Australia & Oceania - Page 4

Nikita Slotin, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

 Greetings to all from Papua New Guinea from the group "I love PNG"!  There is a summit! We're already at the hotel. Tomorrow is an excursion day.  More details also tomorrow.

Nikita Slotin, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

 Greetings to all from a mountain village on the other side of the world, from the group "I love PNG"! Today we have a busy day. We moved to a mountain lodge, from where our trekking will begin tomorrow. We visited the village and the wedding of our friend Mr. Pym's son. Locals traditionally cooked momo, which is pork baked in stones. We got acquainted with the tribes living in the nearest villages, plunged into the atmosphere of the history and culture of the inhabitants. By the way, pigs are the dowry for the wedding here, a huge number of pigs. The cost of one can reach $ 3,000. We are looking forward to tomorrow's trekking. I hope to be lucky with the weather.

Nikita Slotin, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

A group of distant wanderers sends a fervent greeting from the second largest island in the world! Four flights, and we are in Mount Hagen, the place where the ascent of Giluwe begins. All participants have successfully reached this place. Today we bought food for the mountain, checked the equipment, discussed plans for the coming days. And then we slept off after the flight to the sounds of a downpour. Now we're having dinner and getting to know each other better. We tell you about our ascents, plans. Tomorrow we will move to the lodge and get acquainted with the local flavor.

Boris Egorov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

Meanwhile, the group "Stars of boots" successfully climbed the highest point of Papua New Guinea. Wilhelm Peak 4509m. On May 8, almost all the participants stood at the top (one lady decided to save her injured knee).

The weather was perfect. On the descent we swam in the lake. It's so great when you have the opportunity to freshen up right after the mountain! In the evening, the ascent was already celebrated in the lodge.

Boris Egorov, the super-guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

Meanwhile, the group "Stars in Boots" moved to the neighboring province in Papuasia. The road was a long jolt. But on arrival we were greeted by the whole village.  We were shown the traditions of choosing grooms and funerals with songs and dances. We live in a very cozy lodge with lots of flowers. We went on an excursion to see how salmon is bred. And for dinner we had delicious fish with vegetables from the local vegetable garden. We met an amazing hostess who was happy to answer numerous questions about farming and local life. In the evening we sat by the fireplace, laughed a lot and loudly, playing "contact". Tomorrow we will go to the base camp of Mount Wilhelm.

Boris Egorov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

Today the group "stars in boots" had its second day of rest. We visited three villages, watched a show of ritual dances and the way of life of different tribes of Papua. Cultivated, bought souvenirs and had a good conversation. Tomorrow we will have a long road to the neighboring province to the foot of Mount Wilhelm.

Boris Egorov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

After the Giluwe volcano, the "stars in boots" team began to rest. We need to recover our strength in three days with a second ascent of Mount Wilhelm, the highest point in Papua. And we spend this time usefully, a cultural program has begun. In the morning we admired the birds of paradise. And we spent the rest of the day visiting a small local village. A whole pig was cooked especially for us.  In the traditional way in the ground, overlaid with banana leaves and red-hot stones. This method is called mumu. They also dressed up in festive clothes for us and arranged male and female dances. We were led through the sacred place of the village. Despite the fact that the entire population is Christians, they still keep the skulls of ancient warriors and worship them.

And there is the summit! Today, all the "Stars in boots" have successfully reached the top of the highest volcano in Australia-Oceania – Giluwe. We suffered a lot, we spent almost the entire ascent in a cloud and with the wind, but we overcame all the difficulties with dignity. Now, sitting in the warmth after a shower and a hearty dinner, we shared our impressions and had intimate conversations. Our excursion program starts tomorrow.

Boris Egorov, the Guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

And finally the adventure in Papua for the next big group began. They called themselves "Stars in boots"!! The first part arrived yesterday, and we entertained ourselves with conversations and sipped wine. And the next morning, as if nothing had happened, we conducted a joint yoga practice. Today, everyone finally gathered in the town of Mount Hagen, had lunch, checked out local shops and moved to a comfortable lodge in the middle of the rain forest. We had an incredibly interesting circle of acquaintances. The team is big, 10 people, and I wanted to listen to everyone without stopping. Tomorrow, an early ascent and trekking to the base camp under the Giluwe volcano.

