My PNG and Australia Travel and Tourism Blog 2011/2012

In The Process Of Updating Correct Information On This Blog

2013-01-16T22:02:00.000+09:30

It has been 2 years now since I have started this Blog which was in 2011 but now I really need to update some of the contents on here and archive the rest.

I am currently on transit in Brisbane I return to Townsville tomorrow, Thursday, 17 January 2013.

Delayed Posts from September 2012 - 13 January 2013

2013-01-16T21:53:00.000+09:30

You can read all about it on this link

Delayed Post from 12 September to 31 December 2012 which will take you to my main blog Day Of My Life From PNG To Australia 1968 - 2013.

So another year has gone by in 2012 I lived in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia for about 6 months and Townsville, North Queensland, Australia for about 4 months. On the Monday, 16 December 2012 I flew to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia spent Christmas day there with my sister and her family. On Boxing Day I flew to Melbourne, Australia where I caught the Skybus to Southern Cross Station, where I boarded VLine rail to Bairnsdale, Gippsland, Victoria.

TravelSECURE - The New Australian Government's new travel security website

2012-02-05T23:33:00.000+09:30

TravelSECURE

Welcome to the Australian Government's new travel security website, which provides information on the security measures in place at Australian airports. Its purpose is to help travellers prepare for their journey and clear the security checks at the airport quickly and easily. While air travel is the inital focus of this site, future versions will also include information on travel by sea.

Thought I would share with my fellow Australians the above link that I had come across this evening whilst I was researching for my one of my Assessments. This is from the Australian Government's Department Of Infrastructure and Transport website.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or outdated informatin some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip around Australia or overseas in a secure environment. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

This material is copyright © Wendy J. Seymour 2012 2012 - Exempt the hyperlinks they are from the World Wide Web (WWW)

Visit Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia in 2012

2012-01-28T23:35:00.002+09:30

Last updated Thursday 22 Mar 2012 more websites and photos to be inserted

The Cairns Mall entrance with the Sunbus in the foreground there

Click on the following links to read a bit more about Cairns and surrounding regions. I do not use 2nd or 3rd party websites to retrieve information from. These are actual official websites which have other website links they can refer you to. They may also indicate to you which Tourism or businesses are registered and so forth to operate just to give you peace of mind.

Ensure that whenever you click on the links if you want to go on the next link you just click on the back arrow at top left hand corner instead of accidently exiting out. (For those of you who are computer illiterate, etc.)

Cairns Regional Council

Promenade Cairns Esplanade Parklands

Cairns Port

Cairns Airport covers both Domestic and International Airports

Queensland Rail for those of you who want to catch the train to and from Cairns

The famous Kuranda Scenic Railways

Sunbus - Cairns

Driving In Far North Queensland

Cairns Region Tourism Association website (not a third party website it is the actual Cairns Region website.)

Cairns Visitors Information Guide

World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintrees (Wet Tropics of Queensland)

- World Heritage Places in Australia - The Great Barrier Reef

-World Heritage Places in Australia - Wet Tropics of Queensland (which is the Daintrees and Cape Tribulation, that is it's technical name Wet Tropics)

-UNESCO World Heritage Listing - Great Barrier Reef

- Wet Tropics World Heritage Listed Area in Australia

Daintrees Local Tourism Network

Heaps of Backpackers Accommodation here in Cairns will insert more information in here in regard to that later on.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to Far North Queensland,Australia or wanting to learn about Far North Queensland. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.This material is copyright © Wendy J. Seymour 2012 - Exempt the hyperlinks they are from the World Wide Web (WWW)

Other issues that had occurred in PNG exempt political issues

2012-01-24T02:25:00.001+09:30

In the process of being updated since Saturday, 28 January 2012

I receive every single Google news on PNG in one of my hotmail email accounts, however I had not been keeping track of them over the years. The following had happened in PNG the past couple of months in 2011. Some I have added for 2012.

Might need to add more in here when I get around to it.
Former England Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones joins PNG

Papua New Guinea Hit By 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake

In the mean time some other Non Political Blogs that I follow are:

Melanesian Way Blog - Promoting And Preserving PNgs's Indigenous Cultures

Blogs From Foreigners Who Are Working/Living In PNG at the moment

My PNG Life

Nineteen years and counting in Papua New Guinea - Entries of a memoir about living in Papua New Guinea - Nancy Sullivan - "I am an anthropologist living in Papua New Guinea and running a small consulting company with former students (Papua New Guinean). We produce social impact statements and other ethnographic reports for development projects. This blog site is a way to lodge the many stories and memoir pieces I've written over the years, and to find an audience for them. I have kids and grandchildren here and experience all over the country in various capacities--from tourism to fieldwork and odd jobs, and I hope some of these experiences may be of interest to a wider audience than myself and the few friends and skeptical literary agents who have been privy to them so far."

