Day 1 in Madang

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Madang, Madang, Papua New Guinea
On our first day in Madang we drove around town with Casper our driver looking at the town. We stopped at the Coastwatchers Lighthouse and then he took us around town to find Bougainvillea Drive where I lived as a kid when my dad worked for Namusu. Our house was brand new back in 1968, no fences, on the water with great views of the harbour. We found the house now, 40 years older, surrounded in security fencing and looking to be in a state of disrepair. It was great to find the house though and see where I used to live. Casper also took us past the international primary school and also showed us the university and high schools etc.

We visited Bil Bil pottery village near Madang as well as a near by butterfly farm . Along the road Casper showed us all the traditional veges in the gardens, yams, sweet potatoes, pit pit etc.

Dad and Mum visited here in the 60s and knew one of the original people who came out to help the villagers from the island of Bil Bil commercialise their pottery. They charged us 35 kina for a demonstration and allowed us to walk to the ocean and through their village. They are quite a large village and have the traditional structures as well as newer ones made from iron and wood and thatch. The new ones last longer but cost more. Traditional homes last 3 to 5 years before having to be replaced.

I bought Dad and Mum a traditional cooking pot from the village

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