Hi all, as a 3 year resident of Port Moresby (POM) I thought I might give a quick general insight into getting into the country (and out) and some information about Jackson's Airport (POM's equivalent to Kingsford Smith, Sydney) and other bits and pieces.
Now having said that if you were on the QF side of the PX flight (they codeshare remember) do all that and when you get to where you are going IMMEDIATELY ring QF baggage (or in my case I got onto QFF and they normally dealt with it) and explain that the guys at Jacksons have no idea what they are on about and get QF to follow up from OZ. Simple yet effective.
Once through customs and bag check (they now have an actual scanning machine and love to use it, the rest of the time it is still by hand), you are into the smelly freedom of the arrivals area - don't get excited she ain't pretty! If you are a first timer DO NOT leave unless there is someone there to pick you up (there are really no taxi's in town any expat would use and no public transport for expats. I do know of two sanctioned taxi companies but you will need to pre order and they normally only work via invoicing, no cash and no cards). If you have to go to domestic, find a guard and make them physically walk you down to the domestic terminal unless you are in a group of three or more. Sounds stupid but I can assure you many an unsuspecting expat has found themselves in trouble on that short, flat, straight walk.
And you're off! Well done you made it into the paradise that is PNG, land of the lost, home of over 800 languages, fab coffee, stinky nationals, corrupt Pollies, potholes, trade winds and a load more fab stuff.
You're in town, now what?
B) Rescheduled and you won't be told, I have arrived at regional airports twice, one time over an hour early to be told the flight has gone, yes MY FLIGHT, or the complete opposite, arrived on time and checked in with ticket to then work out (because there was no plane) that they had 'rescheduled' that day and I would be going 4 or 5 hours later, cheers for the warning (note to selves, the concept of 'exec' lounges in PNG is NOT what you think) and most regional airports don't have one.
C) or finally. Just not show up.
If you do have a little spare time, PNG is an absolutey magnificent place, the people truly are a wonderful culture to behold and will bend over backwards to accomoodate you when and if they can (POM is different as there is 90% unemployment and the nationals are desperate - I would be too). I've been pretty lucky since being here and seen, Madang, Goroka, Lae, Tari, Kavieng, Tufi, Alotau and various areas of POM and can give you decent enough info on all if you want any knowledge on them. Tufi Dive resort is probably my favorite place as it is easy to get to (45 mins via plane) and incredibly isolated with plane or boat being the only access routes. It sits on top of some of the only troical fjords in the world and it simply breath taking, great fishing, diving, relaxing, drinking, eating, ahhhhhh it's all good.
Leaving, either you regional airport to get to POM or getting out of POM .........
Most importantly, have fun, we do.
- Air Niugini's (PX) recently updated website airniugini.com.pg do not give a huge amount of information that is helpful unless you know how to decipher it, nor at last check (about 5 minutes ago to be precise) to they have seat mapping.
- Once Qantas began flying POM - CNS I have not flown PX again (personal choice, just had to much drama over 3 years) but I can help with who, why and how if anyone has any main questions about the.
- Coming into the country. Don't dally! There are still only three lines, 1. POM residents/flightcrew/diplomats 2. Permanent resident/work permit holders/have visa (my queue) and 3. Need your visa. Each is normally only staffed by 1 officer (liberal term) and they are NOT in any hurry. (So far my longest stint is 68 minutes in line) There is a bathroom on this side of customs but they are generally locked and no one ever has a key so do yourself a favour and make the WC the last stop before your plane lands.
Now having said that if you were on the QF side of the PX flight (they codeshare remember) do all that and when you get to where you are going IMMEDIATELY ring QF baggage (or in my case I got onto QFF and they normally dealt with it) and explain that the guys at Jacksons have no idea what they are on about and get QF to follow up from OZ. Simple yet effective.
Once through customs and bag check (they now have an actual scanning machine and love to use it, the rest of the time it is still by hand), you are into the smelly freedom of the arrivals area - don't get excited she ain't pretty! If you are a first timer DO NOT leave unless there is someone there to pick you up (there are really no taxi's in town any expat would use and no public transport for expats. I do know of two sanctioned taxi companies but you will need to pre order and they normally only work via invoicing, no cash and no cards). If you have to go to domestic, find a guard and make them physically walk you down to the domestic terminal unless you are in a group of three or more. Sounds stupid but I can assure you many an unsuspecting expat has found themselves in trouble on that short, flat, straight walk.
