Brisbane to Port Moresby

Day 1

Adventure of a lifetime.  This is how this trip was being sold, and this is how it was feeling.  It was a long time in the planning and many many hours spent running around the streets of Keperra and walking the hills of Brisbane.

The day had finally come, it was time to leave for PNG with my two brothers and my mate.

Got a great send off from Nicole, Harrison, Amelia, Marcus, Mum, Dad and Shoshana. Was a bit tough leaving as I was worried about what was coming and how I was going to do it with out my number 1 supporters. I had never been apart from them anywhere near this duration and I had never been in a place were I could not even call to talk.  This was a part of the journey that had not really sunk in, until that moment.

The plane ride was pretty fast and we made it there without any dramas after a quick meal onboard.  On arrival we met David (tour guide) and we hit it off straight away.  We got to have a little tour around Port Moresby to check out what it all looked like before heading to the lodge where we would be staying that night. 

Right away it was clear I had never been to a country quite like PNG. There seemed to be people everywhere, little stalls everywhere selling things from beattlenut to diesel fuel.  There was lots of rubbish, things on fire and people carrying machetes.  That said, everyone seemed happy to see us.  Waving and saying hello as we drove past.

Just before heading to the Lodge, we stopped by the Bomana War Cemetery.  There is around 3000 souls buried there, including unknown graves, like in Europe. We were shown a few ones in particular which David shared stories about.  The place was both saddening and inspiring at the same time.

He told us about 2 VC winners and their battles and a 16 year old that had lied about his age and they gave the ultimate sacrifice.  He also told us about Kensington's guys and how they were the most decorated troops and they were all in the one squad.

David's last words were.
"They gave their today for our tomorrow"


We have a few people with us.  Jim and Penny (Father and Daugher),  Freddy (Daves friend), Allan and Tip.  Along with those people we have the other who I like to call The Kokoda Brothers.  My mate Allan and my brothers Peter and Steve.  We all enjoyed a dinner back at the lodge together and shared a few stories about other things we have done in our lives.

My back seems on the edge, it hasn't quite decided if it wants me to do the trip yet or not..  Fingers are crossed that the sleep helps, not makes it worse.  Either way, there is no real stopping me now.

Cant stop thinking about home already.  Lucky I have a few letters that the kids have written and a nice picture of the family to keep with me.

Tomorrow, the work starts.