UNDP (PNG) continues to help rehabilitate Varirata National Park

 UNDP in Papua New Guinea is partnering with the Conservation and Environment Protection Agency (CEPA) to upgrade facilities at Varirata National Park.

The Rangers’ Lodge construction is part of 2020 AWP planned infrastructure for the park. The Varirata National Park (VNP) Guard House was the first infrastructure established and was launched on Thursday 21st May 2020 by the UN Resident Representative.  

The cost of the construction of the Guard House was USD36,500 and the cost of the Rangers Lodge construction was USD85,781. 

The engagement of the UNV Rangers was funded at the cost of USD67,023.40 and additional funding support was for training (e.g., First Aid and UNDP mandatory courses plus biodiversity transect surveys with PAU and Ranger training under Queensland Parks Wildlife Services) and resourcing (e.g., Uniforms, shoes, maintenance tools etc…).

At the moment, CEPA continues to maintain the Rangers operations at the park. 

The UNDP ssupports the government on the implementation of the Protected Areas Policy via the enhancement of the VNP that is managed by CEPA, through funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The CEPA Management Team is credited for the leadership and commitment to the implementation of the Protected Areas Policy and the current conservation legal framework to; improve conservation of areas in high biodiversity values.

The importance of VNP in the context of Protected Areas (part of the 3.69% Terrestrial PA coverage of PNG) and a model National Park, managed by the CEPA.

The VNP was one of the UNDP GEF 5 Project sites and engaged 10 UNV Rangers to provide oversight and management of the Park.

Rangers are the backbone of protected area systems. A strong, capable and supported Ranger workforce is critical to conserve culture and biodiversity, deliver community benefits and increase capacity, including in the most remote and disadvantaged parts of PNG. 

The UNDP Resident Representative acknowledged that; Ranger is a critical profession in the protection of nature and culture of Protected Areas.

The presence of Rangers in the Varirata National Park has enhanced security and visitors to the Park has increased as evident by gate takings that has increased by 400%.

The Rangers are in need of a resting Lodge; hence this Lodge will make their work easier than used to be different in the past where pickup and drop off shifts are extra operational expenses to the park. 

Some of the Rangers are customary landowners of the Park and custodians of traditional cultural knowledge that includes biodiversity, and such knowledge has enhanced activities such as bird watching and the Koiari Tree House.

The UNDP have a long history of robust partnership with the government to serve as delivery partner for various conservation initiatives and this will continue, the UNDP Resident Representative added. 

The UNDP supported CEPA in the establishment of the PNG Protected Areas Policy and also the drafting of the Protected Areas Bill that CEPA is currently facilitating, to enact soon.

The UNDP Resident Representative thanked the PNG Government for facilitating the Global Environment Facility support and glad to support conservation initiatives in partnership.

Last but not least, I would like to invite you all to join me witness the official handover of the Rangers’ Lodge to CEPA to strengthen partnership and contribute to conservation management and administrative arrangements.

In June this year, a new office was constructed at the entrance gate. Renovation work will also begin on the toilet facilities shortly. The Project is also funding United Nations Volunteer Community Rangers to manage and maintain the Park.

UNDP has also assisted in building the capacity of these Rangers with the support of the Queensland Parks Wildlife Services, who are also assisting with developing a Business Plan to ensure the Park’s sustainability.

Front View of the Rangers Lodge at Varirata National Park

Side view of the Rangers Lodge at Varirata National Park

There's no country like Papua New Guinea anywhere in the world

Papua New Guinea is one unique and Beautiful Nation on the planet with diverse cultures (more than 800 different languages), unique species of flora and fauna, breathtaking and wonderful landscapes that does not match the world's wonders but beyond the amazing natural beauty and best of the fascinating attractions of heritage significance.

A country with 22 provinces which is more like states of their own or the four (4) regions in PNG are definitely continents within a country.

The tropical sun-kissed fine white sandy beaches, the brown pebbled filled shorelines that connects with crystal clear seas that houses the undiscovered marine biodiversity world which  is a wonder for marine enthusiastic visitor to PNG.

Our vegetation varies with pure tropical climate which has wet and dry seasons that nurtures the tropical rainforests and which is rated second in the world after Amazon Rainforest.

The mid mountain forests to savannah grasslands that connects the waterways and swamps in PNG with basins that are considered food bowls for the people whilst it's still the natural wildlife habitat. 

 Thankfully PNG is blessed to have been placed few kilometers below the equator making life easy for our people in the past and now to embrace countless opportunities. 

In Papua New Guinea, we've got Highlands and Coastal regions with variable temperatures and climate, which is an experience most people in PNG yet to explore and feel if tourists are attracted to this unique natural atmosphere of both coastal and highlands regions. 

Our coast and highlands are equally important despite it takes months to weeks or days to travel from one place to another by sea, land or air - yet we are undivided and one nation of colorful and beautiful people. 

You can live in the hinterlands of inland highlands or mainland coastal areas or on one of the inhibited  Islands in PNG and you can still survive because our lifestyles depended on it and were inspired by the natural settings.

We have our own traditional survival skills that matches our own settings and environmental conditions that are unique to anywhere in the world. The purely traditional skills and knowledge that are sufficient to navigate the uncharted waters and trek the tropical lush jungles of PNG at ease. 

And do not forget that, those modern things and inventions we see today have been inspired by nature which our lives are connected through our ancestry linkages to the nature. 

O sapos nogat olgeta tubuna blo yu bilong Europe pundaun ikam down long sky na stap long citi blo PNG orait hamamas igo pas long samting bilong whiteman na lusim ples. 

Hence, celebrate the festive season with pride and learn or know a bit of some values we have in our country and make a little difference with it if you can for your country.

If you don't get what you expect on the Xmas or New Year's even then do not worry. We have our beautiful environment with everything that we ever wanted in life for fun, adventure or holidays. 

