Eastern Highlands-Goroka Show

Tuesday PNG celebrated its 33rd year of independence. Many Papua New Guineans and tourists flock to the Eastern Highlands Province for the Goroka Show. The Goroka Show is considered the best singsing festival in the highlands and it is held annually during the Independence Day weekend. The Lonely Planet says the costumes alone rival Rio de Janeiro at Carnivale time! I have been to the Madang Festival as well as the Divine Word University Cultural Show and by far the Goroka Show was the best yet. Highlanders are skilled in decorating themselves with traditional costumes and elaborate face paintings.


Among my favorite singsing groups are the Asaro Mud Men. These warrior men traditionally cover themselves in grey mud and wear big mud masks. In stark contrast to the high energy dancing and singing of the other singsings, the mud men walked in a slow, deliberate manner. It reminded me of that creepy feeling you get when watching the “bad guy” sneak up on the victim in a scary movie.


Apart from the costumes and endless supplies of woven bilums, we enjoyed traditional mamboo and trekking up the majestic mountains. Bill, a physiotherapist at Goroka Hospital, preparing the mamboo

Of course I had to get my hands into things!




The Highlands, as described by Lonely Planet, are dramatic and beautiful, with wide, fertile valleys, streams and rivers, and seemingly endless, saw-toothed mountains. It is also the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of PNG. The highlands are made up of a series of valleys and rugged intervening mountains that form the watershed for some of the world’s largest rivers, including the Ramu and Sepik.


Typical Highlands Village hut!
Goroka is the main town of the Eastern Highlands Province as well as the center of PNG’s coffee industry.

.....to be continued when I get more internet time! Life in the developing world eh?!?! I have soooo many wonderful pics that I hope to be able to upload :)