Map of PNG and "Fast Facts"

Note locations of Port Moresby (where you will enter PNG and clear customs and immigrations) and Wewak, where we will fly to meet our Habitat host before driving to Nindibari.

Fast Facts:
Country Full Name:
The Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Population: 5,700,000

Currency: Kina (K)

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +10

Country Dialing Code: +675

Weights & Measures: Metric

PNG Habitat House Construction

A typical Habitat house in PNG is made of timber with a corrugated metal sheet roof. Due to heavy rains, the house is raised on stilts a meter or more off the ground to keep it dry. The area under the house is used for storage, community gatherings and livestock. Habitat encourages home partners to cut and mill their own timber from their own land. To ensure sustainability, Habitat has developed a reforestation project; two trees are planted for every tree used for a Habitat house. Note hand tools being used in pictures, as there is no electricity (kerosene is the fuel used for lanterns at night!) Four types of Habitat houses are being built in Papua New Guinea. The first type, at 33 sq. m. in size, is a one-bedroom structure; a two-bedroom house is 37 sq. m. in size while a three or four-bedroom home is largest at 48 sq. m. The average monthly repayment per house is US$15.50 and the average mortgage period is 20 years.

R&R Itinerary & Activities

The tour company Ecotourism Melanesia will be our guides for this part of our trip. This is what they have scheduled for us:

Friday afternoon - we will leave Wewak waterfront in open speed boat* transfer to Muschu Island. Accommodation at village guest house.** Nice evening meal based on seafood and vegetables dry-roasted wrapped in leaves in hot sand pit. Sing-sing entertainment.

Saturday - full day at Muschu Island - beachwalking, rainforest, swimming,snorkelling on beautiful coral reef, paddling native canoes, napping on the beach under the shade of overhanging trees (watch out for falling coconuts!). Beach barbeque for lunch. Late afternoon open speed boat transfer to larger Kairiru Island. Accommodation at village guest house. Evening entertainment: drama performance by village youth group about islandlegends (very funny). They are accomplished performers.

Sunday - choice of activities on Kairiru Island: 1. hike to crater lake(biodiversity hotspot) 2. hike to waterfall, caves and hot springs 3.rainforest walk 4. go fishing in native canoes with locals using traditional fishing methods - cook your catch for lunch. 5. village culture study 6.more beachwalking and swimming/snorkelling. The group can split up into smaller groups according to preferred activity. Packed lunch based on village-style picnic (fruit, dried fish, dry-roasted vegetables) is carried with you wherever your guide is taking you for your activity. Late afternoon open speedboat transfer to Wewak - disembark on the beach right in front of our accommodation at Surfside Lodge which is right opposite the airport for hassle-free check-in Monday morning.

* Information on speed boats: transfer from Wewak to Muschu Island is 30 minutes and from Muschu Island to Kairiru Island is another 30 minutes. The boat is an open dinghy that can carry up to 12 people with bags. If more than 10 people we use 2 boats. The boats are privately owned by people on the island and we hire them. Our company guide based in Wewak will accompany your group on the trip. Our company provides life jackets in the boat. The boat does not travel out of sight of land at any time. Sometimes the weather is choppy in the afternoons (and even raining) but in this case the boats just take it slowly and hug the coastline as much as possible.

** Guest houses - The village guest houses have a mixure of small rooms (2 people) and large rooms (4-6 people) so various permutations are possible. The village guest houses have mattresses on the floor covered with mosquito nets. Bedding is supplied, just BYO towel.a

Personal Stories and Pictures

This posting will reflect personal stories and pictures from team members after they return. This is an opportunity for them to share amongst each other, as well as give a perspective to others who may be considering a team to PNG.

Passport and PNG Visa

All participants on the PNG team must have a valid passport that does not expire before October 15, 2008.

Participants must have a PNG visa before entering the country. Individual names must be included in a letter of invitation from Habitat PNG to Immigrations prior to application. More information on this application will be given once a participant has been invited on the team. The process could take several weeks, so it is imperative that those seeking a spot on this team contact the team leaders as soon as possible.

Costs

Expenses are $2000, which includes the $450 donation to Habitat and the PNG building program and mandatory medical travel insurance. It covers all expenses while in PNG, including food and accommodations at the host community, ground transportation, and R&R activities/food/lodging. It does not include airfare, expenses while traveling, or expenses associated with international travel (visa, passport, immunizations). Funds must be received by March 1, 2008.

Fundraising is encouraged; information is available from team leaders.

Airfares vary depending on your departure city. Contact World Traveller's Club at susi@around-the-world.com for a quote, or your own travel agent. Your itinerary must have you in PNG no later than April 1 in time to depart Port Moresby for Wewak, and leaving Wewak no sooner than April 14. No team member can arrive later or depart earlier than the posted itinerary. Your team leader can give you more information.

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining this team, there are a few spaces still left. Serious inquirers should have an application on file with Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Department. There are no fees for applying and it takes only minutes.

Go to www.habitat.org/gv to apply online. If you already have an application on file, contact the GV information desk at 1-800-HABITAT to have your application forwarded to Bob and Leslie Bell. Then contact us at lesliebell47@yahoo.com to arrange an interview. Interviews will not be conducted unless the application has been submitted.