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to PNG or wanting to learn about PNG. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

Trouble in Paradise (in regards to Politics in PNG)

2012-01-24T01:55:00.001+09:30

In the process of being updated last update 24 January 2012 - I may have to add more in here.

The Hibiscus flower grows in PNG

Only in the Land Of Unexpected Expect The Unexpected if that was someone else's original quote well I am sorry but I have no idea who first said that but I have just started saying it myself. The country had gone in to a turmoil where there are two governments claiming to be the legimate governing government. I am beyond comprehension as to why we have such people in parliament in modern day PNG. On the outside I am laughing at these people but on the inside I am crying for my people and not necessary my kins men/women but for the whole country especially where our grass roots people are concerned. A country described in the business world as a "Pot Of Gold Floating In A Barrel Of Oil." The other issue is the PNG and Indonesia "Falcongate" incident. The rest are other political stuff I wanted to share with those who were not aware of the latest.

From the newest to the oldest dates from January 2012 to December 2011 click on the following links below from random news media links I had chosen. This is for those who have lost track of what is going on over there like I have.

If you really want inside information on what is going on in the country then I recommend these Blogs I have subscribed to follow. If any of you wish to contribute as to who you also follow and want to share it with others then just add it in the Comments section please.

Bulolo Live Blogspot - Bulolo, Morobe Province - Ples blo Sam Basil MP

Geoffrey Heard - "The PNG Time Traveller's Log

Keith Jackson & Co: PNG Attitude - "Keith Jackson's website for people interested in Papua New Guinea, its culture, its politics and its society. Keith is chairman of the Sydney-based public relations firm Jackson Wells Pty Ltd. He worked in Papua New Guinea as a teacher and journalist from 1963-76."
Malum Nalu - "The weblog of Malum Nalu, a journalist from Port Moresby."
Papua New Guinea Blogs
PNG Gossip Com News - Releases Newsletters daily/monthly whatever
the Masalai blog

In the mean time here were the latest news

Bill To Secure Women MPs Falthers Amid Turmoil

A prolix Sam Basil 'explains' Falcongate - or does he?

PNG recalls Indonesian Ambassador For Consultation

Governor-general decides O'Neill PNG Prime Minister

PNG Crisis Appears Over

Papua New Guinea In Crisis As Two Claim To Be Prime Minister

Please feel free to contribute your opinions and expert knowledge on the matter if you want in the Comments section.

At this stage there has not been a ban on tourists/visitors travelling to PNG (well not to my knowledge.) I will update this Post if there are bans into the country. Life goes on and as for our illiterate PNG people I am wondering if they understand what is going on. Village life still continues as if time has stood still for some of them. They are the lucky ones in some ways I suppose.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these websites. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing them to find out about the New Papua New Guinea Government. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

Visit Townsville, North Queensland, Australia in 2012

2012-01-24T01:26:00.001+09:30

Last updated Saturday, 28 January 2012 in the process of adding photos and updated

Well I now finally get to catch up on this Blog once more and the beauty of it all is I got to travel a fair bit last year from Darwin to Brisbane to PNG to around parts of the Sunshine Coast to North Queensland. Some by vehicle and Darwin to Brisbane return by air flying QANTAS and Virgin Blue.

The last time I was in Townsville was for three weeks only in 2009, visiting from Darwin. Refer to my post in the Blog Had A Break From This Blog From September 2011 in there has 3 weblinks in regards to my Townsville visit during Christmas day, Boxing day and the New Year. Otherwise you can also view Posts in my first blog Days Of My Life From Papua New Guinea To Australia 1968 - 2012.

The centre of the road is where the old Mc Donald's used to be as per the old website link

I have a special place in my heart for Townsville. I posted there for eight months on my first full time service with the Australian Army. Well thirteen years later Townsville has now had a face lift in 2011. No more is the old Townsville Flinders Street Mall as I once knew it but hello Townsville Townsville Flinders Square. Unfortunately I do not have photos of the old mall so I have inserted the link for you to see. I did take photos of the new Townville Flinders Square. I call it the "Facelift".

Need to insert photos here of Flinders Square...

The view from the left hand side

Here are some websites to check out in regards to holidaying in Townsville.

The Townsville Rotary Markets have three different markets they are in charge of in Townsville. Click on the link above to find out where they are held with timings, etc. On New Year's Day the Flinders Street Market was on but there did not seem to be a lot of stalls. It could have been due to the fact that the Willows Rotary Market may have been on at the same time.