Its forever livelily living in our villages and thats what makes our Xmas to home from the cities filled with fun but anxiety and agony at airports with delayed flights and sometimes too much fun and celebrations to end up in accidents - we grief and comfort together. Its our society, our cultures and traditions, our lives, our country and our pride. 

Enjoy life, live life now, celebrate life and moments. 

Blessed Festival Seasons Greetings and a Prosperous Happy New Year (2021).

🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🌲🎄

Niugini Singing Dogs - Unique breed of dogs that exists in the jungles of PNG

 Growing up, I've heard stories of wild dogs in the jungles of PNG, read books about Dingos and later got too familiar with Niugini Singing dogs through my own researches to understand it as a dog native to Island of Niugini. 

The visit to the foothills of Mt. Giluwe (Piambil Village) in early 2020 gave me a clear idea of how one of those breeds looks like with its unique physical features. 

At first I got mixed reactions of it; assuming it to be a stray dog or from mixed breed. However, Iceman was a tamed pup and grown into an adult under the care of the people and now lives a unique lifestyle in the village.

I could confirm from its features that; Niugini Singing dogs are special and rare breed that exists in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. They live in the very dense think jungles with so cold temperatures. One would wonder if they are from Husky family or mixed breed of German Shepherd but their lifestyle is not matching any of the two breeds. They live a so isolated life in the jungles away from human noise and activities. A very sensitive dog that depends on meat from wild animals and their tracks are hardly recognizable in the jungles. 

In the recent trekking into Mt. Victoria, I have sighted two of the Niugini Singing dogs in the morning near the mountain tops. The duo were passing through a grassland below me and I was watching not far from the rocky top. I would have taken photos but the cold climate frozen the camera batteries and some of its features of the camera were also not functioning properly due to the cold temperature in the area. 

To confirm, nothing of the features from Iceman at Piambil Village near Mt. Giluwe was not different from the two I saw at Mt. Victoria which were a golden brown and a full black. 

The interested researchers of Niugini Singing Dog have the opportunity to utilized Iceman for sampling and behavior studies whilst I can provide the geotag of Mt. Victoria site for further research. 

There is a concern that, due to the climate change and environmental activities like logging and bushfires, most of the species that needs specific habitats to live have died or are into the edge of extinction. One of them could be Niugini Signing Dog which needs closer attention now. 

It is yet to confirm but the locals from Mt. Giluwe have firm believe that; some of the rare species of flora and fauna have been lost through the big bushfire in the area in 2007. The bushfire is believed have affected the habitats and dwelling areas of Niugini Singing Dogs and have caused the population to decline. 

The survival chances of Niugini Signing Dogs could be minimal in the area due to  some factors that the locals are concerned that its not right and usual in the area. 

There are options of application for Protected Area Status of Mt. Giluwe under Conservation and Environment Protection Authority but that is possible if the local tribes and clans that lives around the area and owns the customary land rights agree to do so. 

The importance and unique features of Mt. Giluwe with its natural habitat that houses some of the unique species of flora and fauna as well as animal species like Niugini Singing Dogs needs protection now or all will be gone once we are not careful and considerate. 

More to be added 

PNGTPA officers set foot on Mt. Victoria in the Owen Stanley Ranges

 If this is not ontop of the world, then it must be somewhere in Heaven  - Wilfred Parker , PNGTPA Officer and trekker to Mt Victoria

The recent trekking adventure to Mt. Victoria, the highest peak in the fringes of Owen Stanley Ranges by the group comprises of Kokoda Track Guides and Porters led by the President – Mr. Norris Selu, Councilor Arthur Danny of Mainumu Ward, Nick Jerry of Koma Village and PNGTPA officers (Wilfred Parka and Naithan Lati) was an adventure set to roll into a world of varied experiences, challenges and encounters  at different atmosphere levels when ascending and descending each elevations. The uneven sister ranges of the famous Owen Stanley Range between Central and Oro Provinces have the harsh weather conditions that were unavoidable during the 8days return trip. 

In average, we could trek for 4-5hours covering almost 7kilometers a day but it was not that easy for everyone of us.  Each day, our day starts with climbing to an elevation level of 2500 -3000 meters above sea level and descending to gorges and valleys at 800 meters above sea level. Only the determined trekkers would overcome such challenges and we were starting to gather our strengths when into the thick jungle separated by ranges with rivers down the gorge. We wanted to make our climb to the summit of Mt. Victoria a success story as a PNG very own team of trekkers.   

The now Mt. Victoria was locally known as Anaka in the Koma language which means ladder mountain to the locals. It is located 75 kilometers north-east of Port Moresby and was first ascended by the New Guinea British Administrator Sir. William McGregor in the 1889 and renamed it Mt. Victoria in honour of Queen Victoria.  

Until then, some ascends were made by colonial administrators and locals but details are sketchy at the moment. There is no proper tour operator to Mt. Victoria to date even its within interconnecting ranges of Kokoda’s Owen Stanley Range and Kokoda Trail. There are no proper tracks been established apart from few decade old hunting tracks rarely used by the native landowners of Koma Village on the Kokoda side.  

There were few special adventure trekking undertaken to Mt. Victoria by individuals with the assistance of the locals. One such group was led by Australian born adventurer Alice Ride who openly expressed her near dying experiences from hypothermia; ‘I was so happy I could’ve cried, but so exhausted and dehydrated that the tears never came;’’ Alice Ride wrote on her blog under passion passport.  

Her experiences of the trek and summit at Mt. Victoria were extremely terrifying but she was happy that she visited such a beautiful place in PNG and returned home safely despite some circumstantial issues on the trek that had nearly taken her team into a mishap and evidently stated by herself on the blog; 

‘’Not only had we made our way through the night to find our campsite and all of our porters, but we had survived the cold and wet of the storm, too. It felt like a miracle. We were alive and we were safe.’’

