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!