Monday, December 2, 2013

Day 15: Kickin' in Red

Grey knit sweater dress, grey leggings, red high tops, red flower earrings, red bead and wood bead bracelet and belt
Note: the bracelet and belt are hand made. I bought them from a woman at small impromptu mark along the road outside of Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
Below are links to instances of witchcraft accusations and cannibalism within the last year in PNG. Witchcraft is still very much believe in and cannibalism is still practices, though illegally, in some remote areas. The cannibalism event took right place right before I left. Also, there is a great link by National Geographic in PNG.
 
 
My bracelet and belt came from this market along the road. The young woman who made it was on the right at the far end out of sight. She sold them to for 30 and 10 Kina (the national currency), the equivalency of $15 and $5 US Dollars.

A breathtaking view of the Highland mountains. I took this shot on a hike to Yomnaki, a small village literally up in the clouds! 
A “pitpit” house such as the one pictured here is made of reed which are flattened, dried out and woven into mats. These mats comprise the frame and floor while wooden beams make the frame of the house. A fire is in the center of every hut for cooking and keeping warm. Men and women in most highland societies lived separately huts, even when married. This has however changed in some areas due to Western influences.
 
My favorite picture I took during the trip in a small village “Kambadang.” 72 stairs were dug out by hand in in preparation for our group. We slept in the grass hut behind me in the photo above for 3 nights during our stay; it was a lot like camping but only in one of the most remote places on earth.  
I had the privilege to watch the preparation for traditional Highlands “Maumau” pronounced “Moomoo.” This included the butchering of the pig above. Hot stones, pig meat, greens and leaves are layered in a pit around 3 feet deep and left to cook over night; then dug up the next day for a feast! Boar meat tastes grisly, somewhat like bear meat.  
Myself and my close friends, Hope and Abigail. I stayed with their family during my visit to PNG who were missionaries to Simbai, a government station and region in the Madang Provence. How cool is it that I got to share these adventures with two of my best friends since childhood? :)