Lealea, Central Province, Papua New Guinea

Last Sunday, a friend of mine woke me up. Apparently, my friends all planned on going for a coconut run so off we went to Lealea in a two-car convoy. The road was paved from Poreporena all the way to an area where the massive gas development area is. Before you hit a village called Papa, the road becomes full of potholes which continues all the way until you reach Lealea. 

leaving Port Moresby.

the road is sealed and was bare of any other vehicles.

the Chinese have a sign that says they're developing te road between Papa and Lealea but it was full of potholes when we drove through.

At Lealea, the first thing you notice is a footbridge that is about a little over 200 metres long. It is a precarious bridge and you would need sea legs to cross it as it sways with the wind. The village is situated in a natural bay with plenty of mangroves. When you cross the bridge, you reach the main village. Here, a bustling community thrives. The locals are fishermen, coconut harvesters and crab men. 

the footbridge isn't even and sways with the wind.

there are several sandbars you can walk on.

here i am on the footbridge.

Upon reaching the other side, I noticed people carrying containers of water as there is no water on the island. They had wells where they kept their water. There are plenty of children on the island and from my brief time there, they seemed to be having the time of their lives frolicking in the water. I guess this is what some call paradise. 

you can see that the bridge spans the width of the estuary.

the village centre.

there's a united church in the village.

i thought this was a drum but it's really a well.

it goes down about 8 metres.

kids playing in the water.

some kids jumping off boats.

My friend Phil started hacking some coconuts that were gathered by the locals for us. These coconuts which were full of juice and delicious! We all had our fill and then proceeded to go back to Port Moresby.

look at the juice bursting out of the coconut!

the machete used in opening the coconuts.

what's a coconut amongst friends?

It was a fun respite from my work and I always look forward to these brief runs with my friends around Central province. I encourage everyone who comes to Port Moresby to have a drive around Central province. It is only after you leave Port Moresby that you get to experiene the real Papua New Guinea!  

the sand was hot and my shoes' soles literally melted. well, the glue did.

parting shot - here's Olie and I in Mindy's sunglass' reflection.