REEF HQ

Back in 1993 I spent Easter holidays in Townsville with some close friends of mine, Daryl, Leeanee, Maggie, Don, Uba and I. We visited what is now called Reef HQ I have since forgotten what the old name was. This visit in 2011/2012 I did not go to check it out but they have given the building a paint touch up job too. It is the world's largest coral reef aquarium. Next to it is the

Musuem of Tropical Queensland which I did not visit this time.

Need to insert photo to R

Sealink - Breakwater Terminal

You might want to travel to beautiful Magnetic Island and how you get there is from the Sunferries Breakwater Ferry Terminal. The last time I visited Magnetic island was with four girlfriends of mine, Lorraine and Annie whom I have now known for 25 years, and a new friend Julie (now deceased.) Apparently Maggie island (the other name it is also known as) has really been vamped up. Now that I am staying in Cairns for some time I will have a chance to go down there for a long weekend, or to get away from Cairns from time to time.

The ferry about to dock at Sealink

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to North Queensland,Australia or wanting to learn about North Queensland. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

This material is copyright © Wendy J. Seymour 2012 - Exempt the hyperlinks they are from the World Wide Web (WWW)

Had A Break From This Blog From September 2011

2012-01-24T00:46:00.001+09:30

Well I had a break from updating this blog as per the link below:

Had not updated my Blog since 28 September 2011

I had since spent Christmas and Boxing Day 2011 in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. You can click on these link to read about it.

Christmas In Townsville, North Queensland, Australia 2011; and

Boxing Day in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia 2011.

New Year's was also spent in Townsville. It is in the process of being updated.

New Year's Day in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia 2012

The next couple of POST will be about Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, and the latest on PNG.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss or any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. The is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to PNG or Australia or wanting to learn about PNG or Australia, or which ever country. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

This material is copyright © Wendy J. Seymour 2012 - Exempt the hyperlinks they are from the World Wide Wide (WWW))

New Papua New Guinea Government commenced 02 August 2011

2011-09-15T20:29:00.013+09:30

Well as I was browsing through Facebook I discovered that the new Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government has a Facebook account. I was completely unaware of all the changes but I did hear people talk about an O'Neil person being the new PNG Prime Minister, when I visited Kokoda from 13 to 29 August 2011.

O'Neil Namah Government Facebook link

I even went on their wall, my wall and PNG Reunion's wall and wished the New PNG Government all the best in the future and to our people back home.

So I decided to google some snippets of information for those who need to know like I do. What does the future hold for PNG now? I feel goose bumps and am quite excited but we'll all have to wait and see.

Well for those of you PNG mob who came in late (like me) and do not keep up to date about what happens over there. Here are some of the information I found.

Sydney Morning Herald SMH dated 02 August 2011 - Breaking News PNG Choses New Prime Minister

ABC - PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neil

TVNZ PNG Elects New Acting Leader#

Here are other snippets of information that I have since found. For those of you who are curious like me and don't seem to take notice of what is going around:

PNG Islands Report dated 22 Aug 2011 - New PNG Leader Seeks Funds For Free Education

PNG Blogs for 26 August 2011 = Mineral Rights For Landowners

Just a few topics that had been brought up. You can all Google or Bing your own information if you want to know more. Peter O'Neil, has come into office 1 month and 14 days before the 36th PNG Independence Celebrations, 16 September 2011.

Please feel free to share your comments if you wish.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing them to find out about the New Papua New Guinea Government. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

Travelled to PNG after 14 Years absence can now provide up to date information on travelling over there

2011-09-10T17:32:00.027+09:30

Last updated Wednesday, 21 September 2011 - yet to upload photos in here and more information to add.

So now I have first hand experience about the situation over there and about travelling over there. Which I will give up to date information on in regards to vaccinations and immunisation and how they do things in PNG in regards to these. I prefer to experience things myself because I am over people carrying on about danger and so forth in PNG, when there are other countries in the world that are more dangerous than PNG. For example if you read your Travel Insurance properly you will see that most will say they will not cover you if you travel to Afghanistan and such places. I have inserted a couple of Travel insurance web link just to give you an idea of what I am talking about. At the end of the day it is peoples choice where they want to travel to in the world, but it pays to do your homework first and not be too ignorant. 9/11 changed the world that we once knew forever in regards to safe travel. I was actually serving as a full time Army service personnel in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, when 9/11 happened.

Examples of Travel Insurance of what to read on your Travel Insurance clauses properly

This Travel Insurance company will not cover Effective November 22nd, 2010, the ihi BUPA travel insurance will not cover expeditions, mountaineering and trekking in Antarctica, the North Pole and Greenland anymore.

