Links
Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that
it costs money to host a web site (try -- http://pngwebhost.com
-- for a good and cheap deal) and there is not much return on the outlay
to most businesses in PNG. If you do click on a link and use the services
or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at
the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone
has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined then
mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip
Newsletter.
If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the
URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link,
as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please
send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.
Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG -- http://tinyurl.com/km4z7
-- The first German Missionary arrived on the shores of Simbang in Finschaffen,
Morobe Province, on the 12th of July 1886. See also -- http://www.wfn.org/2006/09/msg00127.html
Rotary PNG Web Site
Rotary Clubs of Papua New Guinea - District 9600 -- http://www.rotary.org.pg
Rotary has branches in Boroko, Bulolo-Wau, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Huon
Gulf, Madang, Kavieng, Kokopo, Kimbe, Lae, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Wewak
and the Interact Club of Port Moresby International School.
Stamps
For those interested in the stamps and postal history of PNG please
visit the following sites -
Post PNG -- http://www.postpng.com.pg
Papuan Philatelic Society -- http://www.communigate.co.uk/york/pps/index.phtml
British New Guinea and Papua -- http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/bng.stamps
A complete list of Papua New Guinea issues from 1952 to 2003 can be
found at -- http://www.stanleylisica.com/plist_hr/papu.htm
Who has appeared on PNG stamps? -- http://tinyurl.com/ec8y4
World War II
In the early hours of September 7, 1943, an American B-24 Liberator
bomber, loaded with 2800 litres of fuel and three 500lb bombs, crashed
on take-off from Port Moresby in New Guinea.
Visit -- http://tinyurl.com/rbyqq
-- for the rest of the story.
Masalai i Tokaut
The entire archives of the Masalai i Tokaut newsletter can be found
at -- http://www.masalai-i-tokaut.com
Real Estate Agents
Arthur Strachan (Lae) -- http://www.arthurstrachan.com.pg
Ashton Brunswick -- mailto:ashtonsbruns@daltron.com.pg
Century 21 -- http://www.century21.com.pg
-- and -- http://www.siule.com.pg
City Homes Real Estate -- http://www.cityhomes.com.pg
Kohoy Real Estate -- http://kohoyrealestates.tripod.com
L.J Hooker -- http://www.ljhooker.com
Parklane Real Estate -- http://www.parklane.com.pg
Ray White Real Estate -- mailto:monian@online.net.pg
Strickland RE -- http://www.sre.com.pg
The Professionals -- http://www.theprofessionals.com.pg
Tours
Just a few of the many tour operators located in PNG -
Pacific International Travel (PNG) Ltd -- http://www.pacificinternationaltravel.com.pg/
Sepik Adventure Tour -- http://www.ambuntilodge-sepiktour.com.pg/
Tours in PNG -- http://www.toursinpng.com/
New Guinea Expeditions -- http://www.newguineaexpeditions.com/
Betel Nut Links
For information about betel nut / buai pay a visit to
--- http://www.nisbett.com/herbs/a/areca056.html
--
or
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betel_nut
News Items
Traditional Currency
The daily currency in use in PNG is named after two types of traditional
currency used within the country - The Kina and the toea.
There are other currencies that were used and some of the common ones
are the Milne Bay Bagi and the Tolai Tabu. Other currencies
existed, for example the Motuans went on long sailing voyages and returned
with goods. It is this time of year when the great Hiri trade is remembered
with the Hiri Festival and the Miss Hanenamo Quest. Both events are
usually held on a yearly basis over the Independence weekend in Port
Moresby.
The annual Hiri Moale festival 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, singsing, 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. Hanenamo is a Motuan word meaning coming together and
celebrating.
Some of the other currencies are the doba, banana leaf money
from the Trobriand islands and the Mwali also from Milne Bay.
Visit -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html
-- and from there you will find some information about Bagi, Mwali,
Tabu and Doba.
Do any readers know of any other
traditional currencies? - Click
here to reply
British Pollie Apologises
British Politician, Mr Johnson, has been forced to apologise to PNG
after he linked it to "cannibalism and chief-killing" -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5327984.stm
Is PNG a Time Bomb?
