The most comprehensive digital travel guide on the Pacific region
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Papua New Guinea fastest way to get around Papua New Guinea is by air. There is a good network of roads connecting the northern zone and the highlands region. However, there is no road link between the northern zone and the capital, Port Moresby. Hire cars are usually available and local boats, ferries, buses and taxis can be found in the larger towns. Food and entertainment Western cuisine is available in hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, lodges and resorts. Port Moresby has many Asian and European restaurants. For something different try a traditional 'mumu' of pork, sweet potatoes, rice and greens. Major hotels usually provide their own entertainment. Shopping guide Modern department complexes rub shoulders with quaint little stores and artefact shops where you may try your hand at gentle bargaining. Arts and crafts are as diverse as they are distinctive, produced by different artisans according to their individual skills and unique talents. accessories are made from pigs teeth, shell, orchid stems, dogs teeth, seed, snake spine, and pigs tusks. Pottery, weapons, carvings, musical instruments and basketwork are just a few of the handicrafts sold throughout PNG— the world's largest producer of tribal arts and crafts. The village of Aibom, near the Chambri Lakes, specialises in a unique form of pottery. The two greatest regions for art are the Sepik River Basin and the Papuan Gulf while the two major craft producing areas are the Huon Peninsula and Milne Bay. There is a fascinating selection of masks, including ancestral and spirit masks. Decorated boards and boat prows are popular objects in Papuan Gulf culture and are thought to be protective spirits to ward off sickness and evil. Shields come in all shapes and sizes and are made of hide stretched over a framework. Stools, tables and headrests are ornate and carry intricate carvings, while fishing hooks were suspended in the men's house and represented spirits which helped in fighting, hunting and warding off disease. Jewellery, body ornaments and Climate 23˚C–32˚C in coastal areas and 14˚C–28˚C in the highlands. Clothing Casual, but more formal than other Pacific countries. Females should dress modestly. A sweater or jacket is necessary in the highlands. Currency The kina is divided into 100 toea. Credit cards accepted at major hotels. Tips are generally not expected, but encouraged if you are happy with the service provided. www.paradisesonline.com 181