The story and experiences of Alice Ride sounds astonishing but adding my personal experiences of Mt. Victoria trekking onto it makes a completely different to relate by a second person and my team's was different.  Nevertheless, after been trekking to Mt. Victoria and having to experience the similar kind of odd situations on the trek, I’m relating to her experiences very well and would have not preferred to go if I did read her experience of Mt. Victoria on the blog earlier. However, I read it after the trekking to compare experiences of previous trekkers and her team's visit was so recent with terrifying experiences. 

Arrived into Koma Village from Popodetta town after 2hours 4WD ride, the village located near the foothills of Mt. Victoria where the trek starts up a ridge with Koma River that flows out of Mt. Victoria into the Kokoda valley separating the village from the midmountain forests. The trek to Mt. Victoria starts on the ridge that leads to many peaks that have less oxygen levels.  

The village elders welcomed us the trekking team to the village in the afternoon from Popondetta town. We had a good chat with elders and previous trekkers to the mountain ranges who shared their experiences to give us fair knowledge of the trek and the jungle before the trekking starts next day.  The night was chilling and local dinner was served to us inside a campsite like shelter. At the dinner, the elders would warn us of some customary protocols that needs to be observed strictly all the time in the jungles leading up to the summit. The summit and its environment has its own strict customary rules to adhere to or you face the nature with harsh weather conditions that leads to mishap.   

We were told of some scared sites and warned of its importance with a number of unique myths linked into it which we have to respect with strict protocols whilst at the site or face the worst in the jungles for not paying attention to it.  

The trekking team arrival news spread and excited communities and people came in numbers to welcome us the new faces in the village. The locally prepared food kept coming into our temporary home. The young boys from the community continued to remain in the shelter with us and telling stories of their past adventures of the mountain from the last ten (10) and three (3) years of respective trekking with one including Alice Ride's team.  

Among those stories was one that Alice Ride wrote on her blog which took more than 10days maximum and nearly the team ran out of food rations on the trek and some locals found their own way home early and sent rescue mission with local food items which saved all the remaining trekkers and locals at the camp sites in the jungle. 

Our trekking was then preplanned and we were set to roll off early in the morning. The trek goes up hill beside Koma River and our first camp was to be setup at a hunting campsite for the locals but rain caught up with us quarter way to our first camp which was at an elevation of 1700meters above sea level after covering 6hours of climbing the hill for nearly 7kilometers. 

The local boys quickly secured an open space under the canopy whilst racing against the heavy downpour. We tied the canvass to some makeshift poles and started the fire to boil hot water for tea to warm ourselves. Our tents were later installed under another canvass away from the fireplace. 

It was a cold evening with rain droplets continuously falling from the canopy, we dosed off early to our respective tents after dinner at the campsite.  The cold and wet after the rain was unbearable in the first camp but somehow, I managed to get some sleeps to wake up in time for the first bird’s signal in the forest. Was a first beautiful morning away from usual noises in the villages and towns. 

The next day weather appeared to be fine and excitement grew over the breakfast time. We packed our camping gears and headed for some greater heights. The locals advised us that; we will be leaving the last of the flowing creek or water from our first camp and rest will be natural ponds or fresh water from bamboos and rock pools as well as ground ponds from moss runoffs. We fetched fresh water and filled our personal water bottles together with water for cooking and climbed the hill for another 7kilometersto get to the next camp which was approximately 2500meters above sea level. 

The first team on the trek reached the designated camp at 3pm in the afternoon and the weather was clear for some minutes and we could get a good glimpse of Kokoda Station as well as a chance to see planes landing and taking off from the Kokoda Airstrip. It was an amazing experience of its own. 

It feels like looking down into a territory of ants when looking down to Kokoda Valley from an elevation of 2500m above sea level. The farm machineries for the Kokoda Oil Palm Plantation and people moving around appears like ants. The clear view was up for few hours and then clouds taken over the space and it started raining as we retreated into our canvas shelter to keep ourselves dry and warm. 

The night was very chilling and windy which made some of us restless. The next day, local boys got up early with their usual jokes by the fire and boiled hot water for tea. During the breakfast the team renamed the campsite after PNGTPA which sponsored the group for trekking to Mt. Victoria as well as for respect and recognition of two PNG officers in the trekking group.

 

On the third day we could not see any sunlight as clouds covered the area in the morning and sky was grey. Despite the weather, we were ready to climb one of the highest peak along the range which local people call it Mt. Kawa which means out of the place mountain in Koma language. 

As we were climbing, the atmospheric pressure appears to be changing and the air became very thin towards the top. Plans were short and covered with mosses where water was dripping continuously making the trek uphill wet, muddy and cold. We could not take those usual steps in climbing but slow steps to grasp for air from a temperature running between 10 and 15 Degree Celsius. It was a scary experience for me and I did not wanted to tell anyone of how I was feeling up there. Deep within me, I was scared of rain catching up with us there under such temperature. I was imagining how cold it would be with rain pouring down on such a place with low temperatures. However, while seeing the local porters without proper trekking gears and trekking beside me gave me some courage to push to the limits with the aim to reach the next camp safely. 

It was unbelievable for me to see the local boys with plain clothes and casual shoes or some without shoes (bare foot) trekking with us but they were born to live in such harsh environmental conditions and it was normal to them. Undeniably, the local boys have been through alot of harsh weather conditions because all they need for livelihood sustenance comes from the forests we were trekking through to Mt. Victoria. That is their natural habitat supplying and sustaining their livelihood needs.  

The cold temperature was unbearable at the peak of Mt. Kawa and I asked for quick descend to a warmer location for camp and make fire. I could feel my toes going numb inside my shoe and if to remain idle for more minutes would mean being frozen to death or worst. 

