Saturday January 21, 2012

Now that the Festive Season is almost over, we can begin to become serious about what we expect in 2012.   I said almost, as Madang now has a fairly large population of Chinese and next week they will be celebrating their New Year on Jan 23, the 'year of the dragon'.

Following China New Year, we will be celebrating Australia Day on January 26, afterwhich we can then begin to navigate our way through the year in the hope we avoid an influx of public holidays which in PNG are sometimes announced hours before they occur.

KALIBOBO SPIRIT

We have several bookings for cruises in Milne Bay from mid June until early July.  The dates booked are Jun 22-30 & Jul 01-07.   If anyone you know would like to see Milne Bay in the comfort of the Kalibobo Spirit at this time, let me know as soon as possible as the positioning costs could be shared.   We have another charter in August of Sepik and Madang Islands and it is likely that further charters will occur in February.

MADANG RESORT

Work continues on the reconstruction of the famous Haus Win Restaurant.  The old building has been completely demolished, all the frame and trusses are now in position and work will begin on the roof and fit out during the remainded of this month.   It is epected that the complete project will be completed by the end of March which includes 5  new executive poolside rooms.

We are currently negotiating with a builder to construct 50 new studio rooms which we hope will sell for around K150 per night.   The same company has been asked to do a design and build apartment building in Kalibobo Village.

NIUGINI DIVING ADVENTURES

The Aqua Venture, a 34' Steber is currently undergoing major maintenance.  It hopefully will go back into the water in February.   Yayoi Yamamoto our Dive Instructor is due to return in February after giving birth to a baby daughter.

GAME FISHING

The 36' Steber Game Boat 'Sau Dazas' has been busy over the Festive Season.  Whilst fishing has been relatively quiet, in the past few days it has picked up, yesteday we hooked 3 Yellow Fin averaging 60 kilos each so Sashimi is back on the menu.

MELANESIAN FOUNDATION

We had a generous donation from the Chigier Family last year, whilst we have been slow in spending the funds, on Jan 28/29 we will sail the Kalibobo SPirit to Boisa Island to install the Solar Lighting systen to the two classrooms and deliver education and sporting equipment so the Community School can start the year fully equipped to provide the best education possible to the students in this remote island off the coast of Madang. 

The X Ray machine at Gaubin Hospital is now in full operation and negituati9ns are underway with local people to install a hydro electric and water project.

PERSONAL

Over the last week my Son, Andrew and his kids Jordan and Amaiya have spent a week in Madang, all born in PNG but now residents of Cairns.  The kids had a great time, fishing, swimming, trip in the helicopter and reaqainting themselves with PNG children they had not seen for 3 years.  It was a great week not only for them. but for myself as I have missed them very much and it was very sad to farewell them last Tuesday.

I we can help you planning a holiday, a conference or any other activity in Papua New Guinea, do not hesitate to contact me personally.

Sir Peter Barter, Managing Director

nce my last posting on Christmas Day I have failed to maintain a weekly update, not because I am on holidays like everyone else, but working so my staff can have their holidays.

Whilst Christmas in Madang was relatively quiet, we have been busy undertaking maintenance at the Madang Resort, on our boats getting ready for hopefully a productive New Year.   Despite ideal weather, we have done little fishing and again this afternoon I will be going out hoping to hook a mackeral or perhaps a marlin.

Over the past two days we have been host to the founding Prime Minister of PNG, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and his wife Lady Veronica.  On Friday they spent a relaxing day cruising aboard the Kalibobo Spirit and a spot of fishing in the afternoon, again no fish!

This week my Son Andrew together with Jordan and Amaiya will visit Madang for a holiday, their first time back in 2 years so they will see a great change at the Madang Resort and staff of the hotel will be pleased to see both the grand children who have grown considerably since they relocated to Australia.

We are finalising several charters in 2012.  In June we expect to operate the Kalibobo Spirit in Milne Bay with several trips to the Trobriand Islands, both for repeat clients and would recommend any other prospective visitors to consider June and July charters in Milne Bay to reduce positioning costs.  We have several other charters booked to the Sepik and Islands around the Bismarck Sea.   Contact Wesley on mts@mtspng.com for more information.

The Kalibobo Haus Kibung is open albiet much more work to be done. Work has begun on the Haus Win Restaurant and we are looking forward to a grand opening at the end of June.  We have also begun negotiations on a further wing of 30-50 rooms, plus an apartment block at Kalibobo Village.

Travel Air continue to maintain their twice daily flights between Madang and Port Moresby, plus daily services to Lae, Hoskins, Rabaul and they intend to extend their services to Wewak and Vanimo in the near future.   We have been operating packages utilising the  Air Travel flights and are attracting a steady flow of residents from Port Moresby to Madang.   These packages are valid until Jan 31, 2012 and you can obtain more details from this website.

Wishing you a prosperous New Year which we hope will include Madang and Papua New Guinea!

Sir Peter Barter, Managing Director, MTS

Panoramic picture of the new Kalibobo Haus Kibung

SPECIAL PACKAGES EX PORT MORESBY TO MADANG FROM *K799 INCLUDES ROUND TRIP AIRFARES ON TRAVEL AIR

Per person,  Includes twin share accommodation in standard room with breakfast, airport transfers, use of kayaks, bikes, sailing boats, tennis court and Gymnasium.  Other categories of rooms available and stay can be extended to 7 nights.  Air Travel exclusively on Travel Air scheduled flights.  Valid for PNG Residents until Jan 31, 2012. All packages must be purchased direct from MTS online, by phone or by facsimile.  

Travel Air have also extended services from Port Moresby to Lae, Hoskins, Rabaul & Mt Hagen