Faces Of Papua New Guinea
Faces of Papua New Guinea. (There are affiliates in this post.) I do not like throwing around superlatives, but I feel confident to share ... that this was my best tribal photographic experience. I slept next to the Mundari tribe in South Sudan and camped in Chad at the Gerewol Festival, but nothing can beat the quality and quantity of different and amazing tribes I witnessed in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. This country of 10 million approximately the size of Sweden is one of the most linguistically places on earth with 800 different languages. How can tribes that live so close to each other have such different customs, cultures, and languages? Geographical isolation: The rugged terrain—mountains, rivers, and forests—keeps tribes separate, allowing languages and customs to evolve independently. Small, autonomous communities: Tribes are organized into small, independent groups, reinforcing cultural and linguistic uniqueness. Limited interaction: Historical inter-tribal conflict and competition reduced interaction, keeping cultures distinct. Environmental adaptation: Different ecological settings shaped unique customs and survival strategies. Language as identity: Language is key to tribal identity, [...]
Visiting Papua New Guinea
Visiting Papua New Guinea with affiliates in this post. INTRO While not my raison d’etre for travel, I have interacted with and met some fascinating tribal groups. Whether that is dancing into the night with the Wodabe people at the Gerewol festival in Chad, breathing in cow shit with the Mundari in South Sudan, or living it up with Prince Charles and the Ashanti in Ghana. But after spending time in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, it is difficult to fathom that any country can compete with the quantity and diversity of the tribes of this country located in Oceania. It is estimated that over 800 distinct tribal groups are in PNG, each with their own culture and language. These 800 distinct languages make this place the most linguistically diverse country. How did we get there? Parts of PNG are a collection of soaring mountains coupled with valleys in dense, thick rain forests or a series of dispersed islands. The isolation of the tribes and distinctive traditions also meant there was no strong central government. And, [...]
Luisa Yu … The Black Sheep
Luisa Yu has traveled to every country in the world. Luisa Yu Counting Countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I am excited to have Luisa Yu on the podcast. She is well known and beloved member to many in the community. For those not in the know, Luisa just visited her last country this year. She accomplished this goal as a 79-year-old. When many in her age group have retired to more placid and serene pastures, Luisa has demonstrated grit and determination. And Luisa has not slowed down .. trips since she has completed the quest include Mogadishu, the north Caucasus, and the Kalash Festival in Pakistan. Truly, she is an inspiration. A quick show out to Phillipe for assisting in scheduling my conversation with Luisa. A public service reminder, the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok. Discount code BANGKOK for $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the Extraordinary Travel Fest. This $100 discount will be reduced starting September [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #8 – Fadi Assi, Jon Beardmore, Evelthon Vassiliou
Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024. Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $100 (the discount will be reduced starting September 1). Reserve your place today. On this episode, Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #8, I speak to 3 amazing people who you will also meet at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok on November 15-17. First up is Fadi Assi. Many people in the extreme travel community are familiar with Fadi and his generosity. He has welcomed many of us to Syria. Fadi is the founder of Golden Team. Fadi will be one of the speakers in Bangkok and will be sharing his wealth of knowledge. If you are considering visiting, make sure you check in with Fadi. Second is Jon Beardmore. Jon is an accomplished traveler and has undertaken a fascinating project, The Galapagos Postman Project. We all love travel and sometimes incorporating in an additional quest has the potential of really adding to your travel experiences. The Galapagos Postman Project is one of those really cool [...]
Jason Wang … No Poop Left Behind
Jason Wang has traveled to 175 countries. Jason Wang Counting Countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I am happy to introduce to you Jason Wang, an avid traveler, foodie, and photographer. Not only is he Chasing 193, but he also chasing the 7 Summits. Jason’s life tracks all of the great successes embodied by the best of American immigration. A life which was originally defined by school and work was dramatically redefined by a gap year of travel after dental school. He never looked back. If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok. Discount code BANGKOK for $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the Extraordinary Travel Fest. Come join to meet with some great partners of the extreme travel community, we have Fadi Assi of Golden Team in Syria, and David Van Driessche of Papua New Guinea, and Baba from T’Ore Mauritania. We also have the three great travel groups [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #7 – Meet The Attendees II
Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024. Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $100. Reserve your place today. I believe there are 3 main pillars of why you might want to consider attending the ETF, this November in Bangkok. First is the destination. Maybe BKK might seem too common. Well as a resident I would posit that this city offers so much beyond the Grand Palace, the Skybar and riding a tuktuk. This is a true onion; you can keep peeling back more and more layers and keep on exploring. Maybe you are missing some NM regions in Thailand, maybe a funicular or the new UNESCO site, Si Thep. Or you missed Laos or Brunei on your last visit. There are cheap flights to everywhere in ASEASN. Or maybe catch a direct flight to Bangladesh, Bhutan or Kazakhstan. There is so much to see here! Second, is the content. We have an incredible lineup of speakers. More will be announced. Please take a moment to look at the speakers on the ETF [...]