We quickly ascend to a valley at 800m above sea level. The campsite has been used by the locals on hunting trips. The rain droplets from the treetops of the previous rain felt like rain too and then rain fell afterwards as we made our way to the campsite. We got used to the weather conditions and our team's aims were to set up tents quickly as possible and start making fire to keep ourselves warm and dry.

It rained whole night and the weather was not on our side. Some of us were worn out from the 3days on the trek and another two more campsites to go before Mt. Victoria summit. There was no happy moments with sunshine in the forests leading to Mt. Victoria. Our camps and tracks were all under the cover of the canopy and  afternoon rains  with clouds that could not show us any blue skies above us.   

On the 5th day, after a weary and exhausted trip to the Camp Team Anaka where the helipad was built by the trekking team, we had a little bit of sunshine but wind was very chilling and place was still cold under the sun. The wind could blow the clouds around to cover the area in a rapid scene and then rain was the next expected weather in the area. 

The next day we made it to the rocky grassland and explored Mt. Anaka which is on the eastern edge of Mt. Victoria whilst the labelled peak point was only 1kilometer away on the same rocky range from where we were. It appeared to be a clear day but the misty wind with the clouds blew against us and that is the time we lost our tracks at the top of the mountain ranges of Mt. Victoria. 

I sensed that we were facing the nature for disobedience and not observing the strict protocols at the site.

The misty clouds were too low for us and we could not see though the tracks leading to the campsites or to the peak. It was very chilling and cold with the misty rain continued with very strong wind. The ground below us was wet with patchy cold water ponds. We all got wet as well as our bags and camping gears. 

We regrouped at the peak and agreed to retreat to the hillside and camp rather than advancing to the peak. Lucky enough we quickly descend to a flat rocky hillside and setup tents there and made fire. The misty rain and wind had no mercy on us, maybe because we failed to observe some customary protocols or because we were carless and ignorant at site. We had to face the worst of our adventure there, the ground water ran into our fireplaces twice in the tents and fire died. We all fear dying of hypothermia as per Alice Ride’s experience. 

I was scared, I asked for nature's forgiveness and asks each one of the person in the group to admit their mistakes onsite and save us all. 

No option was there to guaranteed us all to be safe from the scary cold temperature with misty rain that is no different to snow when it landed on our clothes.  Fear of seeing the worst in the cold, I took the initiative to setup the tent on a flat rock area, diverted the ground water away and then reinforced the canvass with the porter’s bags with cargo on one side and other side of the canvass was tied on to the little trees on the hillside. The area was secured and then we transferred the other camping gears into the shelter and made fire inside. A safe place was secured to confess to the nature so that nature can spare us a night there and keep us all safe from the misty rain, wind and the flooding ground water. 

There was no place for anyone to sleep inside the shelter, we had one fireplace that provided little heat as it was surrounded by everyone of us and confession to the nature started in the circular order. We truly were into danger. We all admitted our wrongs on the trek to the summit and then had a sinful prayer. After the prayer the wind slowed down and our fireplace remain dry throughout the night. 

An experience I will never forget for spending the whole night sitting under the glowing fire with smoke until dawn. 

We confessed to the nature for not adhering to the protocols of the mountain and we made the decision to turn back to the Camp Team Anaka the next day and we started to build a helipad at the base of the hill. 

After the pickup helicopter was unable to make it to the elevation of 3200m above sea level, there was no option but for all of us to walk back to Koma village on the same trek. 

The endurance and sacrifice were realities one will come to realize it in such a harsh condition in the mountain ranges miles away from homes where all comfort is there than having nothing in the forests. We opted to break teams into two with one team going home early to bring additional food supplies back to the second team who were worn-out and exhausted to trek long distances on the return trip. 

On our return trip we skipped all campsites with one overnight camp and arrived at Koma Village safely in the afternoon after eight full nights on the track.  The return trip was easy because most of the track was ascending the ranges all the way to the village.  So the ascending took only 2nights to arrive in the village.   

 

It feels better to write a story with experiences to tell others of our adventure but what individual trekkers have actually gone though during the day and nights on the track to Mt. Victoria is an experience of a life time worth telling and sharing from time to time. 

It now compels me to write and share the experiences from our own PNG perspective with the situations and conditions of the track to Mt. Victoria from Kokoda side rather than someone else will write to tell me of my own country about such a wonderful and different world that exists at Mt. Victoria in Owen Stanley Ranges. 

PNGTPA officers - Nathan and Wilfred at near Mt. Victoria.  The rocky hill at the background is Mt. Anaka or Ladder 

Group photo in the morning near the Mt. Victoria 

Team at the first campsite 

Group photo at Koma Villag of Kokoda 

Clearing site for camping under the downpour 

Local guides from Koma Village discussing track after misty cloud surrounded us at the peak

Trekkers getting excited whilst reaching the peak of Mt. Anaka 

Trekkers resting at the peak to regroup 

Early morning and day2 at PNGTPA campsite - a campsite named after PNGTPA officers on the team

Early mornings at the campsites 

Our legs that endured the ranges - some with shoes some without

Excitement grew as we drew closer to the peak 

Break for lunch after day3. This area has been hard it by frost during the dry season 

One of those best morning sunrise captured from Team Anaka Helipad Camp - The camp is approx 2km away from the peak 

Mt. Victoria of Owen Stanley Range was set foot by PNGTPA officers

If this is not ontop of the world, then it must be somewhere in Heaven 
Wilfred Parker – PNGTPA Officer and trekker to Mt Victoria

Watch this space for the detailed story of the trekking team which will be posted anytime soon. 

Mt. Victoria is located within the Owen Stanley Ranges and in the borders of Central and Oro Province It is the highest peak in the Owen Stanley Ranges in Central Province, Papua New Guinea at the height of 4,038metres. 

