Revisiting my Childhood in Madang Papua New Guinea

I’ve just spent the last week in PNG. As a child I lived here for a few years and went to school. Although I was 7 when I left, I still recall a lot of those three years and it was great to be able to revisit.  PNG has been independent since 1975 however, it is still a very poor country and most people live in villages without electricity and children attend schools with dirt floors.

We spent our week in Madang, where I lived as a kid and we stayed at the Madang Resort, where I did feel like I was being sheltered from the real PNG.

Over the week we visited villages, went snorkelling and diving, sailed, and I had a trip down memory lane finding my old house, school and church. Here is a picture diary of our trip.

Tropical island with a sandy beach where we snorekelled and The Lad dived.

Delicate orchids in the gardens of the resort.

My house then.

The house today which is now owned by PNG Nationals.

My favorite flowers; the gloriousy perfumed frangipani.

PNG women work really hard. They do all the gardening and harvesting and they attend the markets.

Food market

Kokomo Bird… so cute when they jump.

My school.

Me telling Boy Wonder about my prep classroom. It wasn’t this decorated when I went. It was new and had no windows or doors for the year as we waited for the louvres to arrive from Australia!

Kicking back reading.

Kar Kar island…the backdrop of my childhood

Handmade pottery…no wheel involved.

Clown fish everywhere!

Sailing. The resort had sea kayaks & two catamarans.

It was a great week and a terrific escape from winter.