TU0303 - day 8 - PNG

TU0303 - day 8 - PNG
There were written warnings and announcements from the Captain and the Cruise Director about the safety precautions needed in third world countries. Stay with a group, avoid public transportation (including taxis), avoid crowds, don't go to remote places such as the cemetaries.
Well, we survived PNG!!!
There were 12 of us on a private tour arranged by two CruisteCritic posters - Angie in OZ and Glor stateside - 6 Aussies, 4 Americans, 2 Canadians. We paid $155AUD each (just under $100US) in advance - the Aussies handled their arrangements locally and the other 6 went into the tour agency in Sydney and paid by credit card in person. The tour was to be 7 hours, including lunch.
We were met promptly at the pier by two gentlemen, one (Jack) a regular employee of the company and the other the son of one of the other employees - Rex normally works for a hotel in the hospitality industry. Rex's roles became obvious in due course.
We were in a 15 passenger van - the 12 of us, the two of them, and a cooler with bottled water in the space of the 15th seat.
Our first stop was a market. Three of us instantly decided not to get out of the van. The other 9 went with Jack and a security guard - those of us who remained on the van did not know about the guard, but we were not too thrilled with how so many people seemed to follow the group with their eyes. Rex stayed with the van. It was unclear whether he was guarding the van or us, but we were locked in.
Then we went to the ANZAC cemetary. Very well done. Apparently the Aussie equivalent of the Normandy cemetaries and equally important to them.
Our lunch was at the March Girls - both a hotel and restaurant owned by a family from Rex's villate. The place is so-named because the daughters were all born in March. Nice lunch. Coconut welcome. Native dances by the daughters and other relatives.
We spent some time in Rex's village where we were offered more coconut drinks as well as shell necklaces. Wonderful hospitality which we didn't really expect.
Our final stop was a craft shop with native handicrafts. Good shopping if you're into maaks and carvings.
We made it back without incident. I'm glad we found a satisfactory arrangement, but I still think my anxiety was warranted.