It lies approximately 75km north-north-east of Port Moresby and can be seen on a clear day from the Port Moresby city. 

Details from Wikipedia 

Elevation: 4,038m

First ascent: 1889

Prominence: 2,738m

    Pics L-R:  Arthur Jerry, Wilfred Parka, Jr. Arthur & Naithan Lati at the top of Mt. Victoria 

PNG Music Trend - Advocacy of Change for good or worse

Old music used to mean something. There is none of that today - Ziggy Marley

In PNG, the singer generation today with their music produced and composed with laptop software (fruity loop + studio10) can beat the music production in the early 1990s with the pure instrumental mix, musical synthesis, synchronized harmony to fit the vocal arrangement matching the typical lyrics in such a wonderful PNG setting - then you got a fan backing and following that last for ages or otherwise its just another exaggerated emotional driven chant or a self-pity song to a girlfriend all the way (na antap lo em bai yu yet kisim bagarap lo boombox plusim wantaim cheap vitis bia, weed na fire wara)

Credit to this talented Manusians with their group name Sanders who were popular in the 90s and others who did produced a great array of music in the early stages of PNG contemporary music. Those songs are still best hit songs to many now too just because of its original arrangements and composition which are not like these days ori styles through laptops. 

If you are not sure of what I'm referring to about the 1990s music, then watch the video on the link below from the Sanders of Manus with Keni and see for yourself.  

 https://youtu.be/7p8UzgVgz80

These days singers and producers are into a trend of singing about ladies (womenfolk) alone and it is definitely an act of abuse or violence with harassment tag on some innocent *meri Manus, Meri Tolai, Papua, Buka, Wabag, Lae, Sepik, etc.* 

Many songs have been produced by these days generation singers are definitely personalized chant/poem to their girlfriends but when shared widely via devices and on the PNG airwaves, these songs are tarnishing the general image of good girls or womenfolk. The tokples/ tokpisin mix English lyrics are spelling out sexual harassment, violence and abuse by all context of the composition in the songs. 

It is obvious and we cannot deny the fact that; most of these days songs and lyrics are tools meant to promote domestic violence, abuse and sexual harassment everywhere. Either it is unimaginable or unbelievable to say the least of this secret domestic violence tool hidden in the songs and lyrics. Those songs have the power to bring adversity into societies causing domestic violence against womenfolk and trigger violence. 

Indeed, most of these days songs and lyrics appears to be tools of domestic violence, abuse and sexual harassment. For instance; a druggies on the street imitates a meri tagged lyrics over your daughter, wife or sister whilst passing through the street. That's already an act of abuse, violence against woman and no different to sexual harassment - depends on the song/lyrics composition with whoever imitates it given the scene and situation. 

The songs/lyrics with meri tags are empowering the druggies and creating an atmosphere safe to abuse/harass innocent girls and women in the communities through imitation of the songs. Hence, these days songs have became an easiest secret tool for harassment and violence against girls or womenfolk in the communities. 

Undeniably, music surely plays a big role in the societies to ease social, political and economical hardships by bringing hope and peace into the minds of people or advocates for change in the communities and way of life too. 

For instance, late Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, Cordrell Reagan, George Michael and others have brought some significant changes to the lives of the people around the world through their powerful and inspirational songs which got their fans and followers to act in haste bringing significant changes and placed things in order in some situations that lacked humanity. 

In PNG, the songs these days are able to incite violence, create ethnic tensions, fuel domestic violence against women and girls, promote sexual harassment, create social issues, provoke and promote binge party or drug and alcohol abuse as well as witchcraft and cult activities. 

Evidently, the music these days with the aid of Mobile phone and Boombox is seen to be part of dressing for this day's generation which is causing nuisance and recklessly creating disturbances in the communities by adding noise as well as distraction of communities who needs peace and silence in their surroundings - the loud and unwelcomed songs from boombox are hard to bear up and down the local streets and neighborhood.  

For this Manus guy (Sanders of Manus) and others who stood out in the music scene in 1990s deserved recognition for their handwork and efforts put into creating a genre of music that comes with musical intro, bridge, chorus and typical ending that is aimed at promoting Manus Province and its Culture unlike these days songs that starts with chants with no breaks, bridge or chorus yet ends with chants over computerized music on a typical PNG song. 

Maybe a PNGian singer tries his/her best to imitated a Jamaican or Republican but that could be their own culturally inspired music and song genre which does have no links and connection to PNG traditional or contemporary music.  

It is not too late to rethink and look back into the PNG contemporary music scene and it's purpose in the societies, political arena, environmental, social and economical issues we have in PNG - na inap lo singsing karai tumas lo meri olsem yu laik susu yet wantaim ol bebe bebe lyrics bilong yupela. 

There are positive things we all can do with songs and music to bring changes for this beautiful country with our own styles of music inspired by our traditions mixing with contemporary flavors - a better musical arrangement that is fitting for PNG and the world, able to inspire and bring change into the world stage as well. 

Credit to Keni and The Sanders of Manus, Hollie Maea, Basil Greg, John Wong, Sir. George Telex and others for your inspiration and setting standards in PNG music scene during the early stages which the singers of now need to learn from. 

This song from Keni and Sanders of Manus Island cannot not reach the world stage but the video have been viewed worldwide on Yutube favorably despite being the production age. 

Hence, the video is classed A quality in my own views whilst I'm giving A+ rating on the song composition and musical arrangements despite the 90s instruments - hopefully we will help reproduce the video again for the Manus Island tourism destination quest and PNG contemporary music promotion.

Lastly, I'm hoping that PNG airwaves will promote to play those positive songs about issues in life, economy, society, environment, social challenges of PNG to advocate for change and avoid promoting to play songs that seems to be the tools of social disorder which are likely to provoke abuse or violence against women and girls.  

