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<\/p>\nHow many places on earth have you been to that offer so
\nmany interesting surprises? Papua New Guinea (PNG in
\nshort,) situated north of Australia and east of Indonesia
\non the island of New Guinea offers a myriad of surprises
\nwhich come as culture shock for the cultural and adventure
\ntourists.<\/p>\n
The Highlands of Papua New Guinea, which is made up of
\nfive of the country’s 19 provinces, is the rugged
\ninterior, whose people of short, stocky warrior farmers,
\nmake up a third of the country’s 5 million people of
\nMelanesian and Polynesian stocks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Highlands of PNG is truly “last frontier
\nterritory.” The first white men set foot on this part
\nof the world in the 1960s. The Highlands has been referred
\nto by many travellers as wild, rugged and isolated, making
\nit a truly amazing place for its sheer natural beauty and
\npristine wilderness. It’s a natural wonderland and
\nperhaps, the very place in the world that should rightfully
\nbe given the title of “last frontier”. With its
\ntowering, cool, cloud-covered mountain peaks, deep gorges,
\nevergreen valleys and fast-flowing rivers, it is the region
\nin PNG that is still very much untouched and unexplored.
\nIts people are colourful and you only have to visit one of
\nthe major cultural shows such as the Goroka or Mt Hagen
\nShows to see why. In one big gathering, you will be
\nconfronted with loud pulsating sounds of “kundu
\ndrums” made from hollowed logs, which are covered
\nwith lizard and snake skin and confronted with thousands of
\ncolourfully-painted faces and bodies that glisten in the
\nHighlands sunlight. Their birds of paradise, lorikeet,
\nparrot, cassowary and cockatoo feathers are just as amazing
\nas they sway to the rhythmic movements of the body.<\/p>\n
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Highlands people are also industrious, most of whom
\nstill live in villages and are predominantly
\nagriculturalists whose very livelihood very depends on
\ntheir relationship with each other and the land that they
\nhave inherited. There are 5 Highlands Provinces in the
\nSouthern Highlands, Enga, Western Highlands, Simbu and
\nEastern Highlands. When you take the scenic Highlands
\nHighway from the coastal port and city of Lae, you reach
\nthe Eastern Highlands first, whose capital Goroka enjoys an
\nall year around cool, almost eternal spring-like climate.
\nGoroka is famous for the Asaro mud men of the fertile
\nvalley of the same name and the world famous Goroka Show,
\nheld in September every year to coincide with PNG’s
\nIndependence anniversary on September 16th.<\/p>\n
About two hours up the Daulo Pass is the rugged Simbu
\nProvince, known for its rough terrain and jazzed limestone
\nmountain tops whose people, stocky warrior farmers, can be
\nseen manoeuvring mountainsides with relative ease on bare
\nfoot. Simbu is perhaps best known for the highest mountain
\non the land in Mt Wilhelm, which at 4509 meters has
\nattracted bush walkers, trekkers and mountaineers from far
\nand wide. You only have to view the guest book at
\nBetty’s Lodge and trout farm, situated at the foot of
\nthe mountain, to see where climbers have come from. There
\nare entries from should read from as far away as Israel,
\nGermany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Poland, and the
\nUnited States of America.<\/p>\n
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Further up the highway is the vibrant city of Mt Hagen
\nand capital of Western Highlands, a predominantly coffee
\ngrowing region. Mt Hagen is best known as home to the
\nequally famous Mt Hagen Show, which is held in August every
\nyear. Like the Goroka Show, this show is one of PNG’s
\nicon cultural spectacles and it brings together colourful
\nand diverse tribes who partake in a weekend of cultural
\nperformances called “singsings.”<\/p>\n