Boris Egorov, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

Greetings from Papua New Guinea! Our cultural program continues in this country. The day began with a trip to a special place in the jungle, on a photo hunt for local birds. We were lucky to see an unusual feathered creature with a long, beautiful white tail, which is even depicted on the flag of PNG. After that we visited a new village, where we were shown how to cook the national dish mumu. To do this, first small stones are heated in the fire, and then vegetables and meat are laid in layers in the pit, interspersed with banana leaves. While the food was languishing in the ground, we watched the female and male dances and got acquainted with some of the customs of this tribe. Finally, after this, we tasted the food, delicious! Well, in the evening, chess and preference are already traditional. 

Boris Egorov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

A cultural program has begun on the island of Papua. Today we visited three tribes, watched theatrical performances arranged especially for us. We looked into the homes of the aborigines and received detailed answers to our numerous questions about life in this country, before and after the arrival of the white man. We were well fed, and in the evening there was time for leisure. We played chess and played preference until nightfall. The rest continues. Tomorrow we will continue to explore the customs of the indigenous population, and we hope to finish our game of cards.

Boris Egorov, the super-guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

News from Papua. Hurray! This morning, at a leisurely pace , all the participants, fathers and children, ascended the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania, Giluwe 4368. We slipped between the showers, although we still got into a cloud at the top. For the youngest participant Mark (16 years old) it was the debut, the first mountain. It was not easy for him, but the achievement is all the more valuable. We also celebrate Dima Tertychny's birthday today. In the morning he stood at the summit, and in the evening he blew out the candles in the lodge! Tomorrow the cultural program begins, we are going to explore the life of local tribes.

Boris Egorov, the a Guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

  Today we walked for 6 hours through the jungle and swamps, almost all the time with a little rain. At the same time, we reached the base camp quite cheerfully. Here the weather improved, the stars became visible. After dinner we sat around the campfire for a while. With a fighting mood and most importantly in dryness, we go to bed. Tomorrow, the assault on the summit of the Giluwe volcano!

Boris Egorov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

An exotic program in Papua New Guinea has started today. All participants successfully crossed the half of the planet and ended up on a huge evergreen island. The expedition turned out to be a family one. It consists of two fathers and three sons. In the evening we had dinner at the lodge at an altitude of 2500. And tomorrow, early in the morning, we move to the Giluwe base camp at an altitude of 3200.

The season of climbing the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania  Giluwe  will begin very soon! This is an integral and most exotic part of the Seven Volcanoes program.  As usual, the 7 Summits Club tries to improve the service on its regular routes from year to year.  This year we are setting up our full-fledged base camp on Giluwe with large comfortable tents.  The first group of 6 participants starts on April 9.  And on May 1, our unique climbing program will begin immediately on the Giluve volcano and Wilhelm Peak — the highest mountain in the country! There are 10 participants in the team.  Boris Egorov, the super-guide of the 7 Summits Club, will work with both groups.

Follow our news from exotic Papua New Guinea!

On November 20, our Belarusian friends Anastasia and Konstantin Lapko made a successful ascent on the top of the Giluve volcano. In Papua New Guinea, they traveled according to the 7 Summits Club tour program with local guides. For the first time, representatives of the Republic of Belarus climbed the highest volcano on the Australian continent. Congratulations to our friends and we wish them a successful completion of the Seven Volcanoes program!

The 7 Summits Club Guide Svetlana Kotlyar from Papua New Guinea:

Greetings to all from Papua New Guinea from the group "SPAPUANATY"!  Yesterday we continued the excursion program and together with our local partner Mr. Pym visited his native village — Paiya Village. Here we spent almost the whole day watching the life of the locals.

A traditional dish "mumu" was prepared especially for us — a pig cooked underground, lined with hot stones and banana leaves, as well as potatoes and sweet potatoes.  It turned out delicious!  There is a large pigsty on the territory of the village. Pigs are literally worth their weight in gold here. Pork is cooked extremely rarely - on big holidays, weddings, Christmas, it is very expensive. But pork can be exchanged for something more useful and necessary for the villagers.

