliament
House,
the
museum
has
excellent
displays
on
fauna,
culture,
geography,
ethnography
and
history
of
PNG
which
include
examples
of
masks
and
shields,
shells,
and
local
foods.
A
small
shady
courtyard
in
front
is a
pleasant
place
to
sit
and
has
a
few
live
specimens
of
local
wildlife
to
view.
The
small
bookshop
has
a
limited
range
of
books
on
pre-history
and
culture.
Open
Monday
to
Friday
8.30am
to
3.30pm
and
1pm
to
5pm
on
Sundays.
Admission
by
donation.
Libraries:
The
Michael
Somare
Library
(Ph:
326
0900)
located
at
the
University
of
Papua
New
Guinea,
Waigani
Campus
and
the
National
Library
located
at
Waigani
(3256200),
Independence
Drive,
have
huge
PNG
collections.
Both
are
open
to
the
public.
National
Botanical
Gardens
(311
2471):
This
is a
haven
of
greenery
with
2km
of
boardwalk
threading
beneath
a
jungle
canopy,
green
lawns,
excellent
wildlife
displays,
and
a
huge
collection
of
orchids.
A
shadehouse
in
the
shape
of
the
country
has
plants
from
all
regions.
Located
just
beyond
the
University
of
Papua
New
Guinea
on
Waigani
Drive.
Entrance
fee.
City
and
harbour
views:
These
are
great
from
Paga
Hill
behind
the
Crowne
Plaza
or
from
Touaguba
Hill
above
the
harbour.
A
tour
of
the
city
should
include
these
lookout
points
as
well
as
the
stilt
villages
of
Hanuabada
Poreporena.
Bomana
War
Cemetery
(Ph:
328
1536):
Thousands
of
young
Australian
and
Papua
New
Guinean
soldiers
are
buried
in
this
carefully
tended
WWII
cemetery,
a
heart-wrenching
reminder
of
the
horrific
campaigns
in
the
region.
Located
on
the
Sogeri
Road
not
far
from
the
Sir
Hubert
Murray
Highway.
Hiri
Moale
Festival
(Ph:
324
0829):
Celebrating
the
traditional
trading
that
took
place
along
the
coast,
this
is
celebrated
mid-September,
around
Independence
Day.
Replicas
of
the
lakatois
–
the
giant
canoes
that
were
used
–
pull
up
on
Ela
Beach
to
dancing
and
singing. |
