You land in Port Moresby, and then a short flight to Mount Hagen, in the highlands. You are now part of a select group of travellers who want to be actors, not expectators. You know that travel is much more than getting a set of pretty pictures, or sipping cocktails in a luxurious beach resort (well, can’t complain about the latter). Travel that changes your life demands participation, that you go out of your comfort zone and experience things with the heart of the explorer, with the openness of mind that comes in handy, as you are about to witness thousands of years old traditions play out before your eyes, in the middle of the jungle.
After the excitement in the highlands, you travel to Tufi, a place where nature said: “Let’s just have fun!” The Tropical Fjords are a place where the wonders of Papua New Guinea stand out. You dive in pristine coral reefs, such as rainbows beneath the waters. You kayak from village to village and enjoy the freshly caught fish, and meet the people that call this place home. Gathered around the long table in the evening, the dimly lit hall evoques in your mind stories you read of explorers, and even though familiar, this place is utterly unknown.
The time for the festival is here. People from other islands in the archipelago gather here for a proud display of their culture. It is a proud day for them. They have carefully arranged their costumes, and their masks represent months of work and craftsmanship. They are true works of art that collectors in Milan and Hong Kong would dearly love to showcase. Usually, you would experience a festival such as this from the sidelines, trying to make sense of it all, but perhaps just giggling or succumbing to befuddlement.
Fortunately, you are part of Adrea’s group, and let’s just say this isn’t his first festival. He urges you to don the costume, and his rapport with the people, and his connections make it so that soon you find yourself dressed in Papuan attire. At first, there are some misgivings, after all, this is so strange, so alien, so uncommon. But as you practise the movements of the dance, and the chants soar around you, the stumping of your feet becomes almost an earthquake. You embody the warrior, the spirit, a surge of power travels through your body and your mind taps into the hidden forces of the world. You dance until the fire dies out, and the new day approaches. That is, you must admit, a whole new level of travel.
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