A Revisit to Hanza Bay, Bogia (Madang Province) on Tourism Product Scoping Mission

I visited, Bogia's Hanza Bay nearly  Seven (7) years ago when I was working for World Vision. I did not know of the cultural and historical significance the area holds, until the locals invited me for a Tourism Product Scoping as part of my work with PNG Tourism Promotion Authority 

While working with World Vision on Community Projects, we delivered the community oriented projects from WASH to Literacy and Healthcare. Little did I know of was the historical significance the areas holds for tourism. The early European explorers and traders settlement in the area with the establishment of coca and copra plantations which later turned into battle field and Japanese strategic location on the north coast.

This time I  was on a mission for Tourism Product Scoping but was unable to complete the full mission due to severe fever relating to Malaria which caused me to retreat back to Madang and then onward to Port Moresby.

The Hanza Bay in particular holds much of the the WWII relics which are now part of their cultural heritage within some unique cultures and traditions of unexplored Bogia.

The tourism integration is just a trigger into many countless options and opportunities the people are looking forward to harness with the support of a local and community-based NGO.

I was invited to scope the area for tourism product development and had the opportunity to visit many of the sites they have identified for tourism interests.

Cultures are unique to the people of Hanza Bay and the Tumbuan Mask is one of those sacred cultures and it takes three (3) months for the families or tribe to prepare the mask for celebration and cultural show staging. Locally, the event usually hosted when the gardens, food and houses are all ready to celebrate with feast and showcase in the festival like event.

The Tumbuan Mask culture is not merely practiced and displayed like other cultural and traditional shows but it has got its own rules and sacred traditions which the Tumbuan Mask custodian has to comply and follow in order for safe keeping and put out the mask into show during a cultural parade.

These times the Tumbuan Mask culture is slowly fading due to many people in the village have migrated into the cities and towns for job, education and better life but few people in the village still value the cultures and traditions relating to Tumbuan Mask.

Maintaining and safekeeping their culture helps them shaped their life and plays some significant roles to be a good citizen in the community. They know the value that the Tumbuan Mask culture holds and its importance in their lives.

Jeffery Nambia, in his mid 60s  is one of the Tumbuan mask keepers of Numbia village and he was willing to continue from where his parents have left because he says; he has seen great things in life out of the Tumbuan Mask culture and tradition. 'There is discipline, unity, order and respect in the community if you value Tumbuan Mask and participate or keep it', said Jeffry when I approached him at his house where he used to keep one of the tribe's Tumbuan Mask.

The last participation and showcasing of Tumbuan Mask dates back to 2012 when there was a bridge being commissioned and opened by the local Member of Parliament in Bogia area.

Now they are looking forward to host a specific festival within the Hanza Bay of Bogia to showcase the Tumbuan Mask and other cultures and traditions that are well kept by the people. They have the bamboo music similar to didgeridoo, fighting swords made of coconuts, stone axes seems to be from meteoroids comes down with striking lights and many others mystic cultures and stories.

The community of Numbia have been performing in other events in Madang and Highlands which were highlights of the events and they have won several prizes out of their performances.

The communities are willingly planning for varieties of products to showcase while cultural event will be the major event that will attract tourists to Hanza Bay.

The intention for the people of Hanza Bay is to have tourism products that are tourism friendly (soft adventure) so that tourists will have much more time to see what is within the Hanza Bay area (both sea and land).

The curiosity can  form a different view when you hear from other people, the perception can deceive you when you read but when you visit and see it for yourself to experience, it is totally different from the curiosity and perception.

The Hanza Bay has an array of existing plantations like Numbia which dates back to 1900s with German administration and management. Most of the coconuts still survives to this days which is unbelievable but only radiocarbon dating and other scientific tests can prove your own doubts.

PNGTPA Officer , Nathan LATI on Leng Island Beach

 

A girl and a boy from Numbia Village near one of the Tumbuan Masks at Awar Village

Read more soon on #raonraonpng @raonraonpng #madangtourism #bogia #hanzabay #pngtravel  #pngjourneys #pngtourism #mvcb #madangprovince   

Pimaga Revisited - A Childhood Home

when I learnt that my dad will be transferred out of Pimaga Station after the 1997 National General Elections, I had restless nights and literally my nights were so terrible and I cried secretly to avoid adding pressure to mum who had a similar situation. 

