By Beth
Whitman
IF you’ve
spent time with me or been following my blog for a while, you likely know how
enamoured I am with Papua New Guinea.
I don’t
remember an exact moment, but my love affair with PNG likely started with the
cover of a National Geographic magazine. My parents were subscribers and I’m
sure I was captured by images of
men with pigs’ tusks protruding from their
noses and bird feathers adorning their heads.
The
country loomed large in my imagination for years. And then I visited this
island-nation in 2010. I was awestruck then and continue to be on every return
trip. When I come home, it usually takes me a couple of days before I can talk
about the experience because it is so overwhelming (in a good way!). I guess
you could say I still have culture shock every time I go.
This also
happens to be one of our most popular tours, selling out every year. Because of
its popularity, we’ve announced the Papua New Guinea Mt. Hagen Festival tour
for August, 2016 a bit earlier than usual.
One thing
that sets our trips apart from others is that we visit the village of Tari,
where the Huli Wigmen lives. There’s not much here in terms of facilities so
you have to be prepared for basic accommodations and food. But to experience
this region is likely nothing else on the planet.
This is a Huli Wigman in the small
village of Tari. When young, these wigmen spend about 18 months at “Wig
University” growing out their hair. After about six months, the hair is
carefully shaved off and a wig is created that is then worn for special events
and festivals.
Ultimately,
there are a variety of ways that the wigs are shaped.
This
elder wigmen is wearing one of my favourite shaped wigs.
Really,
how could you resist???
Because
of limited accommodations, we can only take 10 – 12 people on these tours. The
2016 tour was just announced a few days ago and is already 1/3 full. Suffice it
to say, if you’re interested in joining us, you got to be quick!
This is
an expensive tour, I know. And while I don’t believe in once-in-a-lifetime
trips–after all, I now go to PNG yearly–this is an experience you’ll never
forget and worth every kina (the local currency).
A couple
of side notes: PNG is
not for everyone. Hotels and food are not up to the same standard we are used
to in the West and, given the cost of this tour that can be a bit shocking.
Also,
there are special precautions we take to ensure everyone’s safety. You have to
know and accept in advance that you’ll be limited in terms of activities and
independence on this tour.
In short,
Papua New Guinea is not the safest destination on the planet but it is so
rich in rewards.
I’m
always happy to answer questions people have about our planned tour to Mt.
Hagen Cultural Show 2016 so if you’d like to know more, please refer to the
following site, http://wanderlustandlipstick.com
 |
| Beth Whitman - the author. |
About the
Author:
Beth
Whitman, known as a women’s travel
expert, has logged hundreds of thousands of miles around the globe as a contemporary Wanderer: combining her
love for travel with volunteer work, adventure trips, travel writing and
business.
Having
grown up in New Jersey, Beth was eager to see the world beyond the NYC skyline.
At 20, she took a three-month trip around the U.S. in her brother’s sporty
Fiero (her family wouldn’t let her drive her ’76 Dodge Dart – go figure).
Staying in youth hostels throughout the journey, she met people from all over
the world and couldn’t wait to venture abroad.
Her first
real (do Canada and England count?) out-of-country trip was spending three
months in Thailand, India and Nepal. Though culture shock definitely set in,
she was hooked and never looked back.
From there
she spent a year backpacking the Pacific Rim countries including Vietnam,
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and
Hawaii.
She is
the editor of Wander Lust and Lipsticks website (www.wanderlustandlipstick.com),
the women’s travel columnist for Transitions Abroad, writes occasionally for
Perceptive Travel and is a co-founder of the travel bloggers’ community
fundraiser, Passport with Purpose.
She has
always believed that we should tread lightly on the earth, whether in our own
backyard or someone else’s. And that we all have a responsibility to act as
ambassadors of our own country by treating other people and their village or
city with respect.
While
traveling, she enjoys discovering new (vegetarian) foods and meeting the
locals. At 40 something, she’s finally figured out her way around the kitchen
and is determined to become the best non-Indian Indian cook in West Seattle,
where she resides.
In 2016,
she is leading a team of keen travelers to Mt. Hagen Exotic Cultural Festival
and the Hela Country. To read more about her planned trip to PNG, visit the
following site, http://wanderlustandlipstick.com
·
* Article submitted for publication
with author’s written permission by Howarig Traders (PNG’s Niche Tourism
E-marketing Agent) based in Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. For your
tourism product development, promotion and e-marketing in Papua New Guinea,
contact them via email at: howarigc@gmail.com
Photo Credit: Beth Whitman/
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