This is another Travel Advice advising people to read the fine print of Travel Insurance to Afghanistan

Here is another example on Travel Insurance not covering riots, war, civil commotions and Coup E'tatd

If people want to travel to Afghanistan or those war zone places, that is their choice. I am only providing you with examples of what some countries some Travel Insurance companies will not cover you for. PNG is not one those countries.

Feel free to share your experiences and comments if you wish in regards to Travel Insurance.

Well all the latest information on Kokoda, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea my own experience are in these 3 Blogs:

Saturday, 14 August 2011 the day I flew into Kokoda and within an hour or so I was up near the Memorial

Visited PNG After 14 Years But Headed To Kokoda, Oro Province

Kokoda and Oro Province through my eyes 13 August - 28 August 2011; and

Kokoda Challenge Race 2011 - the ultimate PNG challenge.

Feel free to share your experiences of Kokoda and the Oro Province if you wish.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing them to find out about travelling to Kokoda, and other parts of PNG and to get the right Travel Insurance. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

Legal Contacts concerning PNG Children Adopted Out of PNG

2011-07-10T20:03:00.020+09:30

To be continued...(last updated Friday, 08 August 11)

Thought I would create a post in regards to PNG children both (full blood and mixed races) who were adopted out of PNG in the 1960s and so forth. Will continue with the information at a later date as to why this had come about.

Baby Selling In Queensland

Ian Molloy Barrister - Ian Molloy is an Australian barrister who specialises in Papua New Guinea law. Over the last thirty years he has appeared in many PNG National and Supreme Court cases. He is regularly instructed by PNG, Australian and international law firms to advise on a wide range of PNG matters.

Mr Molloy has given expert evidence on Papua New Guinea law in cases in Australia and elsewhere. He is regularly engaged for arbitrations and mediations of Papua New Guinea disputes. He also appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands.

PNG Children Adoption Requirements In The USA

PNG Orphanage says children sold for adoption

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing them to find out about the processes of adoption in PNG as I actually do know PNG people who have been adopted and other various cases. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

Dad's Territory of New Guinea coins from 1938 - 1945

2011-05-09T23:57:00.014+09:30

Some shillings from 1936 to 1945 when my part of Papua New Guinea (on the New Guinea side) was then called Territory of New Guinea.

I have since been informed that cleaning any old coins will lose its value. I cleaned mine that I made up for necklaces. Any coin experts who wish to comment on their views and opinions and want to share it with public; are welcome to comment but I do not access my Blogs every day so sometimes it might take a couple of days for me to approve.

In response to one of my Comment below from a Jimmy querying about the above coin I have inserted a couple of weblinks

What the shilling looks like on this side

1 Shilling - George VI - 1938 - 1945 - Numista

1938 shilling - Territory of New Guinea coin from Papua New Guinea - Omnicoin

This weblink explains the history of the time also of Papua and New Guinea under the pictures

I had these 3 shilling made up in May some time as necklaces and this is what is looks like when it's clean.

The draw string bag the necklaces were put in once the lady had done them up

What it looks like on the other side

The 3 shillings made for the future mother, father and child

Gift to the future father of my child, sent to him in May 2011 whilst on deployment in Western Europe

This is from my other Blog

http://daysinthelifeofwendyinher42ndyear.blogspot.com/2011/02/aussie-diggers-diary-based-on-huon-gulf.html

Tells you a bit of the history of war time New Guinea the Huon Peninsular Campaign in North New Guinea, might be able to help you a bit to understand the history side.

Northern Territory (NT), Australia Tribute Post

2011-04-27T14:48:00.036+09:30

To be continued (Last updated Thursday, 27 April 11)

Easter Saturday, 23 April 2011 @ Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Well after living in Darwin for 8 years I have decided to move back to the East Coast of Australia. There were times when I used to bag the Northern Territory (NT), and wished I'd have left the place a lot sooner. However anyone who tells me they are bored on the weekend up here has got to be out of their mind. There is heaps to do in the NT, especially if you or someone you know owns a boat or like fishing, love the outdoors, camping, driving, picnicing, whatever your fancy. After I had completed my Tourism studies here in the NT, I was interested in working in Domestic Tourism here in the NT, but ended up working for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the next 3 years afterwards (which was not a bad thing at all, sometimes these things happens.) The NT is one of Australia's main Tourism destination both for International and Domestic Travellers. I was able to build up my Tourism knowledge whilst studying at the Charles Darwin University (CDU), Palmerston Campus. I also know that not everyone is interested in living in a 5 star accommodation and that the most expensive time of the year in the NT is the Tourist season, so it pays to do your own home work and shopping when looking for discounts. Locals may not feel the costs as such but outsiders will definately feel it if they do not know where to look for bargains.

