My trip around the World 3 Two days on a plane

A couple thousand feet over the ocean, 11/12/2016

In the hope of getting a seat with enough legroom I finally got on the plane. Of course there wasn't enough space for my long legs, so I just tried to fit somehow in my seat, which got even harder when the person infront of me went to sleep and leaned back with his seat.

I mostly watched TV- Shows on the plane to Dubai, which was my first stop. I also tried to sleep for a bit, which worked out at the end, but unfortunately it was 15 minutes before the plane started to land. I don't regret that I didn't sleep, because in that way I could experience a stunning sunrise over Dubai.

Traveldiariesapp (to be continued) 

My trip around the World 2 The very last Goodbye

Munich, Germany, 11/11/2016

It was a really busy and hard day, getting everything done in time and saying goodbye to my family.
We went to get the last couple of things from the shopping mall and fixed the Problems with my insurance. Afterwards I had to buy my ticket to Osaka (Japan) already, because of New Zealand visa purposes. In that way they can be sure that I won't be there longer than 3 months.
Later that day my mom picked me up to go get 'lunch' with her and to wish me all the best.
I got back, packed the last pieces up and was ready to go. We loaded everything in the car and visited my grandma really quick before my dad drove me to the airport in Munich.
As we arrived at the airport at around 8pm, my dad and me already had to say farewell, due to the long line that was ahead of me. Of course I was a little bit sad, but also excited, because I knew that my journey begins now.... 

Traveldiariesapp (to be continued) 

My trip around the World 1 New Zealand

Getting nervous and excited
Seeham, Austria, 11/10.
My family threw me a big surprise farewell-party today and I absolutely loved it, having everyone around me for one last time before my adventure starts, but also I started to realise that it is getting pretty serious now.
It is one day before my flight to New Zealand and I am still trying to fit everything in my backpack and hope that i won't forget anything. The excitement is growing, but also I am getting really nervous about being on myself for such a long time. It is really early in the morning and I am still up, trying to install and download everything for my new phone and tablet, making sure that i won't get too bored on the flight since it is 25 hours on the plane, with stops in Dubai and Sydney before I finally arrive in Christchurch, NZ.
On the evening that day some friends came over to say goodbye for one last time and to wish me all the best on my adventure. We had lots of fun, even though it got a little emotional in the end.
Traveldiariesapp (to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 11 Boy could he scream!!

 Then the path we were on headed down slowly to the riverside for some time. We got to another bridge, except this one was much better built with proper supports. We crossed and found ourselves on the road again.

We headed back to the place with the bemo. We caught a bemo and on the bus there was a boy, about 4 years old. It was his first time in a vehicle, nevermind a crowded bemo.
Boy could he scream. He clearly was rattled by the whole experience and for the next 20 hours (at least that's what it felt like) he screamed on and on, with only a 1-2 second respite to get more breath. At first it was all rather funny, and the whole bemo was laughing as the kid threw tantrum after tantrum while his parents tried to calm him amid their laughing. But after over an hour of this, everyone was tired of it to say the least and the other small children were on the verge of crying over the rather traumatic experience.
Finally we got to  Wamena (longest short ride I've ever taken). My ears were still ringing. We headed back to town, I bought a mask and a traditional stone axe (still used to get sago). Penius joked that the next party in Canada I shoud go wearing nothing but the koteka, mask and holding the axe.
I got my stuff from the hotel, had a much needed shower, checked into the airport and managed to get on an earlier flight.

Ralf Kreuze

Papua Highlands 10 They Were Up To No Good

I had left a lot of my stuff in Wamena, including my antihistimines as I wasn't expecting to need them. Boy I was wrong. My allergies were kicking in full force and I didn't bring enough tissues to deal with the river coming from my nose. It was a very unpleasant part of the 3 days. When I was moving it wasnt bad but sitting still for any length and it got unbearable. (Not conducive to Penius' trekking style). Presumably it is adrenaline that is responsible for the suppression of the allergic response. 

After Penius cooked dinner and we ate, we headed to bed.
The next morning, I had tea and biscuits, and we headed off fairly early to ensure I would catch my afternoon flight.
We walked at some length along a path. For some time 3 teenage boys followed us. We would let them pass, but then they'd stop only to follow us again. Clearly they were intentionally following us. Penius picked up on this and told them to go ahead of us. He said they were up to no good. Penius showed me what a local grave was like. The hillsides are quite rocky 

and they have put the bodies inside rocky sides of hills partially protected, but nonetheless exposed. Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 9 Smoke Was Painful To My Eyes

We slowly made our way up. We passed through a small village growing various vegetables like garlic. A bit past the village, Penius decides to take a nap so he finds a bit of grassy area lays down and goes to sleep for 30 minutes. Meanwhile it was starting to rain with rain clouds obviously moving in. You could see them coming through the valley. Eventually he gets up and we move on. We find the next village where we would stay. It was a mix of western and traditional homes. 