Views are personal for the blogger only and comments are welcomed for a better PNG contemporary music advocacy with changes to each society's outlook by outdoing all forms of violence against women and girls from music, by music, through music and songs. 

Video - Sanders of Manus Island

Call for Applications - Pacific Islands Leadership Program (PILP) 2021

Application Deadline: February 01st, 2021

The Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan (PILP) seeks outstanding individuals from all walks of life (government, business, NGOs, health, media, education, etc.) to participate in an innovative leadership development program in Honolulu, Hawaii and Taiwan. 

Over the course of ten weeks, PILP fellows will spend the first four weeks engaged in experiential leadership activities at the East-West Center, followed by five weeks of field immersion in Taipei hosted by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA), culminating in a capstone leadership retreat and closing ceremonies. 

The curriculum includes future scenario planning, adaptive leadership skills, personal action planning, social entrepreneurship and risk analysis, climate change and environmental stewardship, international relations and Pacific regionalism, public health solutions and many other critical issues of common concern. 

Citizens from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are eligible to apply for these competitive and merit-based fellowship awards. 

In PILP, Fellows will: 

• Explore leadership frameworks and apply practical tools and techniques. 
• Analyze personal leadership strengths and weaknesses and develop a leadership action plan 
• Forecast the implications of regional and global trends 
• Connect with a diverse network of global specialists and research. 
• Forge deeper intercultural communication skills and join a lifelong learning community at the East-West Center 
• Experience the best of Taiwan and learn new ideas and solutions tailored to Pacific challenges.
• Develop enhanced abilities to navigate regional and personal change. 

Provisions: 

• Airfare to/from program 
• Tuition and course materials 
• Residence hall room cost 
• Health Insurance 
• Living stipend 
• US visa SEVIS fee (if required) 

Visit the program website for application materials and more information: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/PILP

For questions and inquiries, email [PILP@eastwestcenter.org]. Apply before February 1, 2021.  

Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with PILP news and events! 

Find us @ewc_leadership on Instagram and @EWCLeadershipProgram on Facebook.

For those in PNG and interested with the information, please keep in touch with me via WhatsApp +67570318595 and raonraonpng Web blog for an information session with previous candidates of the PILP program.

The information session will be held in Port Moresby and attendance by reservations only. 

The same information  with other details of the information session will be disseminated via email and whatsapp anytime soon. 

Best wishes to grade 10 and 12s of 2020 on their National Examination

Exams test your memory, life tests your learning; others will test your patience.  -Fennel Hudson-

To my beloved friends in Grade 10s & 12s for the year 2020. 

This is not the end of the World or Education Life, as long as you are alive, everything in life will be there for you as opportunities, challenges and threats in life.

 Rebuilt your strengths and move on to live the life and its purposes. 

There is more to life and it's not only what you see your peers sees you which is only a fitting compliment of this life at school or after exam the realities of life knocks in. 

You've got a life which you were born to live as an individual and not living for anyone else. Never make your life feel like Iiving to please anyone or a group. 

I'm where I'm now because of my own self-determination and content with what I've achieved through education. 

My secrets were to control and avoiding peer pressure at school secretly and I've done it and I'm smiling now as those peer leaders who are selling buai na kolwara lo street or making ends meet in all illegal means. 

So my advice is, look back, adjust your life and look forward for the future which was never been promised to anyone. 

Life is too short to cause issues that will make you regret forever in life. 

Give your best shorts on the exams, it's only a test of the memory's ability to justify Right from Wrong and substantiate reasons of Yes or No problems. 

My best wishes and praying that you will do your best in the exams which every professional people have gone through to reach their career goals and success

Best wishes from raonraonpng team

🇵🇬👍🙏🇵🇬

PNG Domestic Tourism; enormously all sector economy that needs a trigger.

 Covid-19 Pandemic has greatly hit tourism industry harder and as a result some of the prominent airlines companies around the world have scaled down resources or ceased to operate making tourism industry very difficult to recover quickly. 

However, there is chances of rebuilding resilience domestic tourism products that will trigger the growth domestically and connect with the world's phase into the recovery road for tourism to get into the usual momentum. 

When looking into the tourism products in the Pacific's Small Island Nations comparing to PNG's own unique tourism products, we have unexplored places at 60% above to amaze and awe ourselves or even repeat international visitors whilst Pacific Islands countries have oversold their tourism products ever since it became their economic sector, (eg. same places, cultures and products are repeatedly sold). 

PNG is an exceptionally unexplored paradise with its diverse and unique landscapes from coastal low land scenery made of savannah, swamps, deltas, network of rivers and tributaries, remote atoll islands, isolated white sandy beaches, warm crystal sea with diverse marine biodiversity to cooler Highlands covered with forests of many different types, the home to many unique species of flora and fauna. 

Local cultures and traditions are fascinating as they are all linked to natural habitats of each societies with tribes and clans that can speak two or more of the 800 different languages spoken in the country.

Imagine visiting a village and travel another 100km and you see different settings of the environment, the people and their lifestyle, cultures and traditions also differs. This is bewildering amazement in its relatively purest form that can never be found anywhere in the world. 

If diversity is a meaning to be explained with realities in life, PNG fits the meaning practically and dictionaries would run out of adjectives to explain the diversity of PNG's fascinating beauty.

PNG appears small in the map for the world but we trek, sail, fly, ride from one place to another place (province to province or districts to villages) for hours and days but we still call it one country - Papua New Guinea with unexplored terrains and trenches off or on the shores of the nation.

There are legends of our mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, animals and plants which the life of our ancestors are connected to and those are our values that defines our tribalism, heritage and dignities which portrays; we belong to a country with societies knitted in keen-ships or widely the Melanesian Way suits best.

Tourism definitely have lot more to offer to the world market to attract the world into PNG but there's always bias promotions on PNG by regional tourism organizations and international perceptions by our destinations market competitors and racism over PNG by some destination competing countries that have placed PNG tourism on the opposite page to the realm of the occult.

