We just returned from a trip we characterized as "arduous and awesome". Just getting there was an ordeal: four plane flights, a long van ride, and four hours in a dugout canoe. We were on the Middle & Upper Sepik River for the first week. That was a great experience, staying in village houses - and experiencing life in a very hot and humid jungle with no electricity, plumbing, Internet, showers, etc. Ironically, we slept better there than usual!
We went for the purpose of attending the Mt. Hagen Cultural Show or Sing-Sing. That was in the Highlands where we were the second week. There it was cooler, and actually the temps dropped to the point Judy had to go out and buy shoes and a sweatshirt (we had prepared for the hot weather).
The Mt. Hagen Sing-Sing was only one of four we attended during our stay. And probably my favorite, although much smaller, was the Crocodile Festival while on the Sepik River.
Another highlight for us was being in a village when the Chief (known as the "Big Man") returned from a crocodile hunt. We were given a tail to eat, and it turned out to be the best meal we had on the river.
The group below was my favorite that performed in the Central Highlands at both the Paiya and Mt. Hagen Sing-Sings. They are known as Sili Muli from Enga Province, Wabag.
I have done a separate blog on our trip which can be viewed at:
I have also posted 170 photo from this trip on Flickr:
