After leaving Cairns, we sailed north along the Australian shore and through the Coral Sea. We passed between many beautiful islands, large and small – very picturesque. Late this morning we arrived on the south shore of New Guinea, where we docked for a few hours. I was with Mary and Jim on a four hour tour called “Highlights of Madang.”
Since it was raining, we left the ship armed with the umbrellas provided. It was hot and very muggy. There were 20 mini busses transporting 10 to 12 passengers each to visit the various places of interest on the island. Our group was fortunate to have one with air conditioning – most of them didn’t. Today is Sunday, so unfortunately, the stores and market were not open, because that would have been the first part of the tour.
Instead we headed off to see the Coastwatchers’ Memorial Lighthouse. During the war, the locals watched for Japanese ships and airplanes and relayed information by radio to the allied forces. The memorial was erected to commemorate those from the country who lost their lives in the war. There are over 30 sunken Japanese ships in the bay just north of the port where se were docked, but our tour did not take us there.
From there we went to the Madang Cultural Centre where locals performed the folk dances of their country in traditional attire -- some of the ladies were naked above the waist.
We then travelled to a village where we saw how the pottery (which was for sale) is made. Again we were treated to folk dancing. The natives there were very friendly and most seemed happy to have their pictures taken.
Their homes were rather primitive. I guess in that hot climate, one doesn’t need anything more substantial.
The people here speak 3 languages – English is taught in school. The other 2 languages are pidgin English and then their own dialect depending on what part of the country they come from.
I learned this from speaking to a woman who lives in that village. Her English was not bad, but I had to speak slowly for her to understand me. She has 4 children between the ages of eight years and her one month old baby. I didn’t realize it at first, because she was wearing a large heavy shawl over her shoulders, but her tiny baby was in a net hanging behind her back. It was fast asleep. She also told me that she was not born in that village, but that she had moved there after marrying a man who came from there. She said that he used to work on a ship, but that he had given that up to stay at home with her and the children.
Our last stop was at a butterfly farm. The man who runs it showed us on a bush the various stages in the development of his butterflies. He said that he does not sell his butterflies, but that he does this work to preserve them. The land on which the very small tent where his butterflies are on display is found, had beautifully landscaped flower beds of which he is extremely proud. It looked like a little park with gorgeous flowers and of course multi butterflies flying about.
Everywhere we went, (except the butterfly place), the locals had some pottery, carvings and trinkets displayed on blankets on the ground which they offered for sale. Not too many cruise ships stop here so their selling practices are not as sophisticated as in other less primitive places. Here, they do not have their wares set up in booths or on tables.
Mary, Jim and I enjoyed out tour very much. I was very surprised upon returning to the ship to hear a couple of people complain. They said that stopping here was a waste of time – that there was nothing to see. They said that the least the locals could do is to set up their wares for display so that people didn’t have to bend down to look at them. No matter where we go, there’s always some negative person to find fault. So sad that people cannot enjoy seeing the reality of how others in the world exist, without criticizing.
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