Asia Transpacific Journeys (ATJ) announces a new itinerary called "Papua New Guinea Island in the Clouds", that features a three-night cruise on the legendary Sepik River (Nov. 7, 2006)

Asia Transpacific Journeys (ATJ) announces a new itinerary called "Papua New Guinea Island in the Clouds", that features a three-night cruise on the legendary Sepik River
Some of the last discoveries of human communities were made in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the 1930s. At the time of first contact, the tribes were living in thriving Stone Age agricultural communities and believed they were the only people on earth. Though some things have changed on this island in the past 70 years, many have not.

Asia Transpacific Journeys (ATJ) announces a new itinerary called Papua New Guinea Island in the Clouds, that features the Tumbuna Sing-Sing. The departure is May 20, 2007. This is an intensive 16-day journey through a wildly diverse land with hundreds of distinct tribes speaking mutually unintelligible languages (850 distinct tongues have been documented).

These people still cultivate yam and taro, scavenge the forest for edible fruits and animals, and live in symbiosis with their livestock (women are known to suckle piglets).

Join the locals in celebrating the spectacular Tumbuna Sing-Sing. "Tumbuna" means "ancestors" in Tok Pisin (the lingua franca of Papua New Guinea). This sing-sing celebrates "Taim Bilong Tumbuna" (the time that belonged to the indigenous people, i.e. pre-European contact.)

"It's as though you are stepping back through the millennia, to glimpse human societies from 6,000 years ago," says Marilyn Downing Staff, CEO, of the company that has conducted tours to PNG for over a decade and that has delved into the heart and soul of one Asian and Pacific Rim destination after another for nearly 20 years.

"Our passion and pursuit on this journey is to witness the ways in which this intriguing jumble of people co-exist with complex tribal liaisons, mutually unintelligible tongues, wild cultural celebrations and ancient agricultural practices," says Downin Staff.

The land cost of $7,395 per person (double) includes Papua New Guinea's best eco-lodges, expert tour leadership, most meals including local beer, medical and evacuation insurance and more. Single supplements are $1,200. International airfare and internal airfare is additional.

Downing Staff says it's no accident that the costumes and masks of the indigenous people often resemble its fabled bird of paradise. Opportunities abound for bird watching and exploring flora and fauna, including cloud forest orchids, in addition to the fascinating anthropological immersion.

Guests fly from Port Moresby to four PNG destinations in this mountainous country.

THE CRUISE
There is also a three-night cruise on the legendary Sepik River, home to the remote tribal Sepik people famous for their complex ancestor cults, rich artistic tradition and their extraordinary ceremonial houses known as haus tambaran.

Guests will be transfered to the Sepik Spirit to begin the cruise portion of the trip.

After boarding the motor vessel Sepik Spirit, we will begin our voyage of discovery into the mystical world of the Sepik region where the spirit world and the peoples everyday life merge in a fascinating mixture of ceremonies, carvings and haus tamberans. During the next few days, the Sepik Spirit will transport you in air-conditioned comfort along the mighty Sepik river.

During our cruise we'll mingle with the friendly people and experience a culture that encounters few outsiders annually. Long after you have left the lush jungle, raucous birds, spirit houses and carvings, and endless water ways, the mysticism of the Sepik will remain unforgettably etched in your memory. Each village has its own ceremonial house that is decorated with monumental masks and many carved objects.

There are a variety of objects that can be purchased on these visits. They include elaborately carved hooks, ancestral figures, hand drums, baskets, bilums, gourds and many other interesting items.

Constructed in 1989 and refurbished in early-2006, the Sepik Spirit was built to suit the demands of a shallow draft expeditionary vessel for navigating inland waterways. Its shallow draft allows passage into the heart of the Sepik River and areas not otherwise accessible to larger vessels.
Venture to the area Papua New Guinea is most famous for in unparalleled comfort and security. The Sepik Spirit complies with the most rigid of safety standards including the American Bureau of Shipping regulations.

The Sepik Spirit accommodates 16 passengers in 8 cabins, each with private bathroom. Facilities aboard also include a dining room, lounge, bar, video and covered observatory deck. The entire vessel is air-conditioned. Because the Sepik Spirit is the ideal size for exploration, it provides intimate exposure to the area without the mass tourism often experienced elsewhere.

TUMBUNA SING-SING
Along the way there will be a stop for the intimate and untouristed Tumbuna Sing-Sing. Local tribes assemble for a spirited and colorful celebration and competition of dancing, costumes, and other tribal arts and customs. Sing-sings are a psychedelic smorgasbord of ritualized ancient theater paraded to vocal accompaniment.

The chanting of each tribe is alternately haunting, happy or warlike, and ranges from dizzying whoops to subtle, wind-like murmurs. Participants take exceptional pride in representing their tribe's unique garb and rituals. Far from being a staged event for tourists, sing-sing competitions have a long tradition, and jealous losers have in the past been known to wage actual war on the winning tribe.

The tour leader is Ari Bond, born and raised in Southeast Asia and educated in Europe. He has led and managed expeditions for over 30 years on all seven continents, including numerous tours in Papua New Guinea.

Asia Transpacific Journeys has been crafting private Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips to the Asia/Pacific region since 1987.

(Source: Asia Transpacific Journeys)