Day 2 in Raglan -The stray way

Raglan is a small town in the east coast of North Island. About 10 -12 km away is the Karioi lodge and outdoor centre neatly tucked away in the forest where surf enthusiasts and school children flock in its peak season to catch the best waves.
A night sleep here on our stray trip overnight sleep was such a wonderful experience. It is a perfect place for a weekend or holiday getaway to chill out.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Stray Team
It is nothing like the 7 days Kokoda Trek I did in 2009 .With a steep climb up to South Crater where the vegetation is as low as your knees and apparent deposits of aged lava flow that have solidated into rocks you take easy step climbs between Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. You take a moment and think how amazingly the mother earth has its way of exploiting the surrounding vegetation. Climbing at 1900 altitude you reach the red crater where volcanic activity is apparent; sulpur smell and steam rising reminds you of the melting rocks beneath the earths surface and how violent it can turn out to be.

It was the The Tongariro Alpine Crossing trek that I did not have any excuse to miss out today.

With a group of 12 stray travellers we took the challenge to trek the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing. At 19.4 km trek extending over steep volcanic terrain that can take up to 7-8 hours hike depending on your walking pace and side trek walks.
Interestly I learnt that it is New Zealand's National heritage and is on the world heritage list. No wonder you get so many tourists who speak highly of this trek.

Travelling the Stray Way

I have been travelling on a bus service called Stray in the last 5 days. Arrived in Tongariro National Park today. Will be spending 3 days here before i head down to Wellington.

Maori Culture Experience in Maketu

Stray group in the morning of Friday morning

The Stray Group after the Cultural performance

Maori Culture/Traditional Experience Sleepover in Maketu

Cricket -Day 3 Ashes Series Game 1

Top left: Mou and I

Top right: English Team fielding.

Bottom left: English team take the field on the third day.

This blog is dedicated to my family -brothers , sisters, nieces and nephews who are die hard cricket fans.

Finally in Toowoomba

A stop over at the Japanese garden before visiting University of Southern Queensland.

Flight to Brisbane went well despite the turbulance hick up prior to landing. Waited at the terminal for about 45 mins before I caught the airport flyer to Toowoomba which took another 2 and a half hours bus ride.

Haven't done much today as the weather looks to be wet , windy and cold.

Hoping to get around in the next fews day to explore much of Toowoomba.

Lake Koena

This blog is dedicated to all my fun and nature loving nieces and nephews of the Paine clan who are always willing to spend the day at the Lake with me.
Lake Koena view from Kokori pamo ( meaning red hill)
My nieces and nephews from the Paine clan

Warebe to'o A local villager settles to catch something for dinner

It is a must do activity when I visit my village every vacation. With no cost at all to spend you are free to enjoy the untouched nature that has so much history dating back to my great great grand fathers who lived a nomadic life- style until they settled for the banks of Lake Koena. It was here that my father was born and grew up imitating the ways of the villagers as a young boy, especially from his father and grandfather who were very much keen on passing their skills, knowledge and values to him as he was the oldest of the Paine boy.

With the news that aunt Ep is planning to spend the day at lake Koena the little ears are alert that they waste no time in alarming their cousins in the neighborhood. Morning arrives , I am ready with my swimmers, hat, sun- screen, water bottle, footwear and some food/fruits to keep us going for the day and I notice little bodies assembling; I know I have company. They worry nothing about a towel nor the swimmers, water bottle or hat. They are as happy as a clam that they know the day will be filled with fun and perhaps special treat from aunt Ep with lollies.

A typical day out at Lake Koena includes use of 2 0r 3 canoes to paddle to certain location; station at a location and swim as much as we can; enjoy local fruits/food for lunch; swim some more and then paddle back to the shore; last jump in for a swim (Mo'o) as my little nieces and nephews like to call it; pack up and we are all ready to walk another 30 -40 minutes back to Begabari pamo village (Village on the hill top).
Arriving at the village we are welcomed with food prepared by my extended family members
( The tireless and kindest sister in laws who happen to be the mums of some of the nieces and nephews I went out with at the lake) who will never let you pass by without having a bite of their best produce and a drink of mutari tu ( coconut juice).
After spending an hour or 2 we excuse ourselves and leave for our little family village -Deu.
By the time we reach home its 5.00 0r 5.30pm. Its been a long day and I am finally having the need to rest my tired feet and a few chats with family members about how the day went.

Farewell Koro

I was finally leaving Koro after 4 years 10 months and 10 years 10 months with I.E.A. This was official as of 15th October, 2010.

There was inquisitiveness amongst students that they wanted to know why I was leaving.They even made an appointment to visit me one afternoon in my office and asked me;

What do you find most difficult to leave Korobosea? What were your most treasurable moments?
There was one I remember very well as I was doing my usual walk-about around the school grounds when a very cheerless face confronted me and asked " Ms Paine..Why are you leaving us???..........

