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GREETINGS and salutations! Turning to our ancient history books
and the chapters on PNG, we will find mention of a recording in the
possession of the ABC’s PNG Service. A short snippet, or in broadcasting
terms, a grab of that recording became part of the introduction to the
PNG national news.
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IT featured a wonderfully full-voiced, throaty Highlander
yodeling; it began with what sounded like “a budi budi o” and went on to
out-grate Louis Armstrong.
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THAT piece of trivia intruded in response to our Quiz asking who
or what is budibudi, a question that perplexed many a reader. So with a
husky incantation of a budibudi o we present our select group of correct
respondents. Our first e-mailer was Steven Anda from Pangtel, and his
answer follows.
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“Budibudi is an atoll of eight low islets. They’re 80km east of
Muyua or Woodlark Island. In Trobriand Island folklore, it’s said that
when a Trobriand Islander dies the spirit travels east to the Budibudi
islands to wash before returning to make the final journey to Tuma
Island – the land of the dead. The Budibudi Islands are also known as
the Lachlan Islands.” Cheers, Steven – and thanks for an interesting
answer.
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NEXT: Tox Aihi of Airlines of PNG, the people who put reality
back into air travel fares. He says : “Apart from the visits by PNG
Government authorities and global sailors, these are some of the most
isolated isles in the country. Fish and coconuts are the staple food,
with pigs reserved for feasting.”
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TOX continues: “That means no taro, kaukau, yam , chicken, fresh
meat, rice, bread – none of the items we take for granted on the
mainland. To get to Budibudi, sail northeast from Woodlark Island to a
sea mountain top, continue northeast and after about two hours, you
should see the first of the Budibudi Islands.”
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BUT he ends with an alarming postscript – “If you don’t reach the rocky
top of the sea mountain by sunset, consider yourself lost and try to
return to Woodlark Island, which is many hours sailing away.” Sounds
like a paradise worth visiting; thanks Tox and more answers tomorrow.
Cheers!
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–
Dee Nesenolis
 
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