We got to sleep in, all the way to 5:30 and soon were driving as the sun was coming up. It took and hour and a half to get to Mt. Hagen airport, which was not yet open, so we lined up outside the door. Our flight check in took a long time as an entire rugby team was checking in ahead of us. Just as soon as we thought the lead rugby guy was done another team member would come up to the front of the line and check in another bag. No worries we had time to spare. At the security checkpoint the baggage x-ray machine was broken but we still had to go through the routine. We put our bags in the tray and then walked through personal metal detector. The attendant then walked the tray behind the x-ray machine and delivered to us on the other side. Ahhh, the trappings of routine. At the waiting area for the flight I saw an Australian Pipit LB#1 for the day and some soaring birds in the distance. As the plane was taxiing I saw a large reddish bird in one of the fields along the taxiway. I was not quick enough to get a picture but based on my description and Jun's local knowledge, he said that this was a Papuan Harrier LB#2. These two birds brought my total to 60 for PNG. The flight went off as planned and we landed in Port Moresby on time. We had to get our bags, walk out of the domestic terminal and back in at the International Terminal. We had to check in my bag, go through security where everything was in working order and through immigration. That all went smoothly and we had time to spend the last of our Kina, the local currency. A tasty sandwich, the PNG flag, and a goofy fiber pig. They gave me a certificate of fumigation when I purchased the pig. Little did I suspect how that would impact my arrival in Australia. We got on the flight but were way back in row 27. This three hour flight seemed longer than some 7 hour flights I had flown. A small seat, no movies to watch and poor food. Soon enough it was over and everything was smooth till I got to the customs line. Australia is very strict with what can enter the country and insect pests are a high priority. So my certificate of fumigation was laughed at by the agent. She opened up the bag and shook the daylights out of the pig. She also wanted to see my bilum bag which then got the shaking treatment. She then took the dust that came out and took it to a microscope to inspect it. While that was going on I looked around and five of the six lanes were occupied by folks all wearing the same design of shirt. They were all traveling together and each one of them had an oversized bag with 50 to 60 bilum bags stuffed inside. There was a whole lot of shaking going on and subsequent microscopic inspecting. I told the agent that I felt like I missed out on buying bilum bags as I only had one. My little pig passed the test and so I was sent through. Ken gave me "the look" when I got through. Of course he was waved on through with out any inspection at all.
Mount Hagen
Our last early PNG morning
Some really tall mountains
The fog looks like water
Australian Pipit on the tarmac
Stuck bugs
The harrier?
The Kokoda is a famous WW2 battle site
Next leg begins
Secondary screening, for once I was waved through and Ken got the inspection
The little pig
All sealed up in a bag
We walk to the ferry terminal on the river
