Where on earth is Kavieng? - Part 1

I am starting to sound like a travel magazine writer, ain't I? Pardon me but I was simply just captivated by the beauty and simplicity of this town I visited recently.

We flew in via Air Niguini from Lae on a Thursday morning and after two hours and one stop-over later, we reached the town of Kavieng. The province of New Ireland, where Kavieng is, is located just about 2.5^o south of the equator and is the island closest to the south pacific group of islands and Micronesia.

Driving past downtown Kavieng from the airport you start to wonder what this quaint sleepy town has to offer but then looks are deceiving as the old cliche goes. However I must admit that I was deceived into staying at the Malagan Beach Resort which is supposed to be The place to stay in Kavieng. The resort looked tired and needy of repairs. The pillowcases reeked of the smell from the previous occupant while after a swim and desperate for a rinse, I found myself crouching on the bathtub as no water flowed from the shower on top. A hotel staff had to fetch me a pail of hot water.

Save for our hotel nightmare, our stay was generally pleasant. Kavieng is peaceful like Madang, my other favourite destination, and unlike most places in PNG, you are free to roam around this coastal town without fear of being mugged or taken advantaged of. Its remoteness has actually done this island some good as it has discouraged the influx of migrants from the mainland and other nearby islands. In fact many Papua New Guinean’s can only dream of going to Kavieng as both air and boat fares are high, even prohibitive for an ordinary person.

Anyway stand by because I have more stories to follow.