To see the real Papua New Guinea one needs to live as close
as possible to the grassroots people, the villagers who make up 95% of
the PNG population, and the ideal way to do this is by staying
for a few days at a village guest house or village homestay, where you
can observe the daily activities in the village from close quarters. Village
guest houses and homestays are operated by bona fide village people. Village
guest house accommodation is generally very basic but there are usually
private rooms, a private toilet and shower (or a secluded bend in the
stream!) and local-style meals provided. While staying at a village guest
house you may have to share facilities (and the attentions of your host)
with other guests.
The village homestay
is a more intimate but less private :) experience as the guest bungalow
is usually built right next to the host's home and the visitor becomes
"part of the family" for a few days. Staying in a village guest
house you are always one level above the ordinary villagers, but a village
homestay is the most authentic ecotourism experience because it allows
you to get very close to the local culture and environment without impacting
significantly upon it. A village homestay consists of a guest bungalow
built in the same style as the other village houses, and is usually situated
next to the host family's own house. The guest bungalow has the same basic
furnishings as the other houses in the village, though the guest is provided
with a separate toilet and water for bathing. Village-style meals are
provided - sometimes as basic as a plate of boiled yam, other times a
selection of meats and vegetables. Breakfast (tea and biscuits or stone-baked
bread) is usually taken on the verandah of the guest bungalow and other
meals may be taken with the host family, although in most PNG cultures
there is no tradition of families sitting down to eat together at a table
(once the plates of food are served it's every one for himself, and the
women and men normally eat separately).
While experiencing
a homestay, guests are given the option of accompanying members of the
host family on their normal routines (gardening, fishing etc), or visiting
some of the points of interest in the area. Regardless of how the days
are passed, a few days' stay at a village homestay gives visitors a deep
insight into the PNG lifestyle.
There are only
a few genuine village homestays currently operating in PNG. (Village stays
are more numerous and well established in the Solomon
Islands).
MAY WE SUGGEST:
Faiava Village
Stay, Goodenough Island, Milne Bay Province
- 30 minutes flight from Alotau to Goodenough Island, plus 30 minutes
boat ride to Faiava Village.
Moveave Village
Stay, near Malalaua, Gulf Province - four
hours by road from Port Moresby
Wasab Village Stay,
Barem Village Stay, Madang Province
Tufi
Village Stays, Oro Province - a seaside
village stay experience 45 minutes flight from Port Moresby, plus 30 minutes
boat ride
Orokaiva Village
Stay, Oro Province - an inland village south of Tufi, gateway to excellent
trekking
Vakuta
Island Homestay, Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province - a true cultural
experience where visitors experience the Trobriand lifestyle from the
inside
Kanganaman
Village Guest House - Middle Sepik
| ARTICLES
ON VILLAGE ACCOMMODATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA |
|
| *Published
in "Paradise", the in-flight magazine of Air Niugini
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
