Balimo, Western Province

Recently I went down river to Balimo to pick up some friends coming in from Port Moresby on the regular Airlines PNG flight. As always in this part of the country, rain - although the locals say is seasonal, is like a forever thing for a non local like me. To me rain just doesnt stop...................

Balimo airstrip like most third level airstrip (what does that rating mean, I have no idea) does not have a terminal so [passenger arriving or departing (with their luggage/ belongings) can be either dry or wet - whichever the case at the time maybe.

Since the parking bay is about 50 meters over to the other side from the road that leads to town - one has to walk across the airstrip itself (from the road) to meet the plane and its passengers. Imagine doing this whilst it is raining.

Good thing it was not raining at the time my mates came in so although they looked a bit sheepishly shivery it was not at all bad and they did smile!!!!

It was a good thing we already had a good relationship with the Local Government Administration so we got get a ride to Balimo town which is 5km from the airstrip; like driving down river but by vehicle and along the way you do get to have a lot of curious onlookers always wanting to get the first glimps of the new faces in town; tsh, tsh -