Such discount offers could be found with some of the following groups just to give you a couple of examples:

International Youth Travellers
Youth Hostel Associations
Australian Senior Citizens Cards

All such information are on my Pages to right where you can click on to :

Australia - All the specific travel information you need to know; and

Australian Domestic Travellers Page

Bear in mind that I am still updating these Pages as I still have more information to put on them. It is just a matter of taking the time out to do this, as I am also in the middle of packing and holidays at the moment.

Best places to do your food shopping especially for the International traveller I would recommend are:

Coles/Stores and Services - Location and Trading Hours

Woolworths - Stores Locator

If you have a Rewards Cards, Fly Buy Cards or for those of you who are from overseas and know you can get discounts on whatever you can, use it to your advantage. Accumulating points, rewards, bonus just might save you a lot of money. I know I rely on my Rewards Cards to help me to accumulate my QANTAS Frequent Flyer Points and that my Coles Fly Buy Cards might help me with my Christimas shopping at the end of the year (depending on how much points I have accumulated.) Always read the fine print and read what they have on offer carefully if unsure ask. I make it a habit to read properly word to word nowadays as I am actually a skim reader and some times do not read properly til I go back and read it again properly then I realise the information was relevent for me to know. If you have lots of money and can spend to your hearts content well good on you, this Post or the Pages is not for you then.

In the mean time to read the Northern Territory hyperlink Tourism information please go to Pages on your right and click on to

Northern Territory (NT), Australia Tribute Page - all the relevent NT Tourism websites will be inserted in here.

Take notice of the websites I am recommending they are actually Official websites and not third party agency types websites. They are the kind of websites I usually use how ever they may not necessarily may be what you are looking for.

Feel free to contribute your own opinions or share whatever it is you want to share with others. Comments are monitored by me but you'll find I'll approve it. I hardly ever get many comments anyway otherwise they welcome on my Blog (depending the tone and content of the comment.)

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to the Northern Territory,Australia or wanting to learn about the Northern Territory,Australia. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

This material is copyright © Wendy J. Seymour 2011 - Exempt the hyperlinks they are from the World Wide Web (WWW)

I still call australia home - Peter Allen

2011-04-27T14:43:00.000+09:30

Wendy's Photos Of Some Of Her Australian Travels

2011-04-08T18:21:00.011+09:30

To be continued (Last update Fri, 08 Apr 11)

Nightcliff Jetty, Nightcliff Northern Territory June 2006

Low tide at Front Beach Thurday Island, Torres Straits, Queensland

Mitchell River Walk, Bairnsdale, Victoria January 2008

Australian Budget/Backpackers Accomdation and other information

2011-04-05T14:46:00.001+09:30

Watch This Post!

Australian Domestic Travellers Page

2011-04-05T14:23:00.019+09:30

To be continued (Last update Fri, 08 Apr 11)

Gove Lookout, Arnhem land, Northen Territory (NT), August

2008

Finally! I have created the page for the DomesticTraveller in Australia. I travelled parts of Australia with dad and mum in the car, first of course we had to fly in from PNG to Australia. Dad told me how much he loved driving and how he enjoyed viewing different parts of the country otherwise any other time we would catch the bus to country New South Wales (NSW), to Willow Tree and Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT); and other parts of country NSW where uncle Laurie and aunty Beryl and other relatives and friends lived at the time. The other trip was to Brisbane, Queensland (QLD) where we would stay with uncle Tom and aunty Sondra. Those are my earliest and fondest memories of travelling around Australia. In the Willow Tree hyperlink you will see something about History and 5 generations of Barwick family, who are my Australian relatives on dad's side of the family. Nana Seymour's family.

Nana Lila Seymour (nee Barwick) and my cousin Mandy 1970's

On the train passing through Willow Tree in August 2010

During my teenage years when my sister Jo and I could not fly home to PNG during school holidays,we would catch the bus to Brisbane, to uncle Tom and aunty Sondra. At the time we would catch Mc Cafferty's Buses now taken over by Greyhound. I now catch Greyhound if I decide to catch a bus anywhere in Australia. Unfortunately I left everything late in life and one of them was my driver's licence, otherwise I'd be driving and not catching buses and trains and planes.

