Farewell Kokoda

We're still getting up early in the morning, although at least we don't have to worry about long hours on our legs anymore. Today we're getting an early start to travel by truck to Popondetta for our flight back to Port Moresby. Conditions permitting (with the roads and rivers) we'll make good time and be able to make a few stops along the way to the memorial at Popondetta and Bomana War Cemetery at Port Moresby.

Packed up and finished breakfast quickly we're loaded up into the back of the trucks for a bone crunching rattling trip to Popondetta that will be several hours. I've taken the precaution of bringing an inflatable pillow with me to protect my derriere (in hind site a win decision). Although we're not on our legs trekking today, everyone is still sore from all the previous days, having a buffer to the jolting of this truck ride is much better than aggravating already sore and worn out bums and legs.

I find Jimmy one last time before I get onto the truck and say goodbye. I really appreciated all of his help over the last 8 days and even though he was not my personal porter he was always there to help. This is only his 4th job on the track helping as a porter and I hope that he gets more opportunities in the future for work.

All loaded up and ready to go!



The trip back from Kokoda to Popondetta is a bit unknown depending on the conditions. Until recent years a lot of the river crossings had no bridges and depending on the height of the river you'd have to be ferried across individually out of the truck. Thankfully for us there were a few more bridges (big makeshift bridges built on top of cargo containers all lined up and sandbagged in place) and the remaining rivers were low, so we had no problems having to stop.

Here's a couple of snaps and a video out the back of the truck. Driving away from those massive mountains ranges, it was hard to imagine that we'd just made our way over them - even now, even having completed the trek, they still look so formidable.




A few observations from our truck trip back to Popondetta as we travelled through some smaller villages and passed the locals and also children on their way to school.

• Everyone was in general really friendly, waving and saying hello to the passing trucks. I actually got a really sore arm from waving hello back - in the end I had to stop - lol..

• The locals have the most beautiful smiles, but there were so many adults as well as children who had lost that beautiful smile. In it's place were bleeding gums, blood red smiles and either few or no teeth. The side effects of too much betel nut. Although a popular past time in Papua New Guinea (as well as other Asian cultures) betel nut last year was made illegal. Read more on Betel Nut

• Machetes - there were quite a few locals carrying them on the track (from when you saw and took notice), but it was rather different seeing so many kids travelling off to school also carrying them. From what I believe they're also on sale at the local supermarket. Not that there was a hint of any trouble or adverse situation - it was just such a different world.

We made great time back to Popondetta and we were able to stop in at the local memorial there, but unfortunately not for long as we had an estimated time for our flight and we had to be at the airport soon. Here's a couple of pictures of the memorial - it consisted of a few display cases, plaques and artillery guns.





After a quick stop off we rush to the airport to catch our flight, which was running a couple of hours late.. hahaha.. The airport was definitely working on island time and after getting there in a hurry to make our flight we had a good wait until our flight actually arrived. The wait went pretty slow and the clock was ticking, the longer we were delayed, the less chance we had of making the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby.

Finally our plane arrived and off we were back to Port Moresby



Straight from the airport at Port Moresby we go to the Bomana War Cemetery. It was quite a weird experience to be walking through there, passed all the graves of those who fought and died in the fighting. Especially having only a day prior been living somewhat part of what they had experienced on the track.

Here's some pictures of the Bomana War Cemetery, it was kept remarkably beautiful.









To my knowledge I had no relatives that fought or died here, but I looked up the register to see anyway just to make sure so that I could go and visit their grave - the closest I found was a Wiggins. (not related) Instead, we had a map of the cemetery and I sought out a few of the graves of the soldiers who I have learnt about over the course of this journey.




All finished up at the Bomana War Cemetery we head back to Port Moresby and the Holiday Inn. For me some food and a quick nap are on the agenda and then I'm hoping to go and visit some of the local markets to see if there's any good souvenirs (I've already bought a bag and hat along the track, but it's nice to have a few more mementos and some gifts to bring home.

Also on the agenda for a lot of people is to clean their boots and bags and remove the mud from them as that's a quarantine risk coming back into Australia. I didn't have to worry about my boots as I left them as a gift to Jimmy, but my bag did have a little bit (but not much mud on it) I gave it a quick wipe down to make sure the dirt wasn't excessive, but I probably should have been a bit more thorough.

In the end I was lucky to make the markets as stupidly I didn't set an alarm.. but I woke up in just enough time to catch up with the others who has already left. They had some pretty good stuff, the usual bags and hats, but there was also some pictures and paintings as well as baskets and other hand crafts. I'm not really good at bartering, but think I did okay. I picked up a nice painting as well as some more bags and hats as gifts.

Then it was celebration times! We had an early dinner and then it was time for a few drinks. Here's a picture of the team :) I'm surprised how awake everyone looks.. although that did not last too long and most people retired early.. keen for a sleep in a nice comfortable hotel bed, rather than on the ground in a tent :)




The next morning was our last early rise for our plane trip back to Australia. - Farewell Kokoda

Wrap Up

This has been such an amazing journey and experience. I definitely recommend this adventure to anyone that has ever thought of doing it, but hasn't, or even for those who haven't, but have been interested by my blog. Even for those that don't think they would be able to do it, for health reasons or age - the only barriers that hold you back are those you put up yourselves. This adventure is very doable and the trekking company ensures to the best of their ability that you will make it. Put the training in - you will surprise yourself and you will not be disappointed.

Here's one final video of our trek that was posted by one of the girls in the other team who was raising money for lifeline, it's has really awesome map of our route to some of the wonderful local singing! :)



For more information don't forget to look up some of the books that I have suggested through out the blog, or even if you want do some research and find yourself another book. There's quite a few out there from different perspectives and I think each in their own way would have great information on what happened here.

There's also the ABC documentary called Kokoda that has quite a lot of information. Personally I bought a copy, but someone has uploaded it to Youtube if you are interested.

Kokoda - abc Documentary

One final thank you to all of my sponsors that help me get her to help raise money for The Sir David Martin Foundation - In the end I raised $8,000 ($4,000 kindly matched by RESIMAC) and I know that every cent will go to help youth in need. I hope that I've been able to help you experience my journey and learn more of what happened here. I must admit, I can't believe how much I didn't know and that I've now learnt and I really want to learn more.

Thank you:

RESIMAC Financial Services
Go Dance / AILD
Navwealth
Rapid Personal Training
State Custodians
Paywise
Paul Denny Conveyancing
Wayseware Pty Ltd

Please feel free to contact me in person, via Facebook or through the blog if you have any questions about my trip or for advice if you're thinking about doing it yourself.

Thanks,

Wiggy