Number One Something Speak It
What did I know about the place? PNG is slightly larger than California but if you flattened it out it would probably be twice as large. It is rich in natural resources: copper, silver, natural gas, timber, gold, oil and fish. However because it is also situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the area is subject to severe earthquakes and mud slides. In addition coastal areas have to be constsantly on guard against tsunamis.
In a couple of days, I would be flying to the Southern Highlands by Cessna. I could have opted for a direct flight from Port Moresby to Tari but saw no reason to go by Dash 8 when I could snake along mountain valleys and really get a feel for the beauty of the country.
I tried to envision what flying into the Southern Highlands would be like. Of one thing, I was reasonably sure, I would be privileged to see a Bird of Paradise early on the following morning after a comfortable sleep at a luxurious mountain retreat. I wondered what other goodies lay in store.
I almost forgot to mention that PNG is home to the world's largest butterfly as well as the world's longest lizard. Take your pick. It is one of our planet's major tropical wilderness areas and is home to 762 species of birds.
Having been to Lae briefly before, I opted for the Huon Gulf Motel, as much for the home cooking as for the locale on the edge of the rainforest. I had my heart set on spotting a tree kangaroo in its natural environment. The Lae region constitutes the decreasing habitat of the tree kangaroo in Papua New Guinea.
The next morning early, I went with a guide into the rainforest. In spite of spotting several species of birds, it was just our luck not to see a single tree kangaroo, which are now considered an endangered species.
The next morning, some time about false dawn, I set off for the Lae airport and clambered aboard a Cessna 180, one of the old tail draggers. It wasn't till we had climbed to 2,000 feet that the sun put in an appearance.
On the way from Lae to Tari, I was of a mind that the flight would surely prove to be the highlight of my journey: mountains, ravines, waterfalls and more. It was a symphony
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