Ken shows us more of Rabaul

Over the next few weeks, we continue with our job, changing motor bearings and one morning Ken comes over while are having breakfast he says his Native offsider has invited him to his village along the coast road for the weekend. He asks if we’re interested. Of course we are. I’ve never been to a genuine New Guinea Native village.

Saturday morning, we drive down the coast on the road to Kokopo.  Ken leads on his motor bike. We just follow him. A few kilometres out of Rabaul, he turns right up the hill on a dirt road, Phil and I follow in the hire car. We come to Kurutegete, a village with straw huts and lots of children and pigs. The women are dressed in colourful dresses and the men in shorts and bare tops. Ken introduces us to Emile, his work mate, Iapin his wife and Tatabu his seven year old son.

Tatabu on Ken's bike

We are made very welcome. Tatabu, the little boy is fascinated with Ken’s motorbike and when Ken puts his helmet and goggles on him and lifts him up he is very excited. Everyone is happy.

The village is amongst a lot of coconut trees and very soon some of the younger boys climb the trees to fetch some coconuts. They make it look so easy. They carry large knives and chop the coconuts from the trees and watch them fall to the ground. We too watch them but mainly to save our heads.

Back on the ground they rip the outer husk (mesocarp) from the coconuts and open the nuts by smashing them onto a metal rod sticking out from the ground.

The fresh coconut milk tastes good and refreshing. Even the flesh of the coconut tastes very good. The villagers show us around the village, explain this and that. I’m glad I came. We have a great day in this village, playing with the children, listening to the adults, observing them in their village life.


Tatabu is very interested in everything we have and do. I have my 8mm movie camera with me and the boy wants me to show him what it does and how I use it.

Tatabu is very interested in everything

I take lots of footage of the village and the people. Especially the men climbing the coconut palms, they make it look so easy. The milk from the coconuts they offer us tastes very good and refreshing in the heat of the day.


We spend a very pleasant day with Emile and his family. I am so glad Ken brought us here. These people live simple but happy lives in these villages.