Madang  - Culture

Papua New Guinea's climate is tropical, as one would expect in a country located just south of the Equator. December to March is the wet season, although occasional rain falls year-round. While Port Moresby, the capital, and other towns on the coast are quite hot in the summer months, temperatures are considerable cooler in the Highlands. July, August, and September are the best months for trekking vacations.

The Christian church has been extraordinarily influential throughout PNG with most Papua New Guineans regarding themselves as Christians, the largest denominations are Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and United. Pantheistic beliefs are also widespread and traditional rituals are integral to Papuan culture. For example, people who live in danger of crocodile attacks are likely to give crocodiles an important role in their culture, while farming communities often place much emphasis on the weather, accordingly celebrating fertility and harvest. Placating the spirits of ancestors is a dominant theme in traditional beliefs, while the fear of practices such as sorcery and witchcraft is also widespread.

Madang Province consists of a fertile coastal strip backed by some of the most rugged mountains in PNG. Offshore is a string of interesting - some still active - volcanic islands. Lying in the middle of the coastal stretch is the town of Madang, often described as 'the prettiest in the Pacific'. Perched on a peninsula jutting into the sea, Madang is smattered with parks, ponds, waterways and has plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and diving. It also has excellent accommodation and food. Kranket Island, across from Madang, has several villages and a beautiful lagoon, while Long Island, east of Madang, is renowned for its abundant bird life. This extremely picturesque town is the perfect base for scuba diving expeditions of all experience levels. The coral reefs of the Bismarck Sea are home to many rare species of colourful fish and eels. Especially fascinating are the underwater wrecks of 34 Japanese fighter planes, with weapons and cargo intact.

Islands

From Madang, it's an easy boat ride to the island of Manam, formed by a still-active volcano. Trekkers can hike up the southern side of the 6,000-foot volcano, but they shouldn't expect to reach the summit - steam bursting out of the volcano's top forms an almost constant cloud cover.