We do not need aggressive or expensive marketing campaigns and techniques to draw more competitions attention with other destinations in the Pacific to attract and increase tourism arrivals.  Each provinces in PNG got all those various kinds of tourism products that are 100% unique and able to create interest and draw the attentions of the world for the fact that some of the tourism products have the features that are beyond UN heritage listing and wonders of the world. 

Respective districts and provinces in PNG have the chances now to create what it needs to be a center of tourism attraction and flood the social media platform and ensure it is more than the reality with added features and amenities. 

Make PNG visit your unique place (province, district or village) before the world comes to you whenever the tourism gates will be opened. 

 Now is the time, the tourism resource owners of PNG need to take ownership of their own tourism resources and built resilience strategies to create unique marketing taglines of their tourism products in respective provinces and feature them one at a time on the social media platforms with packages that are suitable for PNG people until it matures and diversification strategy is adapted to accommodate overseas tourism.

Have you seen it all ? - a question PNG citizens need to ask themselves to see PNG first or create a tourism product that will create interest for people to see PNG.  Both are practically optional answers whereby someone can consider to see places in PNG with curiosity and interest or create one for others to visit and see for themselves.  

If Phuket is in a rebellious conflict area with religious clashes are frequent due to various religious ethnic groups and community that is under strict bylaws of Thailand whilst Bali is in Indonesia where Muslim law is harsh and terrorist attacks on tourists or night clubs is predominant target. 

But why tourists still love these places ? 

In PNG, we do have social issues that are no different to those that exists anywhere in the world with exception to the promised Heaven in the Bible, then why not a province or district in PNG can promote one unique product to draw world attention and make the world forget the negative images of PNG and make believe that such do exists in PNG to be the center of attraction (?)

It can be in New Ireland, Buka, Manus, Alotau, Sepiks, Rabaul, Kimbe, Lae, Madang or be it in Mt. Hagen for a lavish holiday, party hard capital, lost in cooler paradise mountain jungles or  intentional castaway on isolated islands, accustomed to rare customs, indulge in nature, get it tanned and sun-kissed on the tropical beaches near to equator and see the glorious sunrise and invariant equatorial sunsets or sleep under the full moon with twinkling stars on a hammock like never experienced anywhere in the world. 

We've got what it takes to be the destination leader in the Pacific and capable of drawing the attention of the world tourism!

The tourism products PNG have to offer to the world is more than Phuket and Bali can offer. It is not just a name with an attractive branding but everything that would worth the money for an avid traveler or one that seeks holiday out in the tropics and expect the unexpected in paradise - more than what a tourist ever wanted and dreamt of in a holiday to tropical paradise.   

For PNG tourism industry, we do not need a magic or uncover a complicated theory in tourism, we have tourism in our bloodline with the Melanesian Way dating back to trades and bather systems our ancestors have practiced years ago.  And now we know that; tourism is everyone's business and local people owns most of the resources that need their own contributions and efforts to make it a reality with the support of the local authorities on the ground - let the word potential get off the picture and get on with reality one at a time locally and get it going globally. 

We need to start it somewhere and create our own interests domestically and then draw the attention of the world tourism into PNG and not necessarily for tourism product locations to feature a country but a place of thousand tribes as province or district to make an international center of attraction and make tourists forget a country PNG. 

If tourism is the 1st economical income generator for nations like Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, etc. For PNG, its definitely a catalyst for livelihood sustainability of the people and economic booster for families at both urban and rural communities. An eminent  bottom up approach for economic development, for the fact that most of the unique tourism products in PNG are rurally based and own by the communities, tribe or clan. 

Tourism brings both tangible and intangible services or developments to the nation and communities where tourism products are centered. Its not hard work compared to coffee, copra and cocoa whereby family is too much involved in farming to processing then to the market with unfavorable price fluctuations. 

Tourism is different because it involves anyone and everyone  by connecting the communities to the world as well as connects all the business sectors and improves living standards. Obviously a boost to the local and national economy which provides employment and income for communities. 

We do not need a case study to prove this but need to awaken with reality in tourism for PNG and its people. 

Let those responsible leaders and authorities see the oversight of PNG tourism whilst there's always a need of political will power to drive the tourism industry in the respective provinces and electorates.

Political attentions on other economical sector developments are equally important as much as tourism is concerned since its a crosscutting sector that connects every industry and services in the country. 

More importantly, tourism is sustainable economy that has it own unique characteristics and those who sees the importance knows the tricks and tips to keep afloat to benefit everyone in the nation and communities despite the challenges like Covid19. 

Covid-19 pandemic can be seen as a negative impact on the industry but it has provided a gap to build a resilience tourism industry domestically to find the right trigger points to place PNG as a most targeted destination by tourists to outsmart other regional destinations and bring world attention to PNG. 

For other countries, the product development, promotion and marketing could be more theoretical but PNG practically got what its needs to be the tourism destination leader in the region by promoting various unique products one at a time to create interest and attract the world into PNG. 

(this article does not represent any views of an organization that I work with or any industry players but are own views of #raonraonpng team)

The new bird-watching shelter at PAU fully funded by PNGTPA and officially commissioned on September, 2020

On the Mandrin Island hammock

Poem dedicated to Mandrin Island on the north coast of Lorengau town in Manus IslandThe poem was written from the island whilst resting on the hammock. An expression of self for the love of the beautiful island (my darling) 

---------------------------------------------

Reaching the sun-kissed shore of Mandrin

I set my eyes on you

You took my very attentions away 

I love you and the feel of it 

The tensions were so high and needed a touch of you with feeling of relieve. 