It has been reported that HIV-AIDS in PNG is a time bomb waiting to
explode similar to the bubonic plague that rewrote the history of medieval
Europe, HIV -- http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4865
Smuggled Drugs
Medical drugs have been smuggled into Buka and other parts of the Bougainville
autonomous region to be sold in trade stores and on the streets. It
has been discovered that around K25,000 worth of medical drugs have
disappeared from the New Guinea Islands area medical store in Kokopo
and turned up in Buka. People who have no knowledge or training on how
to dispense the various drugs were selling the drugs, such as anti-malarial
and antibiotic drugs, over the counter at trade stores and other shops.
Mobile Telephones
One of the new entrants into the supply of mobile telephone
services to PNG, Digicel PNG, has promised to deliver a world class mobile network
that will transform the market with accessible and high quality services
when it launches in early 2007. The company has also been awarded a
GSM license from the Government of Samoa. Founded in 2000, Digicel is
reported to be one of the fastest-growing telecommunication operators
in the world to date.
Swamp Ghost
The Swamp Ghost is proving to be one Ghost that is not going away in
a hurry!
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has told the National
Museum and Art Gallery management that it had "no power" to
sell the World War II aircraft - the B-17E Flying Fortress dubbed the
Swamp Ghost, or any other war surplus materials to overseas buyers.
The PAC has ordered the immediate seizure of the Swamp Ghost by the
State until a decision can be made as to its future.
Police Chief
The National Executive Council has dumped Police Commissioner Sam Inguba
after his contract expired on Monday. He has been replaced on an acting
basis by Deputy Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga as the chief until a
permanent appointment can be made.
PNG Loggers
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald PNG Loggers are
a law unto themselves.
The report begins
No Government in PNG or the Solomon Islands has yet
managed to tame the Malaysian-Chinese logging interests accused by environmentalists,
lending agencies and aid donors of ripping out native forests at an
unsustainable rate.
see -- http://tinyurl.com/f28lp
-- for the rest of the story.
Public Holiday
The last minute announcement by the Government to say that Monday was
a public holiday to celebrate Independence Day has upset many businesses
around the country. To add to the confusion the government has not cancelled
the holiday set down for today (Sat 16th) to celebrate Independence
Day so businesses will now have to make double payments to workers for
the double public holiday. See also -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/091406/nation4.htm
PNG / Auckland Celebrations
As part of the New Zealand celebrations for PNG Independence Day the
PNG flag will fly from the Auckland Harbour Bridge in recognition of
the PNG's special day. The flag will be flown from 6:30am until 6:30pm.
To see a picture of the Papua New Guinea flag please go to -- http://flagspot.net/flags/pg.html
Port Moresby Taxi's
Due to the rough roads around Moresby I have had to take a taxi or
two recently. I thought this was a good chance to see what the newcomers
to the Moresby scene were like. My first trip was with Scarlet. The
taxi turned up 10 minutes late but both the taxi and the driver were
neat and tidy and understood English. The next trip was to try out the
Red Dot taxi company but after waiting over half an hour for a booked
taxi I had to give up and use the non-metered taxi service. So much
for Red Dot. Have any other readers used his service and what do they
think? By the way the non-metered service although in a dirtier vehicle
still got me from point A to point B in the same time and for the same
cost although this had to be negotiated.
Another Taxi Driver Killed
Another taxi driver has been killed in Port Moresby. The driver was
apparently stabbed after a confrontation with three men he had picked
up outside the Boroko police station -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/091406/nation6.htm
Tennis Titles
More than forty tennis players will compete for Port Moresby and PNG
tennis titles to be held this weekend. The top women's seeds for the
events are Vere Tere Apisah and Dulcie Kaiulo and top seeds for the
men's title are Chris Can and Michael Foo.
Swimming Championships
The 2006 swimming nationals are slated to take place at the Sir Donald
Cleland Pool in Port Moresby from the 22nd to the 24th of September.