There are also two huge flightless cassowary birds and a marsupial animal couscous. Mr. Pym showed us a small collection of artifacts: carvings, stone gods, shields.  While waiting for the preparation of mumu, the locals showed us a little performance, dressing up in bright costumes, decorating their faces and decorating themselves with colored feathers and shell necklaces. And after that, we joined their dances, which amused the local kids a lot!

Our program has come to an end, and today it's time to say goodbye to the mysterious and exotic Papua New Guinea! See you in March!

The 7 Summits Club Guide Svetlana Kotlyar from Papua New Guinea:

Greetings to all from Papua New Guinea from the SPAPUANATY team!  Yesterday (November 16) our excursion program started!  After breakfast we drove to the town of Mount Hagen. First we visited the local market where vegetables and fruits are sold — a very colorful place! We bought watermelon and the ripest mangoes.

Today we got acquainted with three local tribes. They moved from one village to another through gardens and coffee plantations.

The first tribe we visited is called the Mud People. Their bodies were decorated with clay, and on their heads were huge clay masks weighing at least 10 kg. They showed a small performance, after which our local guide Raphael told about their culture and lifestyle. According to legend, they were defeated by an enemy tribe and had to flee to the Asaro River. They waited until dusk before trying to escape. The enemies saw them rising from the muddy banks, covered with mud, thought they were spirits and fled in fear.

 The next village is a 30-minute drive away. Here, to the beat of the drums, we were given a performance by the famous Huli Wig tribe. They decorate their faces with traditional Papua flowers and wear headdresses made from their own hair and feathers of the bird of paradise.

The last tribe that we managed to get acquainted with is a Man from Cimbu. Here the aborigines decorated their bodies with charcoal and clay, copying spirits with skeletal bodies.  It is believed that these spirits are deceased people from their tribe who have returned to help and heal them from diseases.  

And in the evening we had a festive dinner, presentation of certificates and medals for climbing.

The 7 Summits Club Guide Svetlana Kotlyar from Papua New Guinea:

 Day one: transfer to the Base camp at an altitude of 3700. After an early breakfast, we got into the car and went to meet our volcano Giluwe. We drove from the lodge for about an hour. Here we met with a team of our porters and guides. The main guide of them Stanley is a man of 40 years old with a fairly good English, which he learned while communicating with tourists.

 The first part of the route passed through a dense rainforest. It is almost always wet and rainy in Papua, the day before the downpour went until 2 a.m., so rubber boots, capes on backpacks and raincoats are a very important element of the outfit. Stanley deftly cut a path for us with a machete, freeing the path from unnecessary overhanging branches, at the same time telling about the culture of the locals.

 — Wet leaves of this plant can be washed, they are very refreshing. There are a lot of useful plants growing in our forests and we know how and for what they can be used.

 He showed trees whose leaves are used to build roofs of houses. We saw a beautiful Bird of paradise, which is a symbol of the country. We are as much a curiosity to Papuans as they are to us. The locals are watching us with great interest, looking at clothes and various little things that are familiar to us, but unfamiliar to them.

 After a couple of hours of trekking, we left the forest and got into a meadow area, walking parallel to the river. The ground under our feet is quite swampy, but on the first day we did not use rubber boots, we managed with trekking shoes. The entire track took about 6 hours, about 13 km long with a climb drop of 1000 m. Closer to three o'clock in the afternoon, the rain began and continued until 2 a.m., forcing us to worry about tomorrow's exit to the mountain.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Svetlana Kotlyar reports from Papua New Guinea:

Hello to the 7 Summits Club from Papua New Guinea! Today at 9 am our team "SPAPUANATY" in full force stood on top of the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania — GILUVE (4368 m)! From the base camp at an altitude of 3700 we reached the summit in 3.5 hours. The last 150 meters of a fairly steep climb we went using a rope for belay, which undoubtedly added extreme for the participants! The mountain turned out to be not so trekking!

We decided today to go down to the bottom and move to the lodge. We were insanely tired during this busy day, we were on our feet for more than 12 hours today.

We are resting now, all the details are tomorrow!