I also travelled a lot through the Australian Army as an Active Reservists and a full time service personnel, up Cape York Peninsula, the Torres Straits, Mount (Mt) Isa, and parts of Western Australia and New South Wales and the Northern Territory. I travelled these places by army transport the Caribou, Hercules a navy dive boat called the Malu Baizam and army vehicles. I went to places that tourists would dream of going to "off the beaten track." I even went on a small joy ride around Cairns, Far North Queensland in an Australian Army Black Hawke Helicopter.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Dive/Launch BoatMalu Baizam Oct 1995

The Australian Domestic Traveller's Page will list all the reputable transports in Australia and holiday accommodation websites, etc. Those of you who are insured with your states automobile/car insurance eg NRMA or AANT, they should be able to give you information and discounts to any parts of Australia you are thinking of driving or travelling to.

Please click go to Pages on your right under Home and the link Australian Domestic Travellers Page. I hope the information in there might be able to help you.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to Australia or wanting to learn about Australia. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

BLOGs I am following in regards to PNG

2011-04-05T14:00:00.016+09:30

To be continued...(last update Wednesday, 21 September 2011) - I am aware needs to be tidied up a bit.

Well now the new PNG Government is on Facebook here is Post Link New Papua New Guinea Government in regards to them. For those of you who are into politics and want to keep updated.

When I first created this Post I had not been in PNG for 14 years, but the opportunity presented itself, which you can read in this Blog Post on this link Visited PNG After 14 Years But Headed To Kokoda, Oro Province.

So now I have first hand experience about the situation over there and about travelling over there . Which I will give up to date information on in regards to vaccinations and immunisation and how they do things in PNG in regards to these. I prefer to experience things myself because I am over people carrying on about danger and so forth in PNG, when there are other countries in the world that are more dangerous than PNG. For example if you read your Travel Insurance properly you will see that most will say they will not cover you if you travel to Afghanistan and such places. I have inserted one Travel insurance web link just to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

For those of you who really want to know about the current the situation in PNG at the moment. I recommend you click on to the following two PNG based Journalist Blogs:

Malum Nalu Blogspot - Malum Nalu

Geoffrey Heard's Pngtimetraveller Blogspot - Geoffrey Heard

Other Blogs that might be of interest

Keith Jackson's PNG Attitude

Melanesian Way Blog

Papua New Guinea Blogs

Expat-blog - Blog written by expatriates in Papua New Guinea, living in Papua New Guinea, working in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea Life - Story from a Volunteer called NOMAD - An old Blog but interesting from someone who did Volunteer Work over there...

University Of California Press Blog on Papua New Guinea

Click on their Blogs and read all about them and I will probably add other Bloggers later on when I find them. Otherwise just type in Papua New Guinea Blogs in Google/Bling (whatever search engine you use) and it will bring up all these Blogs you can read.

Other PNG Bloggers for those of you interested in Children's Charity Organisations you can look to your right and under Pages Home click on the link Papua New Guinea Charity Organisation of the 21st Century

Papua New Guinea and South Pacific/Asia Others - Current Charity Organisations of the 21st Century

In the mean time below is a Blog on one of the Children's Charity Organisation in PNG:

Tembari Children's Care (TCC) - Tembari Children's Care (TCC) Inc -

THE Tembari Children's Care (TCC) Inc is a day care facility at ATS Oro Settlement, 7-Mile, outside of Port Moresby, PNG. To date, it takes care of 175 former street children - orphans, abandoned and the unfortunate - by serving them meals twice a day, and providing them early education. Assistance - food and money - is sent by supporters who find merit in the services we provide to these children. At The Center, they are family. For all of these, we need support that is sustainable.

Please bear in mind that this BLOG is updated once or twice on a weekly basis or more.

Ways In Rewarding Papua New Guineans After Visiting Their Country

2011-04-05T13:48:00.001+09:30

In PNG tipping is not encouraged, how ever if you do want to make a difference and contribute in some small way please check the following websites out to your right in my Pages List as it might be able to aid you in deciding which charity organisation you might want to donate to or sponsor. Please also take note that if I am promoting a Charity Organisation and the likes anything to do with financial gain, I will normally do a back ground check on them. There is no way I would be inserting false or misleading hyperlinks in my POSTS and PAGES. At the end of the day most of us should be mature enough and smart enough to know what is geniuine and what is not. Fortunately I do not have time for such operators and I will ensure I will report them to the relevant authorities. To the point of going a Court of Law to testify as a witness if need be.

Over the years I have had ADF personnel and people in general ask me the following questions:

What do people like in PNG?
What can you suggest I can give to people I meet along the way? Questions like that.

I have told some of these people that it depends on which part of PNG you will be visiting as my people are very simple people and material things are not of great importance to them. I am only going by my own experiences with my family and friends over there when they used to ask me for my hat or t shirt, etc when I used to visit PNG on my school holiday breaks from Australia. Now that I am older and a lot more wiser I usually encourage people to donate any thing educational towards schools in the remote places of PNG. Exercise books, reading books you name it any thing a school would need. One suggestion that was made to me was the Kokoda Hospital for those of you who will be trekking the Kokoda Track and want to contribute in some way to the Kokoda people. They really lack the medical equipments and medicines there. Just to give you an example as I was actually asked by a Navy Officer of any charity ideas I can think of as they are thinking of doing a charity fund raiser over there in the near future this year.

