BILL & BOB’S 2004 PAPUA NEW GUINEA AIR SAFARI

                                                                 By Dianne Cowley

“Please come on our Safari”, said young Bill from Coorparoo,

And those who came were treated to experiences new.

“Rally at Horn Island”, came the order loud and clear,

And there our “Mother Goose” we met, Bob Bates who has no fear.

Direct to Bensback Lodge we flew for Customs/Quarantine,

In Moses’ hands we boated to a village we’d not seen.

Sunset Bar was christened with champagne so icy cold,

Evening brought us sunset and the grey clouds ringed with gold.

Agog we were next morning, on a boat trip for the day,

Intent on catching “barras”, viewing birds along the way,

Riverside were wallabies and also rusa deer

So food was not a problem for the natives who lived here.

Alas, the “barras” jumped around but would not take the bait,

For catfish were our main catch, but that was just our fate.

Another Sunset Bar event heard such great tales of woe,

Regretfully we had to leave without another go.

In VFR, Madang we reached, a tour of the town,

Transported to Malolo Lodge by bus, without a frown,

Resplendent in its beauty with its tropical surrounds

And sand so black reminding us volcanoes were around.

Next day to Simon’s village where we learnt the native way,

So easy when you know it, but we’d need a practice day.

Now on to village Wasab where they danced the time away,

In native dress and painted in a most appealing way.

Underwater snorkelling, canoes or just a rest,

Good food, good friends, the pool, the sea, we knew we had the best.

In weather, that was “fine and beaut”, we flew the coastal track,

Near Manum we ascended where we viewed the crater’s back.

Turning at the Sepik’s mouth we flew along so low,

Over many villages, Timbunke it did show.

Unless our GPS had failed a left turn here we knew,

Revealed the rivers Korosameri and the Karawari too.

Soon the airstrip came in view a pleasure to behold

With natives lined up everywhere but none of them too bold.

We landed, then we tied down and unloaded bags and met

The Karawari people waving as we joined the jet.

Off to the “Sepik Spirit” which was waiting there downstream,

On boarding we exclaimed that this must all just be a dream.

With Bob and Colin, Augus, Chris, Albert and Nick the cook,

The next three days were “heaven” and lots of shots we took.

Mumerai and Minimbit, 1 and 2 we went

And lots of artefacts we know back to the boat were sent.

Day 2 was Chambri Lake time, Aibon and Wambun too,

Our lunch was on an island, such days were all too few.

The last day on the Sepik we went down to Tambunum

And bought up all the crocodiles, the chooks, but ah! No drum.

Boss Pella “ummed” and “aah-ed” about the purchase of said drum

But in the end the Weight and Balance Chart said not so good a sum.

Returning to the “Spirit” we were told of Airlinks blunder

Which really blew our plans for Karawari quite asunder.

A few hours chat, some sandwiches, a cake and briefing too

‘Til Kalvin brought the Islander to ferry quite a few.

Then back to Karawari to meet Lucas and our Bonny,

With Lena there to greet us – she really is a honey.

Now this is where I leave you, you’ll now be just one fewer

When next you land at lodge on high, the one we call Ambua.

I’m sure you’ll all enjoy it as I have done before

And trust that you will all behave – not start a tribal war.

To Bill and Bob my best regards, these two boys are the best,

I hope we’ll all return again, when we’ve all had a rest.