Anyone ever been to Papua New Guinea?

RATM

What was it like?
Recommendations?
Hard to travel there?

Neamhshuntasach

I was thinking about going there before when i was in the Philippines but i was advised against it because of how dangerous a place it is. Apparently there is a huge crime problem and tourists are big targets. I was told that there is a lot of inter tribal fighting going on as well.

I remember looking up about it after i was told about the warnings and they appeared to be true. But i suppose it's like anywhere in the world, once you use common sense you should be relatively okay. The weather is supposed to be really changeable and honestly there doesn't look like there is much in the place. I just got the idea into my head because it was a big enough country that is hardly ever mentioned. So that kind of intrigued me. And for how underdeveloped the place is it is supposed to be really expensive.

RATM

Wow I never knew it was considered dangerous. Though I have hear that 'head-hunting', where one tribe literally attacks the other to get a trophy of a head still goes on. But I never knew it was dodgy for tourists.
In saying that dodgy places have never discouraged me before, my family practically pleaded with me not to go to Iran and Colombia ! Didnt stop me though:D
Im kinda the same, because no-ones been there it kinda attracts me. Though a mate did tell me No Frontiers did a piece on it a few months back so maybe its starting to open up to tourism....
I might check the Thorn Tree and see if I can find anything there....

Neamhshuntasach

The post from this fella seems to give a lot of info about his experience there.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=11495118&#11495118

The Australian travel advisory page doesn't paint a pretty picture of the place but you know what Government sites are like. They sensentialize everything. Although the Aussie one isn't usually as bad the US one.

mac123

im thinking about going there myself in the summer, will be in indonesia for about two months so i might take a side trip there! il let you know if i decide to go.

RATM

mac123 wrote: »

im thinking about going there myself in the summer, will be in indonesia for about two months so i might take a side trip there! il let you know if i decide to go.

Yeah a first hand report would be good- you can be our guinea pig:D

If you scuba dive I'll give you some awesome sites in Indonesia that will blow your mind.

mac123

yeah well it will depend on the budget for me at this stage. im cutting it pretty tight but i might try and fit it in, if not il try and get to east timor.
i dont dive yet but im doing the open water course in koh tao before heading to indo so fire away with any good dive spots!!
cheers mate..

inarut

mac123 wrote: »

yeah well it will depend on the budget for me at this stage. im cutting it pretty tight but i might try and fit it in, if not il try and get to east timor.
i dont dive yet but im doing the open water course in koh tao before heading to indo so fire away with any good dive spots!!
cheers mate..

Some useful reading. Doesn't say much in favour of Port Moresby though.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/22/population.davidfickling

Also try http://wikitravel.org/en/Papua_New_Guinea

Transport links are non-existent in PNG eg no roads, rail etc. The only way of travelling between the two main settlements is by irregular internal flights.

RATM

mac123 wrote: »

yeah well it will depend on the budget for me at this stage. im cutting it pretty tight but i might try and fit it in, if not il try and get to east timor.
i dont dive yet but im doing the open water course in koh tao before heading to indo so fire away with any good dive spots!!
cheers mate..

If you are going to head over to Komodo And Rinca Island to see the Komodo Dragons then theres 2 dive sites not too far from Rinca. They are called Pilau Besar and Pilau Kecil, absolute world class diving, theyve made National Geographic's Top 100 World Dive sites on more than one occasion. Very highly recommended and miles better than anything you'll find around Bali/ Lombok/ Gili Islands. ( the diving there is still quite good tho')

Also you'll find there are a lot less divers in the water in Indonesia than Thailand so its an even bigger bonus. We had those two sites to ourselves when we dived them, I really couldn't believe how empty it was yet so packed with fish, thousands of them, just like you see on nature documentaries. Dont miss it if you're in the area.

mathias

Though a mate did tell me No Frontiers did a piece on it a few months back so maybe its starting to open up to tourism....

The no frontiers thing was a special , Ive seen it , obviously no one else on this thread has ,

It was a nightmare of a trip for her , chased by a guy with a machete , she'd have been killed only for the crew , eaten by jumping leeches , accused by a tribe of being the cause of the running water stopping , scary scary stuff , and the program ended with the advice .....
" Remember , your personal safety is your own responsibility ," ... and so on , in short , there are no medical facilities , the place is near stone age , you a miles from help and civilisation should anything go wrong ... a once in a lifetime trip , but could easily be the end of a lifetime trip as well , be well prepared.

One for the young , fit , and intrepid only ! Its a Jungle expedition , not a holiday , as long as thats what you have in mind and are equipped to suit , then you'll be OK.