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"Port Moresby - Hot and Humid! " a Port Moresby Travel Page by Bwana_Brown

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"Port Moresby - Hot and Humid! " a Port Moresby Travel Page by Bwana_Brown

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Bwana_Brown   
Don`t sweat the small stuff


Real Name: Glenn Brown
Lives In: Regina, CA
Member Since: Mar 09, 2002
VT Rank: 4

 

Page Views: 13,500            Last Visit to Port Moresby: June, 1982      

Port Moresby - Hot and Humid!

by Bwana_Brown - last update: Nov 22, 2005

Our Girls on an Out-rigger Canoe at Ela Beach
I spent three years in Papua New Guinea, based in it's capital city of Port Moresby, between 1979-1982. I had previously spent 3 years in Zambia and then worked for 4 years in my home province of New Brunswick, Canada before the need for new adventures and a warmer climate struck my wife and I. In response to an advert in the back of an electrical magazine, I applied for and was given a contract job to work for the Papua New Guinea Electricity Commission. The country had become independent only in 1975 and was looking for some technical help in keeping its power system working.

Port Moresby is located in an area called the National Capital District or NCD. It is on the southern coast of the country and surrounds part of Fairfax Harbour and was named after British Captain John Moresby, who discovered its harbour in 1873. The following year a mission station was established at the village of Hanuabada, a traditional Papuan village and home to the Motuan people. The houses of this village still stand on their traditional wooden stilts down on the waterfront. During the Second World War, the small town of Port Moresby was transformed into a large military camp, accommodating tens of thousands of troops during the Pacific campaigns. At the end of the war Port Moresby was the only town of any size left standing in Papua New Guinea and was chosen by the governing Australian administration to be the seat of government. As a result, this magnet has drawn tribal people to it from all over the country and has led to a gradual deterioration of the security situation here as the population has now swollen to about 300,000. It was still manageable during my time in the country but I'm not so sure if it still is.

It was quite an experience living in this remote country and, on this page, I have tried to convey a sense of what it was like living there at that time. For an overview of Port Moresby and surrounding area, check out my 'General' tips.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"A Different Experience"
Cons:"Hot, Humid and Isolated"
In A Nutshell:"I'm glad I tried it but would not go back again"
Bwana_Brown's Port Moresby Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 14 - Photos: 14
 
RestaurantsHotels & Accommodations
Tips: 7 - Photos: 7
 
Nightlife
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 4 - Photos: 4
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
 
Transportation
Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
Local Customs
Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
 
Packing ListsShopping
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips
Tips: 4 - Photos: 4

Comments for Bwana_Brown about Port Moresby
JohnPaulla Sat Jan 31, 2009 22:41 UTC
 Bwana, Great pages. Thanks.
JanMoon Sat Nov 22, 2008 02:17 UTC
 Hllo Bwana My now husband and I were managing Davara at the time of your stay - the photo sure brings back memires. Regards
ArmandVT Wed Sep 24, 2008 02:45 UTC
 This picture you've shown is really great. I leave in Port Moresby for 7years with my parent, and somehow seeing Boroko and "Hugos bldg." as back groud give back memory. you got any more picture in Boroko friend. Thanks much ARMAND/ARAMCO SAUDI ARABIA
rutzjames Sun Apr 13, 2008 13:00 UTC
 I have many fond memories of the Ela Beach RSL as a child growing up in PNG from 1976 to 1986. Unfortunately the RSL burned down many years ago and was not rebuilt. Your photo of the old chairs outside was a real trip down memory lane. Thanks!
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