He didn't seem to know where to go (which was strange as he had been here dozens of times before as I found later). Eventually he figured it out as the children came out to watch us. He found what passes for a hotel here.

As it was still only drizzling I headed out for a bit, and wandered into a walled home area, but the rain picked up so I headed back. Penius did the same as the day before cooking the same things in the little hut. I tried to stay but the smoke was painful to my eyes. 

Ralf Kreuze
(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 8 The trail was wet

Then we headed down the steep slope, and slippery and difficult it certainly was. The trail was still wet and with lots of loose rocks with a steep grade. It was a constant balancing act as you skidded down the trail. Penius actually outpaced me a bit here for once as he deftly made his way down with naught but flip-flops. I had my trail shoes.
We got to the bottom past some more traditional homes to a rickety looking bridge. It did use steel cables but the supports holding the cables were random tree branches/trunks propped up. Quantity over quality. Many of the boards were rotting and already broken through. Thankfully however there was a cable thorough the middle and the sides as well as hand rails.
After having reached the bottom, inevitably we had to go back up the other side of the valley (from top to bottom is about 800m elevation). So back up we went as the heat was in full force pounding on us. Vegetation was scarce and resembled a dry meadow and shade 

or a breeze were occasional.
Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 7 Old Men With Kotekas

So I headed  off to the viewpoint, down the mucky reeds in the village and up the side of the hill. I found the viewpoint and he was right, best view of the valley I got on the trip. I took my photos, and then so another potential viewpoint ahead. I was rather enjoying going at my own quick pace so I walked along for some distance, by a couple of the old men with kotekas (and while it did cover their member, that's all it covered). One such man was working his field and a few were just walking along the path. Only old men do it, so it is a traditional dying out. Within 10 years I suspect it will be nothing but a memory. 

I managed to get out to the 'viewpoint' but most of the view was blocked by one hill or another. You could see snippets of the river down below but not much. Nonetheless I enjoyed just doing something that didn't take an excessive time. (granted it did take about 1.5 hours).
I got back to the Kuring village and sat there eating lunch and taking a chunk out of my water. I bought a decorated koteka (I was assured it was unused) from a local man as well as a bamboo knife.
Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 6 He Was Also A Dwarf

In the morning, Penius cooked fried rice and shortly after we took off. This time it was much more slippery from the rain. The soil here is largely clay with a thin topsoil that is easily washed away if exposed (aka a trail). We clambered up the path to the main trail and then we were on our way. Penius forgot the eggs so he headed back while I walked ahead. I got out to a nice viewpoint with a breeze while I waited as locals passed me by as they headed to and fro. 

One person was a bit of a strange sight. It was a old man who was naked except for his koteka (think penis sheath), except he was also a dwarf. By this time, Penius caught up and we walked along. Eventually we came to a village called Kuring (I think). Penius told me there was a beautiful view up ahead but that our destination was to go down to the river.
Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 5 Food leftovers

It happened to be a local pastor who rents out his room. By the time we got inside it was pouring rain. I was hoping to go do some exploring as I had just spent 4 hours doing what would take me less than 2, but that plan was drenched.

Penius went off to cook food, and to his credit, it was well made. He made a vegetable dish, cooked rice with egg, and a few other things. He was surprised at how little I ate, and I was surprised at the sheer volume he ate. He packed his plate as much as could fit 3 times over and was still hungry. But we had a lot of food leftover nonetheless so we gave it to the pastor's family.
There were plugs but no electricity (not that I expected any) and the home itself was a more western style house. As it got dark I headed to bed.
Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands trek 4 I was getting annoyed.

And off we were again. Shortly after the roadway ended and we headed up the mountain side along a little trail. It was difficult but Penius certainly made it seem difficult. We had ladies in their 60's carrying heavy loads passing us easily. I was getting annoyed. 

He never really talked or gave information. If I asked a question it was a short curt response or he didn't know.
Lands here were divided by stone walls presumably to stop the pigs from escaping/entering. The walls could range from 1-2m high and used no mortar. Just stones placed carefully on each other. 

There would be a few sticks or branches that worked as a ladder to get over (if a branch placed diagonally can be called a ladder).
After going vertical for some time, we got to a horizontal trail which we followed for a while through a couple small villages. A few drops of water were falling from the sky, when we veered off the path to the first homestay.

Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued) 

Papua Highlands 3 Male pride

We started off over the rocks to the other side where the road resumed. We walked along for some time, passing various farms and homes. My guide throughout was a very slow walker especially by NG standards. He was young and fit with dreadlocks down the back, but didn't like to walk fast and seemed to need to take a long break every 5 minutes. I would ask him if there was a problem, but he just grunted. Male pride. 

Not sure if he was just lazy or if there was something else.
We would stop several times to get the betel nuts for him, or cigarettes, or candy. Eventually we came up to the police stop where they took my suran jalat photocopy for records. They had a strange bird with a vague resemblance to an owl tied up.
A few minutes past we were at another police station and they got my last photocopy and stamped it.
Ralf Kreuze

(to be continued)