Swimmers from around the country are in the final stages of preparation
for the event.
Endangered Insects & Plants
The Sangamanga Culture and Environment Protection (SCEP) is a non-profit
organization in Simbu province (SCEP) that has been preserves endangered
insects and plants for the last 15 years. SCEP has successfully established
a museum in Kundiawa, Simbu province, to store its collections of insects
and plant. SCEP is assisted by the Madang based Niugini Binatang Research,
Research and Conservation Foundation in Goroka, Lae's Forest Research
Institute and a few other organizations to help identify the species
collected by putting scientific name tags to them.
Cricketing Milestone
The PNG Women's Cricket Team has reached a cricketing milestone by
moving on to the next round of the women's regional World Cup cricketing
championship by defeating Japan in Port Moresby. Eight countries will
contest the qualifiers with the top two booking spots in the 2009 World
Cup in Australia. The International Cricket Council is yet to set a
date for the next round of the regional qualifying heats.
National Elections
PANGU Party is already preparing for the 2007 general elections. Party
leader and Treasury Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu, has launched the Party's
draft policy guidelines at the National Research Institute (NRI) the
next step is the Pangu Pati national convention to be held in Lae later
this month.
Order of Logohu
Two more people have been made Grand Chief's of the PNG Order of Logohu.
They are
Sir Arnold Amet, GCK, CBE, OStJ
and
The Honourable Andrew Peacock, GCL, AC
Moresby Day Tours
If you are ever visiting Port Moresby and need to fill in some time
then here are some tours that can be arranged. They have come from Gwen
Ogil -- gwen@tropictours.com.pg
Morning City Tours
Code: TT001 Time: 09.00 - 12.00 daily
Cost: K80.00 per person for min of 2 pax
Visit local market, Paga hill lookout, CBD, National Museum, Botanical
Gardens, National Parliament and PNG Arts.
City Tours
Code: TT003 Time: 09.00 - 15.00 daily
Cost : K110 per person for min of 2 pax
Visit local market, Paga hill lookout, CBD, Hanuabada village, National
Museum, National Parliament, Botanical gardens and PNG arts.
Loloata Island Resort
Code: TT006 Time: 08.00 - 16.00 daily
Cost: K160 per person for min of 2 pax
Travel along Magi Highway to Tahira for ferry ride to Loloata Island.
Spend the day snorkelling, diving, bush walking or just relaxing. Lunch
at the resort.
Sogeri and Variarata National Park Tour
Code: TT005 Time: 09.00 - 16.00 daily
Cost : K170 per person for min of 4 pax
Drive along Sogeri road via Rouna Hydro Scheme, Bomana War Cemetery,
Variarata National Park bush walk and PNG Arts.
They also offer airport to hotel and return transfers and 24 hours
baggage handling services.
Regards,
Gwen Ogil
As always "look around" as there are other tour operators
also willing to show you around Port Moresby and the country. For example
take a look at -- http://www.pacificinternationaltravel.com.pg/index_files/pom.htm
-- or even hunt around the PNGBD website for more info -- http://www.pngbd.com
Coming Events
PNG 31st Independence Anniversary -- 16th September 2006 (Public Holiday
18th of September)
Hiri Hanenamo Quest and Hiri Moale Festival -- 16th September 2006
Goroka Show, Eastern Highlands -- 16th and 17th of September 2006
Kiwi Ball -- The fabulous ball held by the Kiwi's will be held on the
28th October this year. This year the New Zealanders hope to have a
five-piece band to entertain the crowd
Morobe Show, Lae -- 4th and 5th of November
Ex KIAP Reunion in Victoria, Australia will be held on the 5th of November
at Sandown Greyhounds Tabaret -- http://www.exkiap.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=18&sid=08742471a618eb419d5af702a6bf87bb
Milne Bay Kundu and Canoe Festival, Alotau -- 6th to the 12th of November
2006
Independence Photos
|
|
Packing the Shelves |
Restocking |
Cashier |
Enjoying the day |
|
PNG Media
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