PNG Kavieng June 2009

After clearance, we called Nusa Island Retreat on CH 69. Two boys Sam and Junior came on a boat to guide us thru the reefs to the Duck Pond.

We anchored in 10 m of crystal clear water on a sandy bottom. The place is very well protected from E and W winds but open to N and S.

We met Adam from Australia. He does charters with his wife Daniela on their Catamaran.

Inquire at: mailto:tikitu@adventuresinparadise.com.pg

Kavieng (NE of New Ireland) is also a place to surf when it’s the season around December, and of course diving in crystal clear waters.

PNG has been the theater of the Second World War, and many Japanese relics on land and wrecks in the sea can be visited.

Nusa Island Retreat just opposite of the Government Wharf is a very relaxing place with a lot of pets starting from a sea eagle, parrots, hornbill, awl, turtle, lizard and more leaving there, all injured ones and brought from locals.

Visit: http://www.nusaislandretreat.com.pg/

After Davao, Kavieng is a very friendly and peaceful place.

Market is colorful, and on week-ends (Saturday being the best day) locals bring the fresh vegetables and fruits from the plateau where it’s cooler to grow vegetables.

It’s 100% naturally grown products. Prices are very reasonable.

The supermarkets are very well furbished; it’s more expensive coming from Asia. To our big surprise, instant yogurt powder was available (brand Easiyo).

We do our own yogurt using powder milk that we dilute in water and heat to 42°C max 45°C. Then we mix it with 3 tablespoon of the last made one and put it in a thermo pot for 6 to 8 hours.

Ones it turned solid we keep it in the fridge and enjoy it.

The “disadvantage” of this system is that you must keep on going to keep the starter. If it fails (milk to hot or to cold), you must buy a new natural yogurt to start the process again. It was easy to find in the Malaysian malls, more critical in the Philippines. We thought that we can forget it until we arrive in New Caledonia.

Last year in Miri we had the opportunity to buy the Easiyo kit with instant natural yogurt powder packs in spare to start a new yogurt if it comes too. No need!

We discovered the megapode eggs.

You can buy the diesel in 200 liters drum for 457. - K at Island Petroleum; they deliver it to the fishing dock. You must arrange with the fisheries before. You can also get the diesel in your jerrycans at the petrol station. It’s far from the beach and you must organize transportation.

One day we made an excursion on Nusa Island to see the Japanese guns.

They are huge and the rust is doing his job slowly.

Wednesday, June 19 we cleared out by custom and got a cruising permit. We did a last fresh shopping at the market and went back to the yacht to make her ready to leave Saturday morning.

After a last refreshing beer at the resort at sundown, we said goodbye to all the friendly people we met and went to sleep.

Saturday morning at 8 o clock after breakfast wet started the engine hoist the anchor left the comfortable Duck Pond and made our way thru Steffen Strait to Kokopo.