It has been one of my many wishes to visit my large extended family in PNG over the years but unfortunately due to medical reasons for the time being I have had to remain in Australia. The only way I can contribute to PNG at the moment is from a computer and bring to attention to those concerned, what is on offer over there or what they can do for my people over there. I have contacts in the business world over there too and I am sure some of them will not hesitate in letting me know that I am giving out false information. I can also assure you I will rectify the situation as soon as I possibly can if this ever happens.

Til the next BLOG update.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for donating or sponsoring to a PNG Charity Organisation or PNG people in general. However please be assured I usually do a background on the authenticity of such organistions before I insert certain hyperlinks in here. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

Tracks and the Trails of PNG during WWII and the present

2011-04-05T13:34:00.002+09:30

To be continued... (Last update Tues, 05 Apr 11)

The most famous Track and Trail of all time in PNG is the KOKODA TRACK, how ever did you know that during World War 2 (WWII) in PNG, there were other tracks and trails that were being used over there. I thought I would share some with you. I am at this stage only inserting the Wikipedia hyperlinks I am sure if you want to know about these tracks just Google them or Bing which ever search engine you prefer. I do recommend though that you never give up on the books and other published reading materials as the internet may not necessarily cover everything some times. Peoples choice.

In the mean time if you want to know more about PNG please look to your right and see under Pages and Home the link Papua New Guinea (PNG) - All the specific travel information you need to know

Last of all click on the Post BLOGS I Am Following In Regards To PNG. They are BLOGs from people who actually live in PNG and can tell you first hand of their experiences there. I currently reside in the Northern Territory in Australia and the last time I was in PNG was in back in 1997, but for 12 days only in Port Moresby. I still how ever know a hell of a lot more about the country than those who had lived there longer than me, and it may be because I had an interest in knowing about the country of my birth and heritage whilst studying Tourism for two years and retained the memory of the place when I left and may be a longing of belonging.

Black Cat Track - in the Morobe Province my side of PNG.

Bulldog Track - in the Wau and Bulolo regions not far from my mother's village the Buangs.

East West Trail - is a trail in Bouganville Island - Autonomous Region of Bouganville of Papua New Guinea

Kapa Kapa Trail - on the South coast of Papua, near GabaGaba

Lark Force Wilderness Track - and as I am inserting this in I must admit today is the first time I have ever heard of it. I have also met Kori Chan when he was the Captain of the PNG Rugby Union mens team that played in the Hottest 7's Rugby Union Tournament in Darwin in January 2007

Numa Numa Trail - is another trail on Bouganville that runs from Numa Numa (east coast) over the central mountains of Bouganville to Torokina on the western coast.

Piva Trail - another trail on Bouganville that runs alongside the Piva River that connects it to the East West Trail and the Numa Numa Trail

I have now been in contact with a couple of the Track and Trail Tourism Operators in PNG whose business I would like to promote on my Blog. Please see on your right Pages followed by Home and click on the link Tracks and Trails Tourism Operators of PNG.

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to PNG or wanting to learn about PNG. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.

This material is copyright © Wendy J. Seymour 2011 - Exempt the hyperlinks they are from the World Wide Web (WWW)

Mountains and Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea

2011-04-05T13:32:00.007+09:30

To be continued (Last update Mon, 11 Apr 11)

At this stage I am only inserting the Wikipedia hyperlinks and John Search's PNG volcanoes as I am sure if you want to know anything further about these mountains and volcanoes just Google them or Bing which ever search engine you prefer. I do recommend though that you go to the library and read books on these too. Never give up on the books and other reading materials as the internet may not necessarily cover everything that you really want to know.

In the mean time if you want to know more about PNG please look to your right and see under Pages and Home the link Papua New Guinea (PNG) - All the specific travel information you need to know

Last of all click on the Post BLOGS I Am Following In Regards To PNG. They are BLOGs from people who actually live in PNG and can tell you first hand of their experiences there. I currently reside in the Northern Territory in Australia and the last time I was in PNG was in back in 1997, but for 12 days only in Port Moresby. I still how ever know a hell of a lot more about the country than those who had lived there longer than me, and it may be because I had an interest in knowing about the country of my birth and heritage whilst studying Tourism for two years and retained the memory of the place when I left and may be a longing of belonging.

