Papua New Guinea is a country of contrasts, milenary culture, and contradictions.
There are over 750 languages spoken in the country. Every region has it’s own identity and sense of pride.
I have spent a couple of weeks mostly in the Highlands area of the country and have visited different villages and
settlements (Huli and Simbu tribes). The people have been very friendly and welcoming. Even though I very much feel like an outsider, I have
been received with smiles, and great interest in knowing what my story is. It feels good to be received in that fashion,
but I have to say that at times it is a bit intimidating and tiring.
It is the oposite of what happens in New York, where everyone has their own story and it almost feels like noone is
interested in yours.
In any case, I have been able to find people that have showed me the traditional way of life in the island.
It has been very interesting to see some of the different ways in which people decorate themselves for different ocassions
and/or purposes; they range from festive, to war-like costuming.
Here are some of the highlights so far: