Island Life

My Island home.....Sawasawaga village, Sariba Is.

Bubui Sinebada - Deheni Nadile
Bubui Taubada-Eliah Nadile















My beautiful daughter Meki Meki

Escape to Sariba!

By December last year, the rain had subsided and the weather was warming up. Blue skies, crystal clear waters and the sweet smell of holidays beckoned me.

All I could think of was stepping on the boat with my son and heading for the islands.

As is the norm at Wanigili, the last quarter of the year is always hectic with school camps, conferences etc. so by the time Christmas was at our doorstep, I was ready for a change of scenery!

Home for us is Sawasawaga Village, Sariba Island which is approximately 2 hours South East of Alotau by speed boat and about 4 hours via local workboat. The well known China Strait runs between Sariba and the mainland. This is the passage one has to pass through in order to reach the famous Samarai and Kwato Islands.

I grew up in the village until I was about 4 years old. During this period I was raised by my bubus (grandparents) who became more like mum and dad to me.

I love returning home to my family and being able to share the experience with my son who thoroughly enjoys it! We ended up spending 3 blissful (and adventurous) weeks at home. Take a look.
View of Kailaulauwai Is. from Sawasawaga beachfront

One of the two huge mango trees at the front of the village.

They were planted by my grandfather many years ago. Kaure's little Aunties- Cynthia,Sharon & Hilda
Home sweet home. We often pack a tent if the house is too full.
The village church. Sunday is a big day with everyone traveling from the other side of the island or paddling from nearby villages to attend church with their families.
View of Walatonoli Bay from inside the church.

I love the simplicity of home life

Chooks in church.

The concrete floor has historical significance as it was built by the US Navy during the Battle of the Coral Sea. I recently discovered that it was the 84th Battalion Sea Bees from The US Navy who set up camp at our village in 1943. Sawasawaga was a base for the Catalina Sea Planes. The 84th Battalion were in charge of the building and construction of airstrips, warves, buildings etc. during the war. At Sawasawaga they built a dam, mess house and warf. The dam still exists and the concrete floor of the mess house is now the base for our local church. There is also a pontoon buried underwater at the front of the village. Once I get my divers licence, I plan to dive around the bay and see if there are any other war relics to be found.

More piccies from 2007 (Nov.-Dec)

4th Annual Milne Bay Canoe Festival
Right after the SPREP conference in October last year we had the Canoe Festival. This is an annual event and usually falls in the first week-end of November. Last year was the 4th Canoe Festival to be hosted in the province and one of the best I've seen so far. It is the only festival of its kind in the country and each year it seems to improve with more and more tourists and participants attending. Last year The Milne Bay Tourism Industry group (MBTIG) of which I am a member, played an instrumental role in sourcing additional funding for the event. We managed to secure K30,000.00 sponsorship from Telikom so that was quite a significant achievement for us. Milne Bay being a maritime province, has an amazing range of canoes. I had no idea we had so many different types until I attended the festival.

The market warf was transformed into a VIP area.

Guess who's in the red cap? Yes, it's Habona. The waterfront was crowded as people watched and

cheered for the different canoe races.

These kids had the best view.
Many of the villagers came from distant islands and spent months preparing the canoes and themselves for the event. Most of the preparations are usually conducted in secret with only men in attendance. Often women are not permitted to witness any of the preparations or even set foot in the canoes.

Where there's an occassion to celebrate in PNG, you will always find

pigs and vegetables

Young Milne Bay girls in traditional dress.

These girls are from the Suau area. Young warriors in bilas.

Milne Bay is known for its pandanus baskets and mats

Trobriand Island Carvings

Hand crafted shell jewellery and bilas from Cape Vogel area.

The MBTIG Stall or hut rather. We decided on "Tiggy's Jungle Juice Cafe"

and sold freshly blended fruit juices, water and t-shirts. Pam with a glass of fresh fruit juice. It was a stinking hot day so the

juice bar was a great idea, we certainly had a lot of people dropping in.

Jayesh & son checking out the EMB Canoe Festival t-shirts.
It was great to catch up with dearest Jude,

whom I rarely see as she lives in Lae (Morobe Province)

My Milne Bay sisters and friends for life-Bella Jude & Tuki

with a very unhappy Kaure. Maus o? A4 (Yes, that's his name,well... nickname!) and another

Napatana staff preparing the yummy juices.

Mipla squad ya! Pam Swanson (Napatana Manager) and Habona.

It's all about the t-shirts in PNG! German tourists in Wanigili Centre t-shirts.

Tina Arek-EMB staff in one of the SPREP t-shirts.

Ellen Mesibere-EMTV host wearing one of my own t-shirt designs

"Wotcha lookin' at?" Kaure acting kuti! (Yeah, I can just see him at 18!)

One of the attractions last year was the participation of a Hawaiian team. They were a great bunch of guys who came over with their outrigger canoe to race against the local teams. I have fond memories of the night the Hawaiians cooked dinner (fish they'd caught that day) for us all. We (MBTIG members and Telikom officials) all ended up at Rabe at Peter and Rita Tarumuri's place by the sea, ate great fish, drank plenty and sang along with the guitar under the light of the coleman lamp.Everyone had a great time. Pam Swanson,always the life of the party, even did some boogying with Kala'i the hunky Hawaiian. It didn't matter if we sang out of tune or forgot the words, we had fun and enjoyed the moment, that was all that mattered.

Other memorable moments last year.....

Kaure's favourite pastime is climbing trees.

Heading to the car wash....Dion & Kaure.

Dion was a uni graduate from Adelaide,South Australia (ples blo mi!) visiting PNG for the first time. He was a guest at Wanigili but ended up being more like part of the family. He was a really great guy and was so keen to explore PNG, I ended up referring him to Robert's family so he could travel to Chimbu and check out the highlands. Needless to say, he returned with plenty of stories!One of the causeways towards East Cape.....

a favourite spot for people to wash their cars

We went with Jeanie & family to help wash their ute and have a swim.

"Show us your muscles Mama!" Jeanie having fun.

Zuriel having a swing on the vine!

A quick squiz at 2007 (Sept. - Oct.)

Gudi! Yes, it's been quite a while since I've posted anything on the blog, from Oct.- Dec. last year, we were flat out. What with a major international conference (SPREP-the biggest Alotau had ever seen let alone hosted!), canoe festival and a zillion kids for camps (ok, a few hundred!), xmas functions hic... etc....there just wasn't enough time in the day to sit in front of the computer and update you on all the headaches and fun I was having! So here's a quick flash back to Sept. last year and I'll try not to bore you with too much text, enjoy the piccies!

Father’s day: Sunday 2nd September
MBTIG (Milne Bay Tourism Industry Group) hosted a Father’s Fun Day at Island Adventure Tours Recreation Park at Divinai (about 25mins drive East of Alotau). The event was held to assist the Milne Bay Tourism Bureau to raise funds to promote the province at the PNG Tourism Expo in Port Moresby (Holiday Inn,11-15 Sept.'07).

The Dads-as long as the beers are there, they're happy.

The day was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all, especially the Dads. Napatana Lodge, Alotau International Hotel, Milne Bay Magic Tours, Education Milne Bay, Driftwood, Masurina Lodge & Island Adventure Tours put in a combined effort to ensure everyone had plenty of good food and drinks. Since it was a fun day, we also set up some games for the Dads just to ensure the rest of us were entertained! It was a great day, probably the best Father’s Day I’ve ever been to! We even managed to raise a fair amount of money on the day, it was certainly nice to see the local business community turning up to show their support. Long after the guests had left, the MBTIG members stayed well into the evening to tidy up (errrrm…..and polish off the last of the wine!) before heading back into town. The drive back took a little bit longer (blame it on Pat and her toilet stop!) but was just as entertaining with everyone singing (well, some of us were trying to!), laughing and complaining about me hitting all the pot holes!

Island Adventure Tours Recreation Park- Divinai
The jetty with view of Kellerton Island in the distance.

Island Adventure Tours offer glass bottom boat tours around

the bay & islands, they also have bungalows and a bar on site.

The little haus win by the sea

The mums (except Christine from Masurina 2nd from the left)

The boys jamming at the back of the ute! Go Miah!

Ahh Miline Bay Gels......da way you smile!

Beautiful flowers from Napatana

Pam's scrumptious week-end biccies!

Bruce, ever ready with the wine!

Ai ai time!

Member for Alotau Open and Minister for Culture & Tourism

Hon. Charles Abel also took part in the fun & games!This one's the 3 coconut relay. Coconut scraping was a bit of a challenge for some!
Bring it on!