Mountains

Mt Wilhelm - The highest mountain in PNG

Mt Giluwe - The 2nd highest mountain in PNG in the Southern Highlands Province

Volcanoes

I have since found a website that seems to cover all the Volcanoes in Papua New Guinea. Feel free to click on to Papua New Guinea Volcanoes - John Search - Papua New Guinea contains the most active volcanoes in the South West Pacific. The volcanoes stretch in an arc from the north coast of New Guinea near the border with Indonesia, to Bougainville Island in the east. Volcanoes in Papua New Guinea occur in nine volcanic provinces. I think I have found all of PNG's volcanoes on this website alone. Feel free to correct me though if there is more.

Mt Hagan - Had no idea Mt Hagan is the 2nd highest Volcano how embarassing that it's taken me 42 years to learn this.

Ambitle - New Ireland Province

Balbi - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Baluan - Admiralty Islands, Manus Province

Bamus - East New Britain Province

Billy Mitchell - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Bogana - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Bokanovi - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Bola - Mt Wangore, West New Britain Province

Bosavi - Southern Highlands Province

Crater Mountain - Eastern Highlands Province

Dakataua - West New Britain Province

Doma Peaks - Southern Highlands Province

Hargy - East New Britain Province

Hydrographers Range - Oro Province

Koranga - Central Province

Langila - West New Britain Province

Lihir - New Ireland Province

Lolobau - East New Britain Province

Loloru - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Madilogo

Managlase Plateau

Musa River -

Mount Lamington - In the Oro Province

Rabaul - East New Britain Province

Ritter Island - Dampier Strait, Morobe Province

Sakar - Morobe Province

Sessagara

Tanga - New Ireland Province

Takuan - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Tavui - East New Britain Province

Tore - North Solomon Province, Bouganville Island

Tulaman - St Andrew Strait, Admiralty Islands, Manus Province

Ulawun - East New Britain Province

Umboi - Morobe Province

Victory

Waiowa

Yelia - Eastern Highlands Province

Unnamed Volcanes - their names unknow in accodardance with John Search

Unnamed Volcanoe - Admiralty Islands, Manus Province

Please free free to add your comments, expert opinions, advice. Others might like to know.

Welcome to My PNG and Australia Travel and Tourism Blog

2011-04-05T11:46:00.011+09:30

Well this BLOG is created due to the fact that my other BLOG Days Of My Life From PNG to Australia - 1968 to current went from the story of my life and a WWII Aussie Digger's Diary to the WWII History blog to travel and tourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia. So I have decided to create another BLOG specifically related to Travel and Tourism only. Most of the Post and Pages links from my first blog will be transferred here now, as I am now dealing directly with PNG Tour Operators direct from PNG who have requested if I can add some more information on their behalf on my BLOG. I have no problems with so will be making a couple of amendments here and there on a weekly basis.

Student at Palmerston Campus at the virtual Travel Gateway which was sponsored by the then Northern Gateway Group of Companies

I studied a Diploma of Tourism (Operations Management), Certificate IV in Tourism (Sales and Marketing) of which I won a scholarship with the Northern Territory Government (NTG) to study this, and a Certificate III in Retail Travel at the Palmerston Campus, Charles Darwin University (CDU).

Charled Darwin Universtity (CDU) Palmerston Library at the back in 2007

My background is with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) [you can read all about that history in my first blog,] and I have a long working history in a whole range of other works which I will put on later in one of my pages. When I was studying the Diploma of Tourism - I was mainly interested in Domestic Travel in Australia, I was not interested in International Travel. Australia is a beautiful country and the European tourists are fascinated with the Australian outback. What makes Australia unique is that instead of driving from one country in to another you're driving or flying or training or busing (whatever it is that you are doing) from one state into another compared to Europe and the United Kingdom. International Tourists/Visitors from overseas would love to visit some of the most of the way places that the everyday ordinary Aussie reside in. I will be sharing some of my experiences with you the International and Domestic Traveller throughout this blog. I must admit Aussies are a unique breed of people in this world. However I call myself a Papua New Guinean Australian as I am of PNG origins before I came to Australia when I was thirteen years old.

Most of the time I do my own research as I travelled alot around Australia except the Kimberleys and the Pilbara region and still some parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania I have yet to visit.

I hope my Posts and Pages will come in handy for you.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility or liability of any loss to any incorrect or out dated information some of these websites may contain. The most accurate up to date information at the time known to me is inserted in these pages. It is the responsibility of the individual to do their own research in their own time. This is just a guide to assist people in giving them as much information as I possibly can to assist them in preparing for a trip to PNG or Australia or wanting to learn about PNG and Australia. My views and opinions and experiences will not exactly reflect other peoples' views and opinions and experiences.