Every free times, I would spend whole of the hours fishing and swimming in Wara Sura (Sura River), a river that passes through Pimaga Station. My mum likes fishing and at times we could catch big fish for the family or otherwise it became a leisure fun for all of us in the families. The families and kids from the station would join in the fishing and swimming in the afternoons. 

We the station kids from Pimaga station had a best group that goes around swimming, fishing together or at times we go to Orokana Primary for sports. We had few number of bicycles that we could take chances to ride in the station or elsewhere we want to go and take a bicycle ride for fun. My favorites were Kensa, Ronny and Heysala Lavare. At times, Vincent would lend his bicycle to me for use and take a chance to practice. 

Unfortunately, due to my dad's work relocation, I departed with my family to Mendi and attended the Kumin Primary School from Tente. Since 1997, after my grade six (6) graduation from from Tanuga Primary School I never went back to Kutubu. Those times were so really hard for me to settle in Mendi town and seeing PMVs from Kutubu coming to Mendi in the early mornings and leaving in the afternoon. I could only send my regards to the station boys and girls through the people because we do not have mobile phones and Facebook those days. Those Pimaga station kids that graduated with me from Tanuga Primary were also moving around to other new schools so we do not have consistent communications after I departed Pimaga. 

Ken and Heysala went on to Pabrabuk High School and also I wanted to tried my luck there but the homesickness drew me back to be closer to my mum who was not well at those times when we were shifted back to Mendi. At random occasion, I could meet with Heysala and Ken at Mt.Hagen with Sibi and others but that dates back to late 1990s again. Then on, we all went on our own way and thanks Facebook that we found each other and started communicating since 2010 and up.  

My two Wames aka Wamenes of Kui land Pimaga could remember everything we did as a child growing up in Pimaga Station. The visit to Pimaga this year (2018) was a surprise visit to where we grew up as kids after two decades.

As a kid growing up near Wara Sura, we could never end a day without visiting Wara Sura. If we could not catch up near the DPI station or at the end of the airstrip then the next stop would definitely be Bumsusu to play Peggy Touch over the water. We could tease each others ability to swim and play same time. So to avoid going home with a "meriman" nametag we could play a fair game over it and that was our highlight each time we visit Wara Sura

Among us the SBD boys were big guns like Sibi Kai who is a boss on his own rights and a community leader, Vincent Vege still living in Pimaga, Willie Sese lives in POM with dad and his families, Philipmon Sese is still in Pimaga and one of the influential youth leader. 

On the other nearby villages like Damaiyu Village,  Disibu Waiya still hanging around in Iputapa village and grown his dreadlogs like mine, Maraiyu Sawage lives in Goroka now and facilitates negotiations for Kandobo landowners, Manasa Bogo is now a Pastor with ELCPNG in Morota Church, Port Moresby.

During our childhood adventures, we all could hang around because we from the eastern end of Tanuga Primary School. Whilst on the western side boys from Borotage areas I could remember are Kuiboi, Kolex a local businessman now and Awamena or Albert who was the tallest boy in our class and now a contractor to Digicel PNG in Kutubu area.

From 1994-1997 we had best of our memories recorded with Tanuga Primary School and appreciate the mentors and teachers like Mrs. Jonathan Tai, Mr. Fasinambo retired and lives in Daga Village now. Mr. Esamabo of Yobob Island also retired and lives on the island. Not forgetting the headmaster; Mr. Guguambo for the leadership, he has also retired and lives in Orokana station and works for ELCPNG now. I owe it to these special people whom one way or the other played a part in my education journey.

Few of the female schoolmates from Pimaga Station those times have excelled in life and working elsewhere in the country or became public servants like my sister Roslyn Minape is teaching again in Tanuga where we started our primary school. Lyn Nick is a Policewoman now in Pimaga  station while Linda Gumong is teaching at Mubi Primary School near Mubi river.

