Papua New Guinea, July 2009

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I have just returned from a three work week trip from the "Island of the unexpected" - Papua New Guinea.

PNG was an extraordinary travel experience which I enjoyed with two fabulous work colleagues (Mary Jo and Eddie). We were miraculously transported from the urban jungle of Port Moresby into the serene setting of a tropical paradise complete with actively spewing volcanoes, long white-sand beaches, moths as big as birds and some of the most descriptive faces I have ever seen.

PNG is about the size of California which makes up over 600 islands; rural life is very basic but it is apparent that family is the top priority. It is estimated that more than 1000 different cultural groups exist in PNG, and most groups have their own language although thankfully English is understood everywhere we traveled to.

We worked long hours but we enjoyed our time thoroughly and did get the opportunity to do some shopping of the rich and diverse traditional art work. My favorite piece of art that I bought were the colorful oil painting of tribal faces and the functional yet fashionable Bilums (hand-woven bag).

Thanks for taking the time to view my pictures and I will end with just a bit of trivia….did you know that PNG is the second largest island and highest island in the world? Well it does! Also the forests grow at least 3,000 different kinds of orchids, more than any other country. It also has the world's largest butterfly and is the largest moth in the world.

So there….until my next adventure, I wish you all a happy and healthy existence.

Much love,

Kelly

01 View-of-Pt -Moresby	02 -View-of-Pt -Moresby	03 -View-of-Pt -Moresby	08 -Eddie-at-the-airport
10 -view-of-mainland	11 -Our-transport	13 -very-cool-kids	14 Kelly-and-the-kids
15 -Eddie-and-baby	16 -Kelly-and-the-family	19 -painting	20 baby
22 -Market	23 Kelly-with-PNG-police-sign	24 flying-over-islands	25 Croc
27 -Island-life	28 -Mask	29 Masks	32 Rabaul
33 -Assessment-Team	34 WWII-ship-in-tunnel	35 Village-life	36 Coconut-stop
37 -Mask	38 Volcanic-damage	39 -MaryJo	40 Rabual
42 Happy-family	43 boy	44 Kelly-and-the-volcano	47 the-team-at-the-volcano
48 Eddie-and-MaryJo	51 Hot-volcanic-ground	52 -Eddie-with-WWII-gear	52 walking-the-land-of-volcanos
53 mask	55 -PNG-Flag	56 Yamamoto-bunker	58 View-of-Rabual
59 Bethel-Nut-sign	60 Practicing-for-a-dance	61 -Typical-Island-drive	62 -view-from-Kokopo
63 -a-friend	65 Island-life	66 -E-&-MJ	68 Security-Company
69 Me-and-Father-Mike	70 village-head-dress	71 me-and-the-artist	74 MaryJo-and-Kel