Sunday in Port Moresby and the team here fancied a day trip out somewhere to see a bit more of PNG.
While waiting to pick up some people at the airport I had picked up a brochure for Loloata resort, located about a 20 min drive SE of POM (Port Moresby) and a short ferry ride to the Island, that showed magnificent pictures of the underwater life that could be seen on the many dive sites that were close by to the resort.
We weren't smart enough to find out the deal, so took off in our car and headed in the general direction indicated on the street map of POM in the airport guide, which left us about 15 kms to navigate without a map.
Well, after a few false starts and a bit of help from some friendly locals we eventually arrived at the jetty with a sensational new Australian built catamaran waiting, or so we thought, to take us to the island.
However, it turns out that the catamaran only goes across at 9.00 am and 3 pm to drop off and pick up day-trippers and take hotels guests back and forth.
As we had not set off until after lunch from POM and it was now about 1 pm we had obviously missed the boat, so to speak. We asked the boat driver how to get to the island and he said he would call a dinghy to come and get us. We asked him how much the ferry fare was and in reply we just received a shrug and no answer.
We waited about 15 minutes and a small boat approached us from seaward and docked and we all got on board.
It was a pleasant trip with views of the misty mountains of PNG to our left and right as we left Bootless Inlet and headed past a few other islands to Loloata Island.
We arrived at the island and walked down the long jetty to the resort. We were expecting a lush and exotic paradise, but what we found was just a little bit basic, to say the least.
Now it was a hot day and a cold beer beckoned, so we found our way out onto th veranda, with the magnificent views of the ocean blocked by mangrove trees, settled in and requested four cold SP beers.
The helpful young girl asked if we would like some lunch, and we said yes, expecting a menu to arrive so we could choose.
Well our beers arrived and we got into those, closely followed by the most unappetising plate of food I think I have ever been presented with. Some cold potatoes, some limp salad, a chunk of warm, very fishy fish on a bed of cold rice, a slice or two of ham and a bread roll that would have doubled easily as a baseball.
After some inquiry, we found out that this was all that was available, basically the leftovers from lunch served some time previously, and it was eat that or go hungry.
As we hadn't had lunch on the mainland and it was now about 2 pm we ate what we could stomach and left easily as much as we ate.
Our meal was brightened up greatly by the arrival of an exotic and very friendly bird that, although it wouldn't eat from our hand, would come within a few feet and hungrily gobble up what we didn't want from off the floor.
We were due back on the boat at 3 pm and so we asked for the bill, so we could settle up and have a look around the island before we went back.
Well, we were presented with a bill of PNG Kina 528. ( just over A$200) In total shock we asked for the break-up and were told that it was 50 Kina for the boat ride and 82 Kina for lunch.
Now a smörgåsbord lunch at the Holiday Inn is only 50 Kina, with a choice of half a dozen dishes, drinks and deserts, so this just could not be right.
After much discussion, with various staff members, and after much waiting around while the other guests checked out, we eventually found out that the rate for a day trip to the island, including snorkeling for as long as you like around Lion Island nearby and lunch was 132 Kina, coincidentally, exactly what we had been charged.
As we hadn't signed up for this, and had just really come out to see what was there we eventually settled on half price of 264 Kina and headed for home, with a disgruntled skipper who had had to wait 15 minutes for us to sort things out.
We did find out that a room for the night is 666 Kina ( an unfortunate number) which is about A$265. And I guess breakfast wouldn't be too exciting either!
However, the trip back was delightful, sitting on the top deck of the catamaran with a cool breeze blowing and passing other seafarers on their way back from work on the island.
All in all it was a pleasant day out, but it pays to find out what is involved before you head off on a boat trip.
I don't think I will be heading back to Loloata in a hurry, I will head for the resort at Madang instead. It will involve a flight out of Moresby, but I think it will be more than well worth the effort.
Check it out yourself at: http://www.loloata.com/
Best reagrds
A POM in POM
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