And you're off! Well done you made it into the paradise that is PNG, land of the lost, home of over 800 languages, fab coffee, stinky nationals, corrupt Pollies, potholes, trade winds and a load more fab stuff.
You're in town, now what?
- Depends how long you are here and what you are doing, one would hope that you have either work connections or family/friends to guide you around, Moresby isn't the sort of place to 'la-de-dah' or 'amble' around without a bloody good reason and even then I wouldn't do it. NO WALKING, it's just not worth it. Nine times out of ten you will 'probably' be fine, BUT in this joint when ya ain't, ya ain't! In car's, doors locked, windows up. It is just the way it is. Car jackings are a normal everyday, all day, occurence, at round abouts, sitting in traffic, stuck in traffic in town, driving up the highway and being stopped by fake police, everywhere. Factory made weaponery has become the norm along with their home made jobs (more danergous due to the nature of making 'firing' instruments from trees) the only good thing about the factory jobs is once the little buggers have bought the black market gun they normally can't afford the bullets but I am not stopping to check that little requirement, are you!
- There are some great restaurants in town, some of which look like you would die of salmonella just entering, but they are normally the best ones to eat in (let me know if you want some tips)
- Local travel (via PX or APNG) is always such an exciting times in PNG, it's kind of like the lottery but you're not sure whether you are about to be conscripted or win cash, both have their pro's and con's I might add. Domestic travel is to put it bluntly spiggin hopeless. The majority of times (to date for me at least 89%) the flights can be either,
B) Rescheduled and you won't be told, I have arrived at regional airports twice, one time over an hour early to be told the flight has gone, yes MY FLIGHT, or the complete opposite, arrived on time and checked in with ticket to then work out (because there was no plane) that they had 'rescheduled' that day and I would be going 4 or 5 hours later, cheers for the warning (note to selves, the concept of 'exec' lounges in PNG is NOT what you think) and most regional airports don't have one.
C) or finally. Just not show up.
If you do have a little spare time, PNG is an absolutey magnificent place, the people truly are a wonderful culture to behold and will bend over backwards to accomoodate you when and if they can (POM is different as there is 90% unemployment and the nationals are desperate - I would be too). I've been pretty lucky since being here and seen, Madang, Goroka, Lae, Tari, Kavieng, Tufi, Alotau and various areas of POM and can give you decent enough info on all if you want any knowledge on them. Tufi Dive resort is probably my favorite place as it is easy to get to (45 mins via plane) and incredibly isolated with plane or boat being the only access routes. It sits on top of some of the only troical fjords in the world and it simply breath taking, great fishing, diving, relaxing, drinking, eating, ahhhhhh it's all good.
Leaving, either you regional airport to get to POM or getting out of POM .........
- Go early and I mean early, check in and go away again if you like. There have been many an occassion that we will go to the airport at 7:30 to check in for a 14:30 flight and if you are there in busy times (normally anything to do with school holidays) when you get onboard (and again DO NOT DALLY) sit in your seat and do not move, I'm serious. This also goes for domestic flights. Then by chance - and it happens regularly - that Mr Smith or Mrs Smith comes to your seat shows his or her ticket and says and I quote "I'm sorry but I think you are in my seat" and you hold up your ticket with the same seat number and letter and answer with "No apologies necessary as this is my seat!!!" I promise you the 'first-in-best-dressed' thing works every time. I know, I have done it once and have had numerous friends who have been on the good end and bad end of that little scenario. POM's not so bad, but when you want to get out of stinky ol' Lae or somewhere whose concept of 'airport' is round open hut with buai spit everywhere, be there first.
- POM customs is normally fine, takes some time but it is cleaner and newer than arrivals, okay well slightly but everything 'slightly' in POM is fabulous. Now probably the only thing you have to watch (and i just simply find it annoying because it drives me to usless 'but the law states' is) when you get into departure - after customs and such - do not buy any water to take onboard. There is a final bag search as you show your passport and ticket and they take it off you. Yes, yes I know 'but we've been through customs' I hear you cry. Don't matter sucker, we got you good and proper. And no, for heavens sake they don't throw your purchases out, they drink them later. Ahhh PNG where would we be without you.
Most importantly, have fun, we do.