I still remember others like; Hersely Haro is a Secondary School teacher now at Inu Seconday, Rose Ware was married to one of my countryman from Enga, Shahabo Tebia is working with Oilseach Moro, Tracy Itonu whose parents where DPI officers in Pimaga and from Samarai but is out of reach at the moment and details are sketchy. Gracelyn Tai lives somewhere in Port Moresby and working with a government department.

Whilst visiting some of those childhood dwelling places in Pimaga weren't the same used to be before, it brought tears into my eyes. One of those special places for us was the Pimiga Council Chamber where I used to live with my family. There used to be a small mango tree on a well looked after lawn. That is the place where I used to learn how to balance myself on bicycles from Heysla and Kensa then learned how to ride bicycles alone. The place is admired by many people in Kutubu because we had a separate pineapple, lemon and banana gardens surrounds the Pimaga Council Guesthouse lawn. The station kids could come around to meet with me over a pineapple or banana for lunch during weekends and then our adventure begins. 

Oh I don't forget that, Heysala was our DJ master. He could easily sneak in with him a mini radio/ cassette player (those times without boombox). We could take turns to rewind or forward the tape with sticks and pens to select the best song during lunch break or while walking home from school in the afternoon.

Heysala could even bring his big stereo to school when there was a term closing picnic in the school. We could try all our best ways to utilize the used batteries to backup the power supply so that we keep the party momentum going with music. Dried bamboo were the best ways to stalk all the dry cell batteries and connect back to the battery terminals of the radio. Now he owns a DJ set in his house and is the best place for station boys and friends to hangout with hardly sought beers of Pimaga anytime - provided your own fuel for his genset.

I remembered that we were best mates within our class and respect for each other meant so much for us. None of us could even try a nib or bottle of beer those times, even we had money, music and freedom on term holiday party at our disposal.

Looking back to these days, there's always a primary school drunk in the term closing parties or loud music everywhere from their many boombox when group of classmates walking home or to school. Chewing buai and smoking cigarettes are norm these days for primary school students but for us was totally different and when I look back. It was the sense of respect that played a major role in our lives as primary school students those days. We have had respect for our teachers with fear and classmates were our best secret keepers in anything at all.

Back in Pimaga station and nearby villages like Daga and Iputapa , most people I knew have grown old and some could not remember me well but when Heysala and Kensa took me over to Daga village for a community gathering and when we sipped in our cash contribution; there came the introduction of wonder boy Nathan David Minape, he is our son , who grew up here and attended Tanuga Primary School with us.

Now everyone could remembered me as a small skinny whiteman that hangs around at Bumsusu and at the end of the airstrip on weekends with my late mum fishing.

It would have been more fun and interesting only if more of my classmates from Tanuga Primary were around so we could track and trace those I'm missing out on this script so it provides some sense of reminiscence.

If Kensa Lavare and Hesala Lavare cannot remembered all of our classmates then I will be interested to trace the student roll book of our days at Tanuga Primary Schools and produce an interesting piece out of the different pathways we took after Tanuga Primary School.

Pics: (L-R ) Kensa Lavare , Nathan David Minape & Hey Lavare at Daga 1 Village

Aussie Completes Kapakapa Trail at 67

''What amazes me is; all the things along the track have changed a little after the war''

Kevin Wainwright -2018

It was a great honor for me to join the group from America; James, Rachael, Donna, Julie, Joe and Australians; Kevin, Peter and Stephen on the 2700km Kapa Kapa Trail.

James has written the book about the trail ''The Ghost Mountain Boy's and this time he came with her daughter Rachel. Kevin has been to nearly all the tracks in PNG with a interest in Wartime stories. Donna's grandfather was a soldier with the American Forces and first walked the track to fight and secure Buna front from the advancing Japanese.

Others on the group are enthusiastic trekkers and have special interests on the track. Kevin Wainwright is one of the older person on the group and I had the chance to meet and chat with him to write this article for him.

I could be one of the first Public Servant from Papua New Guinea to walk the full length of the track from Boregaina in Central Province to Girua in Oro Province and I have one word to describe the track and that one word is; ''Gruesome'' but gives you experiences and memories

Read the detailed story of Kevin Wainwright on this link below
Aussie Completes Kapakapa Trail at 67