Jayesh & Peter, before the 3-legged race & looking slightly tipsy.

Jayesh & Peter, after the race!

MBTIG members: (L-R,Back) Maxine,Jayesh TN,Pam Swanson,

(L-R,Front) Christina Aule, Maleta Tokwakwasi & Patricia Sinyoi (missing is Rita Tarumuri) Tyson Neville also celebrated his birthday with a huge cake

shared by all.The kids had a cake fight afterwards.

Independence Day - September 16 2007
Alice Wedega Park, Alotau

Habona-acting police man! Beautiful Bilums & Cane baskets from Ialibu in the Southern Highlands Province


"Kapwa" Charlie Graham and coconut! Not only is this Misiman guy hilarious and a great friend, he is also a wealth of information on anything to do with Milne Bay.
Beautiful Milne Bay faces

SPREP Conference 22-26 Oct.2007

More than 500 participants arrived on our shores from throughout the Pacific,Europe and the US to attend the conference. It was a huge challenge for a small town like Alotau and a mammoth task trying to accommodate everyone, but despite all the hurdles, it turned out to be a highly successful event with a lot of positive feed back from the participants, many of whom were initially scared to come to PNG. After a few days in Alotau experiencing our hospitality and friendliness though, they were happy they came.

(South Pacific Regional Environment Program Conference)

Wanigili Centre



The haus win was used as a meeting place for the many break out sessions.


The Closing Dinner at Wanigili -. Milne Bay style feast. We hosted the dinner for over 600 people and decided on an authentic Milne Bay theme. The guests sat under the stars on woven coconut mats,ate from coconut woven baskets and used their hands or coconut forks to eat. They loved it! It was funny seeing all these dimdims (foreigners) sitting on the ground, but they felt right at home and I was so proud (and relieved!) everything went off without a hitch. This is how we eat at home during village gatherings.

Vivien -the bird specialist from New Caledonia digging into the local cuisine.With the assistance of the church groups we prepared several roasted pigs, traditional claypot food cooked over the fire, sea food galore, fresh fruits, vegetables and salads.

New Guinea Islands Dance Troup
Kate Brown from Samoa-SPREP Conference Manager.

Kate is an amazing woman, she was an inspiration to work with, not to mention a tonne of fun, along with Vainuupo Jungblut, Ruth Pune and the rest of the SPREP team.

Bubu Anna and Cousin Taube visit Alotau

Mums Anna Nilkare

Kaure's paternal grandma or Bubu Anna came over for his birthday along with Kaure's little cousin sister Taube (Rob's younger brother JJ and Anna Usurup's daughter). They both ended up staying with us for about a week. Mums Anna, as she's affectionately known, was quite content, as long as she had her supply of buai (betel nut), she was happy. It was her first time to spend quality time with her grandson since he was born, so both she and Taube got to know Kaure a bit better and vice versa.
If you can't find an umbrella, grab a banana leaf!
Mums Anna,Little Taube Nilkare and Rosita William
Jamon Simpson- " Max, This banana leaf is so not cool!"

There were some hilarious moments. Taube speaks only tok pisin (Pidgin English) while Kaure speaks only English so watching them communicate was priceless! Taube, although younger than Kaure, has a very strong personality and is quite vocal. She had no qualms in telling Kaure off if she wasn't happy with him, and even though he didn't understand a word she said, he responded right back in English. By the the end of the week Kaure had started saying some pidgin phrases like " Mi les!" and Taube was also saying some English words like "Enough Talking!".
Brekky time for Taube and Kaure-one minute they're smiling,

the next they're scowling!
Taube is just adorable, at 2 years of age she's a little Sine-bada (old woman), very independent with a cheeky streak. I don't think Kaure knew quite how to handle her. After much squabbling though, by the end of the week, they were best of friends.
All dressed up at Gurney Airport

They look so cute!
(L-R) Patty Sinyoi with Taube,Lucy at the back,Mums and Maxine

It was lovely having them over. Both Kaure and I enjoyed their company and I know my friends and family really took to Mums Anna. She's very down to earth, open and I think she enjoyed the change of scenery after being in Moresby all the time. She's already made plans to return soon. I've suggested that perhaps the next time she visits, Kaure and I might take her swimming and snorkelling at our village on Sariba Is.
"Yeah Daddy, Bubu Mums is coming on da plane now,

can you pick her up at da airport?
A tearful Mums Anna saying final good byes to her bubu.

