Sandy and Tom: MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Madang is a coastal town of 46,000 people on the Bismark Sea. It was settled first in 1871 by a Russian Naturalist from Sydney, Australia. Then Germans came and settled the region but left because of the tropical diseases. Then Australians came to the area. It was occupied by the Japanese during WWII. There were Coast Watchers, both military and natives, which remained behind enemy lines and reported enemy movements that were instrumental in helping with allied success. There is a light house WWII memorial dedicated to the Coast Watchers.

On tour we were taken to Bilbil Village, known for its clay pottery. We had a demonstration of clay pot making with sand and mud which are put over a fire to harden. The process is lengthy and labor intensive. They use the pots for trading with inland villages and off shore islands along the North Shore. While we were there a number of villagers performed a “sing-sing” dance for us dressed in their traditional attire. Some of the women were bare chested as is their custom.

We heard the reason there are so many people, especially men, sitting under the trees all day is there is 65% unemployment. When we asked how they survive we were told the village they belong to takes care of them. That seems to be the same in all the countries we have visited. If someone has a job they give some of their pay to the village.