Sananada Day 1

Day 12

Later wake up this morning, however I did get up about 5 to look at the sunrise but it was cloudy so I went back to bed.

For breakfast Gybe made French toast, toast, muesli and a big pancake.  It was fantastic!  After a slow morning we go back into the boat and headed up to Buna. It only took 20 min and it was much smoother.  We arrived at Buna and learnt that a lot of fighting took place here.  We arrived right where the Japanese had. We walked through the town looking at war memorabilia.  The garden beds around the town were made from Bren gun holders they used during the war.  In one persons garden they had everything from drink bottles to ammo, road building parts and grenades.  I learnt that these people charge 5 Kina for us to come in and have a look around.  Good little business they have going .

We walked a little more and we found a mountain gun and engine from a bomber.  We also came across some bunkers that the Japanese had built when they were digging in trying to stop being pushed further back to the beach.  They had a lot of time to build them and they were pretty amazing to see how they dig them into the ground to hide them. Everything would grow over the top and it would be hard to spot them.  They built them in a 5 bunker system where they could look after each other.  Made it near impossible to get them out of them and move them on.  A lot of men died here cause they were trying to finish the war and trying to do that as fast as they could, without taking all the time needed to clear the bunker systems.

On the way back to the beach we stopped at a school and went inside.  They were teaching grade 3.  The kids all said good morning and we all introduced ourselves.  It was a very nice experience and I know Peter would have loved it.

We only had one more thing to see and it was the mountain gun.  David also told us about how the area was during the way.  Dead and dying men everywhere, mud, mossie.  166 lives were lost in the section of the campaign, not to mention all the local people caught up in the war.

Newman had a big chat to Allan and I about how the village was affected and how there was only 1 person in the entire village that spoke English.  The stories had been passed down form his father and his family.

Then it was time for another swim, except this time the village kids joined us.  It was a pretty fun time and was good bonding with the local kids.  I learnt that kids love the same type of games the world over.  This was fun, but also a little sad at the same time wishing my own kids were here to enjoy it as well.

I got another message of congratulations on finishing the track.  I was very teary when trying to read it out to everyone.

We got served another amazing dinner from Gybe.  Fried rice, pizza and chicken curry.  He did a great job.  So much better than dried noodles  :D

After dinner we had a talk from an elder of the village about the war and how it effected the local people.  It was a good story, he told it well and a good way of hearing it.

Not long now!