A hang or hug were what came to my mind when I saw you 

On with you, I wanted more of the rolling waves crushing on the reef that would make me forget the day 

I knew, the night with hammock on the island has just started 

The only barrier of the tiny Mandrin Island seems over protective and her hammock hangers

The house reef and its habitat never sways to mother nature

They protects the island, I knew I was protected 

Underneath the shades are fine dunes crushed into likeness of the eyes if legs tremble

The birds bidden farewell to the day, some songs attuned into the rhythm of the waves

Making me fallen in love with the island hammock endlessly 

If I can request to you the tiny island of Mandrin, give me the citizenship. 

I've been spoiled, if not by your beaut then a spell from your natural look 

Let me hang here without your hug until I hang-loose or stay here until dawn

Let the parrots wake me up if Chauka was not happy with me making love with her hammock whole night 

Hey sparrows and gulls, please make more noise to keep me awake, I'm just enjoying the hammock on the beach

If you can understand, the hammock is taking me into the deepest of the lovely night on an island like this

And I pray, the tiny gods of the Mandrin Island will keep away the grey sky. 

Let the stars light brighter for tonight and make me fall in love with the hammock more and more

Bring the moonlight up the horizon 

Tell love at home, I'm hanging here on the hammock on the remote island of Mandrin 

Hope you looking up the sky with the bright moonlight 

I'm seeing your face in there but I'm with hammock alone here. 

She is not my darling but she is Mandrin hammock.

Dear love, if the moon smiles at you 

I'm seeing  the moon from here too and it makes me lonely no more 

The South-east breeze is freezing

I don't want to be frozen here to the shape of the hammock. 

I know the shape of you by heart

And here I'm on a heart shaped hammock

If the seas will never roar tonight then the breeze too can spare me a life.

I'm coming back home to you in my dreams

I want to hang on here till dawn

The birds can sing me my forgotten songs if the hammock rocks me to alive

Please Mandrin Island let me make a wish on this hammock with you tonight

Praying to the breeze to allow me a moment to visit you once more and hangout with you my dearest Mandrin hammock

I'm into the deepest of my sweetest dreams ever with you Mandrin hammock.

I love the feel if not the hammock then it's you my darling (Mandrin Island) 

poem from Mandrin Island🌊🎋

Varirata National Park - Promotional Video

In an effort to continue the conservation work for biodiversity and promote ecotourism related activities at Varirata National Park under CEPA-JICA Biodiversity Project 2015-2020. The Varirata National Park Management Committee is looking for options to ensure that operations of the park also continues. 

The first promotional video for Varirata National Park was has been released on July 2020 which signifies the completion of a milestone the five (5) year CEPA- JICA Biodiversity Project undertook to revamp the park to where it is now.

The collaborative efforts from PAU, PNGTPA, Koiari LLG, Kae Association and other stakeholders have significant impact on the project and the video acknowledges their commitment and time on the project.

With the current situation with Covid-19 pandemic, we hope this promotional video inspires an avenue to resuscitate domestic tourism in Port Moresby (PNG).

Please reserve a time to visit Varirata National Park.

Brief details of Varirata National Park;
Varirata National Park was the first National Park declared in Papua New Guinea and was officially opened on the 08th of October 1973.

The Varirata National Park is located on the state land and covers an area of 1063ha. It is located on the Sogeri Plateau, approximately 48km east of Port Moresby city and is accessible by road.

Interestingly, Varirata National Park is located at an elevation of 600-800m with an average rainfall of 1400-2000mm. It has closely spaced narrow accordant ridges and rocks consisting of ballistic lava, agglomerate, tuff and dyke origins.

The land was locally called Wodobonomu and used to be the traditional hunting grounds of the Koiari people.

Varirata National Park has scenic views from some of its lookouts with beautiful forests comprising of rain-forests, Savannah grassland, gallery forests and secondary regrowth. The area is also inhibited with some unique plants and animals such as Rusa Deer, Forest Wallabies, Possums, Bandicoots, Cassowaries, Raggiana Bird of Paradise and other extraordinary bird species, Pythons, Monitor Lizard and various insects including Butterflies and Beetles.

The main picnic area and the information center area were once a coffee nursery established in the 1950s. The same area was previously logged by Sandis and Burns Philip (NG) Ltd, respectively.

Later a piggery and poultry farm was established and the concrete basements are the only remnants today.

With the CEPA-JICA Biodiversity Project, the Varirata National Park have been revamp and significant changes were made including the following;

• New Information Center at Varirata National Park 
• Varirata National Park Rangers program was introduced 
• Biodiversity Surveys and Studies Conducted  
• Camera Traps installed at strategic locations for monitoring wildlife 
• Varirata National Park Management Committee established 

Promotional Video of Varirata National Park

Ahi retires to Salamaua after 30 years

SALAMAUA is my birth place and the place where I grew up and went to school, then got employed and lived away for many years, reminisces 67-year-old Wagu Ahi.

“Returning to Salamaua and enjoying my retirement feels better than elsewhere I have worked and lived.”

Read the story from The National newspaper's travel section under the link below; 

Ahi retires to Salamaua after 30 years

A beautiful jetty near Ahi's residence

One Day Tour to Varirata National Park - Reactivated

The One Day Tour Package to Varirata National Park has been reactivated with new dates set after the Covid-19 lockdown in PNG.

In an effort to conserve biodiversity, we would like to continue marketing and promoting the Varirata National Park as one of the effectively functioning National Parks of PNG and we need your support!

The new date for the tour is set for Saturday 20th June, 2020.
K72.00 for individual or K335.00 for 5 people.

Inclusions:
Transport, Entrance fees, lunch, guided tour & guide maps.
Activities:
Trekking, Hiking, Koiari tree house, swimming, cultural dances, lakeside viewing, sight-seeing, photographing.

To book your tour; call us on 76207629 / 76635859 or email the Secretariat team via; variratapark@gmail.com

Varirata National Park - One Day Tour Package

Picture by: raonraonpng