01/07/2019 - Wewak / Papua New Guinea

In the morning, we drove to the airport with Carolyn again and said goodbye to her for now. Everywhere there were security personnel and we were greeted kindly by everyone, one even with a handshake. The people have all been very nice so far and grateful that we are visiting their country. Our flight to Wewak lasted one hour and twenty minutes. Upon arrival at the small airport, we followed the sign to the baggage claim. However, there was no baggage claim here, the suitcases were loaded off the plane onto large carts, which were pushed by employees to the "baggage claim" sign. There, they were placed on a wooden bench. It worked, our luggage was there. We were picked up directly by our guide Cyril. Before our tour on the Sepik River started, we spent a night in Wewak. We went together to the Catholic mission house, which was the cheapest accommodation we could get here for 70 euros. The prices here are really crazy :-/. We had a simple but cozy room. To share with the roommates a bathroom with shower and a well-equipped kitchen. After moving in, we took a short walk through the local market and a supermarket with Cyril. There was little vegetables to buy at the market and already the first typical wooden figures and necklaces. In the supermarket, there were even fewer vegetables, but a lot more canned food. There are incredibly many people on the streets, at the market and in all the shops, but only locals. Back at our accommodation, we cooked our own dinner for the first time in a long time. Spaghetti with tomato sauce. We managed to get some fresh spring onions at the market.

Starting tomorrow, we will be on the river and very excited to see what awaits us there.