I am not sure how we ended up on our recent trip to the Tawali Resort in PNG. It was a complete blast I cant believe I have had the opportunity to do these things. We went with the Lae Explorers club which in there are own words are a “Bunch of Drinkers with a Travel Problem”. Twelve great people, who with the exception of my in laws are all strangers.

Talawi Resort

Talawi Resort Holiday

In 2012 we went to Talawi Eco resort near Milne Bay in PNG. The holiday was with the Lai Explorers club and we saw an amazingly simple way of life.

Talawi Lodge

Talawi Lodge Wharf as we arrive

View from Cabin

This the view from our eco-cabin.

IMG_000588

Place to sit and relax and not too far from the bar

local fishermen

Two local fishermen

Boia Boia Waga Island

Boia Boia Waga

We went snorkelling at the eastern end of png on a Island called Boia Boia Waga. This is a small island with an active small reef beside it.

Dug Out on Boia Boia Waga

Local Canoe at Boia Boia Waga

2012%20PNG%20099

Locals clowning with one of the canoes at Boia Boia Waga

Snorkling Boi Boia Waga

Snorkelling at Boia Boia Waga

Snorkelling

Under water at Snorkelling at Boia Boia Waga

Traditional Local Wedding

Traditional Local Wedding

A Japanese couple had the romantic notion to get married in every culture they visited on their honey moon. The locals gave them this magnificent wedding and we got to attend as guests

Waiting for the Groom

The wedding, the bride is waiting for the groom

The Bride arrives protected from view

When she arrives she is protect from the grooms view

The Groom Arrives

The groom comes to claim his bride

Happily Married Couple

The happy couple after the wedding

Skull Caves of Tawali

Skull Caves of Tawali

We were invited to go and visit the Skull caves that lay to the west of us. These caves were very old an on inquiry we found they held no spiritual significance but were simply a record of what went passed. These skulls were of strangers and foes for times past.

Intrepid Explorers

The Adventures arrive

The Skulls

The Skulls in one of two caves we visited

Skulls in heaps

The Skulls in one of two caves we visited

Selling their wares outside one of the skull caves.

Instant Markets sprang up in the Jungle once we came out of the skull caves

Waterfall & walking villages

Waterfall & walking villages

We went to a village near a waterfall where a local ranger explained the way of life for the locals which included no electricity, sewage, running water or nearby shops. The lived completely off the land. We got to walk back to the lodge through various small villages.

IMG_000895

Local village housing

The Waterfall

This creek and waterfall provided fresh water, and a wonderful place to place for the village.

IMG_000718 (1280x853)

Kids having fun in the waterfall

Kids enjoying themselves

What are these people doing here

IMG_000880

School Room in a Village

IMG_000887

A bunk room in the Village

Cooking utensils

Cooking utensils for the Village spotlessly clean.

IMG_000882

Local village housing

Luxury Pad

Luxury house owned by a senior elder in the community.

Goodbye Kids

Goodbye Kids you were so much fun

I had read that Alotau is “safe” in PNG, that was first evident when we went through the town and found that most the shops and building were not protected by iron grids. It was a nice but very small village style place and a port. A significant port from a trade point of view as it covered the whole East of the country in Milne Bay. That’s not to say there were big ships and container wharfs, bit in terms of say Waitangi in the Chatham Islands. The centre of the world for these folks  as there is no roads into Alotau, sea and air are the only approaches.

Our journey was a plane trip from Port Moresby to Alotau, then a bus along a dirt road for some 45 minutes until we came to a wharf in the middle of nowhere, or the middle of paradise depending on how you look at it. From here we transferred to a large dive tender by a small lighter ready for a 20 minute trip up the flat waters of Milne Bay to a place called Tawali Lodge.

This is an eco style lodge, with cabins built on the ridges over looking Milne bay. Elements of the lodge weave through the bush on a small peninsular. A feature of this trip is we had no idea of what were going to do, except enjoy  ourselves at what ever