There is always a season for everything, a season to begin a new life somewhere, a season to renew your contracts, a season to celebrate life....For me it is a season to begin a new life somewhere; a future that is unknown but there is hope for something good to happen :)
My working life at Koro has been the most rewarding experience which I am very grateful for .The people I have worked with; the children, staff and parents of Koro. have been extraordinarily wonderful..As I depart I have every belief that Koro will continue to be the best with the best people who tirelessly and wholeheartedly commit their efforts in ensuring that the quality of education is the best amongst the schools in P.N.G.

Thank you Koro and farewell!

7.30 to 8:00am -What's the Magic??

7.30 to 8:00am -What's the Magic??

How wonderful to see how some classes are so organized, that I hardly tell if students have arrived in their rooms. When I walk in a class everyone is so quiet and focused. A child somewhere in the room is unpacking his/her bags, while another group is doing reading cards, another group is reading quietly, Teacher somewhere in the corner is during one on one assessment..I am impressed, my heart settles and it makes me think how organized the teacher is? what is the magic I think?

I walk out the door, and as I silently stroll down the pathway I see a group of children, someone calls out ssssssshhhh…Ms Paine! to alert the rest of the pack ..They scurry back on the pathway pretending they have just entered the school ground…Do they need to be told every now and then? What is the morning routine like in their classrooms?

What is the magic after all?

World's oldest high-altitude settlements 'found in PNG'

World's oldest high-altitude settlements 'found in PNG'

(AFP) – Sep 30, 2010

SYDNEY — The world's oldest known high-altitude human settlements, dating back up to 49,000 years, have been found sealed in volcanic ash in Papua New Guinea mountains, archaeologists said Friday.

Researchers have unearthed the remains of about six camps, including fragments of stone tools and food, in an area near the town of Kokoda, said an archaeologist on the team, Andrew Fairbairn.

"What we've got there are basically a series of campsites, that's what they look like anyway. The remains of fires, stone tools, that kind of thing, on ridgetops," the University of Queensland academic told AFP.

"It's not like a village or anything like that, they are these campsite areas that have been repeatedly used."

Fairbairn said the settlements are at about 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) and believed to be the oldest evidence of our human ancestors, homo sapiens, inhabiting a high-altitude environment.

"For homo sapiens, this is the earliest for us, for modern humans," he said.

"The nearest after this is round about 30,000 years ago in Tibet, and there's some in the Ethiopian highlands at around about the same type of age."

Fairbairn said he had been shocked to discover the age of the finds, using radio carbon dating, because this suggested humans had been living in the cold, wet and inhospitable highlands at the height of the last Ice Age.

"We didn't expect to find anything of that early age," he said.

The findings, published in the journal Science, suggest that the prehistoric highlanders of Papua New Guinea's Ivane Valley in the Owen Stanley Range Mountain made stone tools, hunted small animals and ate yams and nuts.

But why they chose to dwell in the harsh conditions of the highlands, where temperatures would have dipped below freezing, rather than remain in the warmer coastal areas, remains a mystery.

"Papua New Guinea's mountains have long held surprises for the scientific community and here is another one -- maybe they were the home of homo sapiens' earliest mountaineers," Fairbairn said.

Where’s home?

Often a question usually someone asks in the introduction process is “Where’s home?” where one can virtuously react with an answer “are you proud to tell the person?” of cause, if you’d ask me I would tell you “I am from Popondetta”. Its capital is Oro (Northern) Province in Papua New Guinea. The province covers 22,800 km², and has 133,065 inhabitants (2000 census) which certainly has increased in the last 11 years. The province has number of historical significances such the eruption of Mount Lamington in 1951 that killed over 3000 people, it was also the scene of heavy fighting zone from the coast the Buna, Gona and Sanananda, campaign and to the northern end of kokoda trail ceases at the end of kokoda village in the province which is particularly well remembered. Over the recent years an influx of adventurers both old and young have travelled and are traveling to retrace this inestimable historical trail. While this remarkable province has huge prospective in tourism investment, its basic services such as infrastructure developments, education and health services continue to deteriorate. People continue to wait but patience is apparently running out!

Each ride I get over the famous Girua bridge to reach Popondetta town or to girua airport to catch a flight back to Port Moresby or even the bumpy PMV ride from Popondetta town to Kikiri to board a speedboat (Dinghy) to my village, reminds of the lack of government services that has depreciated over the years. People are anxious but there is hope!

