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The beauty of
Kabwum
Misty mountain-tops, rushing
rivers, cascading waterfalls, immense limestone cliffs and dense
tropical virgin rainforest’s make up the natural beauty of Kabwum....
By JASON SOM KAUT
The phrase describing PNG as the ‘land of the unexpected’ should
not only be directed to overseas visitors but to locals as well.
Papua New Guinea is blessed with an abundance of natural and
cultural beauty that we often take for granted.
Untouched virgin rainforests, misty mountain tops, cascading
waterfalls, gushing rivers and a variety of flora and fauna unseen
in other parts of the world.
While our economy is slowly picking up, many people in rural and
remote areas struggle daily to eke out a living with little or no
access to basic Government services.
But these struggles are faced head on and resiliently by people
behind a backdrop of immense natural beauty.
It is indeed a good thing that our ancestors were mostly farmers
who used their environment to develop farming techniques that are
still widely practiced today. These practices are now enhanced
through awareness and training from scientists and agricultural
officers.
I recently took a trip with Morobe Provincial Administrator
Manasupe Zurenuoc, the provincial budget officer and Netas
Kweitrom from NBC’s Radio Morobe to Kabwum in the misty mountains
near the rugged Sarawaged range.
As it was election time Netas and I were to familiarize ourselves
with Kabwum and establish contact with district polling officials
to cover the elections.
Our trip began on a twin engine Islander from Lae’s Nadzab airport
for a 45 minute flight to Kabwum.
Remote and rugged, Kabwum seen from the air is breathtaking.
Misty mountain-tops, rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, immense
limestone cliffs and dense tropical virgin rainforest’s make up
the natural beauty of Kabwum.
We touched down at the small but fairly level and well maintained
airstrip at the district station before 9am and were met by
district administrator John Orebut.
Kabwum has three airstrips. Though there has been much
developmental progress in the past five years its ruggedness means
that there are some areas still only accessible by air. Kabwum
consists of four Local Level Government’s (LLG’s), Selepet where
the district headquarter is located, Kombau towards the coast,
Deyamos further inland (home of Deputy Speaker and Kabwum Open MP
Bob Dadae) and the isolated and icy Yus LLG near the Madang border
that still does not have a road link.
The people of Yus walk two days at the most to get to Kabwum
station. The only other option is to go all the way to Lae by
plane for the air-ride back to Kabwum.
They really don’t have a choice because planes do not travel from
Yus to Kabwum station but only stop by to pick additional
passengers to Lae.
The manager of Yus has made a reputation for walking to the
station to carry out official duties and a lot was said of his
commitment and dedication.
We were driven a short distance to the district office for morning
tea.
Mr Zurenuoc had two envelopes containing liquor ban notices that
he gave to Mr Orebut for Kabwum district and Wasu in the Tewai
Siassi district.
Wasu, one of Morobe’s fasting growing and leading ports is the
entry point for imports including alcohol. The liquor ban was to
control the liquor supply and ensure a peaceful election period.
Because of the high altitude, the climate in this area is cold and
chilly, the sun’s heat is not felt until about 10am.
We then set for the Deyamos LLG to witness the dedication of the
Kabwum Development Resource Center.
Our journey took us higher up into the misty mountains. Though the
sun had risen the atmosphere remained cold and chilly.
We arrived to a big gathering of singsing groups including
elementary and primary school students who added color to the
event.
People had walked for miles to come and witness the event that was
officiated by Mr Dadae and Mr Zurenuoc.
The welcome ceremony took about four hours. The grandstand was
decorated with sugar cane and passion fruit that grew wildly in
abundance in Kabwum.
Thirteen pigs, three goats and a number of chickens were slain to
prepare a total of thirteen mumus to feed more than 3000 people.
Described as an ‘impact project’ the resource center will equip
locals and school leavers with life skills in many areas including
agriculture, inland fishing, sewing, cooking, basic book-keeping
and other relevant areas.
The event ended at about four by which time it was chilling. Thick
cloud had covered the mountains and rain seemed imminent.
Thankfully by Gods grace the rain did not come and we made our way
back to Kabwum station on a vehicle packed with presents of bilums,
bows and arrows, chickens and two goats.
On the way we passed scores of people walking back to their
villages -miles and miles away.
We arrived at Mr Orebuts house at 8pm and after a meal prepared by
his wife we decided to take a drive to a place a few meters away
known as Wara kalap (jumping water)
At this place water comes out of the rocks. It was here that we
had a cold, chilling to the bone shower at 10pm.
Kabwum, like many rural and remote places in PNG, possesses a
natural beauty that is bound to hold visitors foreign and local
spell bound.
Often times focus is usually on the negativity and hardships in
rural areas. While these hardships exist, people in remote areas
possess inborn knowledge, strength and skills to cope using their
natural resources to survive.
And therein lies the real beauty of remote places and peoples of
this nation.
 
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