Kaure's 3rd Birthday Party

Kaure and friends, preparing to blow out the candles.

Each year we try to do something a little different for Kaure's birthday. When he was born, his father (Robert Nilkare) would buy a muffin from Andersons Foodland in Moresby (they have the best muffins in Pom). We'd put a candle on it and sing Happy Birthday to him when he was just a week old, two weeks old and so on until he was a few months old.

The cake from Alotau Int'l Hotel

On his first birthday (we'd already moved to Alotau) I held a small party for him at Wanigili with close friends and family and as usual cooked waaay too much food with the help of our fantastic chef Richie. First birthday's being a big deal,his father had to do it the "Chimbu" way and hosted a HUGE party at Bluff Inn, Port Moresby.We flew to Pom for the event. Rob must have invited about a hundred people (most were his side of the family and numerous friends), then there was the live band, coke bouncing castle, two huge pigs and lots of food. We must have brought back 7 rainbow bags full of nothing but Kaure's presents. We were still opening them by X-mas! So yes, being the only child of the first born son of the Nilkares , he is spoilt (especially by his father who lives in Pom and rarely sees him). One of the many things Rob and I differ in is that with him it's all about excess whereas for me, I like to keep things simple and uncomplicated.

Mum and all the young Aunties put on a feast!

Kaure's second birthday was a more intimate affair at Napatana Lodge. It was a lovely day, the Napatana staff did a wonderful job with catering, and decorating the place. They really took care of us and Kaure had his little play mates over. I baked the cake,his father also turned up. No pigs this time! Just a normal kids party with party hats, games and finger food of course there was wine and beer for the adults too. We even had Alotau's "local celebrity" Habona turn up.

Robert's mother-Bubu Mums Anna flew in from Moresby along

Kaure's little cousin sister Taube for his party.

This year, I booked Island Adventure Tours (IAT)Recreation Park at Divinai (@ 25 mins drive out of Alotau). We packed all of Kaure's pals into the IAT van and drove them out to the park which is on the beach front. It was a cloudy day but we managed to cross the rivers without too much drama and despite a little bit of rain, the weather cleared and everyone had a ball. Here are the photos......Next year, my Uncle's already suggested we have Kaure's b/day at Sariba Is. (where I'm from). That'll be interesting.....maybe we'll hire a boat and do a camp out with all his pals on the island.....hmmm.....20 screaming kids on a 2 hour boat ride?.....then again maybe not!We'll see.

Jessica Ellis & Buta Chris
Gerard
Uncle Ben and Nimrod caught in the rain.
Dad playing cricket with the boys.
Father and son.
Ariel,Javier & Zuriel digging into ice-cream.

Dad showing the ropes to Kaure and Buta Lani.

Miss Milne Bay girls photo shoot

Miss Milne Bay- Gabrielle Ova and

Vivien Norris (Miss Masurina)

After Gabrielle Ova was crowned "Miss Milne Bay 2007", (for more on the crowning night,please scroll down) Jean and I decided to arrange a photo shoot to feature the swimwear that I designed for our Recycled Clothing label- "RAGS2RICHES". PNG Women love to go second hand shopping,Jean and I are no exception, however we've decided to take our passion for SH shopping a bit further and start making our own garments using second hand

materials,especially denim and jazzing them up with bits of fabric,buttons,sequins etc.

Currently we design for women and are making recycled denim skirts,jeans and bags with plans to do more. For the crowning night, we decided to design swimwear using second jeans and skirts. The jeans were cut up,bleached and printed using contemporary Milne Bay designs. They were a hit on the night.

On a Sunday afternoon, we picked up a few of the Miss Milne Bay contestants including Miss Milne Bay herself-Gabby. We took a drive towards Eats Cape and pulled into a secluded beach to take the shots. Our mate Sean who was visiting from Oz jumped at the opportunity to be photographer for the day. The girls were natural and we all had fun........check it out.

Gabby in a one piece suit featuring
traditional Milne Bay bagi and lime
pot Margie in bright blue one piece suit Vivien in blue bikini & matching sarong Julie,Margie,Gabby & Vivien
Rags2Riches also designs Casual Wear
inlcuding bags like this one made from

a pair of jeans.

On the night of the Miss MB Crowning,

we also promoted education & literacy in

PNG by printing educational messages on t-shirts.