Humble unknown destination -Paine Family's Pride

This humble unknown destination rarely known to international tourists is untouched and tucked away in the hinterland of Caution bay in the north coast area of Oro Province. With more attention drawn to popular destinations in Papua New Guinea where fly in fly out option is preferably considered by our international visitors’ more and more natural and spectacular scenarios nor rich cultural experiences are yet to be experienced by many. The visit to Deu waterfalls and enjoying the serenity is the pride of Paine family. Family members visiting from the city’s bustling lifestyle find Deu waterfalls and Deu river a perfect place to unwind.

Celebrating PNG National Day -The KORO Way

From the North and South American continent, we cross the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. Flying over the Mediterranean Sea where we land in the African continent; sailing across the Indian Ocean we reach India the gate way to Asian continent. We then sail across the Indian Ocean where we harbor in an Australian port. Flying over the Tasman Sea, we reach New Zealand-the land of the white long clouds. From the land of the white long clouds we cross to Fiji, from Fiji, we fly to Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea’s nearest Melanesian neighboring country. On Papua New Guinea land –the land of the unexpected we meet the faces of children from the Highlands, Momase, New Guinea Islands and Southern region.

“Though different in languages, values and status, there is one thing that unites us in one at Korobosea International School (KIS) The need to be educated and to be the best for our families, communities and our countries.

We are Young, Independent and free in a democratic, changing and diverse cultural society where we are challenged to know who we are, what our roles are in this diverse and changing society.

We hope that this celebration is not just about the colorful faces and traditional bilus we see, we want to take pride in who we are , where come from and maintain our roots in the many years to come.”

These words were the introduction to KIS Celebration of Papua New Guineas 35^th Anniversary on Wednesday 15^th September read by one of the hosts a Grade 6 pupil. Vivid and sensational with their noticeable and disguised costumes students sat obediently in their regional groups; alongside them sat their loyal teachers and Teacher Aides. International region includes our international students from Republic of Philippines, Republic of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, US, Great Britain, Belgium, Australia, Uganda, Nigeria, New Zealand, Fiji and Solomon Islands; Momase Region ( Morobe , Madang, East and West Sepik Provinces); New Guinea Highlands region ( East New Britain, West New Britain, New Ireland, Manus and Bougainville ); Highlands region ( Western Highlands, Easten Highlands, Simbu, Jiwaka, Enga and Southern Highlands); and Southern Region ( Milnebay, Central , Gulf, Western and Oro)

Parents, friends, bubus (grandparents) and wantoks found an excuse get away from their busy schedules to be part of KIS Way of celebrating Papua New Guinea’s 35^th Anniversary.

Letting the fever of celebration begin, our international groups gracefully and skillfully presented numerous dances from the Republic of Indonesia from the province of Indang (from West Sumatra), republic of Philippines and Uganda. The reception was very well received by the animated audience.

10.00am and it was the 20 minutes break as scheduled in the program; without further delay students were meticulously dismissed to prepare for the next segment.

10:25a.m Music was played on the sound system as the voice of late John Wong was heard as he sang the song “In our Land” with an unknown female vocal.

In our land

In our land of a thousand tongues

Brothers and sisters old and young

Unite our spirits, so we speak as one

We have to learn to live together, side by side

We have to learn to give each other dignity and pride

The strength to be one people

One Nation One Country……..

Chord modulation

The time has come to stand together side by side

The time has come to pray together and God will be our guide,

Unite to be one people

One nation ….. One country……..

PNG

The sounds of music in the air meant it was the end of recess break. Students, teachers, audience and distinguished guests were reminded of what was about to begin.

10:35a.m The host read; Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls let us continue to celebrate with the sounds of rhythmic drums and voices of diverse languages……………………..without further delay the rhythmic drum beats from the Manus Province was heard; it was the opening dance to launch the traditional and contemporary dances in all regions of PNG that were queued to be showcased by the students of KIS. This was a culmination of 4 weeks and 2 days preparation done by both teachers, Teacher Aides and Students.

Flashes of digital cameras from unsuspicious fans angled at all corners to capture the finest moments continued. Faces were lit with smiles and laughter as fans continued to capture the moments.

Featuring dances from the New Guinea Islands, Highlands, Southern and Momase region students and teachers sang, chanted and danced charmingly. Their disguised costumes heaved their appetite; and there was nothing that was going to obstruct them. Is it pride I thought to myself as I stood and watched with awe from the hosts’ stand? I wondered about the future. The future of these children and the future of this country.

I recall the speech presented by the school principal earlier in the program; he said “The gift one can give to PNG’s birthday is your-self”. How one can perfectly wrap and present a gift is a challenge. Are these children prepared to wrap their gifts, my mind ponders.....

1:00p.m: It was a sigh of relieve after long weeks of preparation and I know one of my assignments for 2010 has successfully been accomplished. Perhaps the last one with KIS?