The Mystical Place

 

It’s misty and cool. Perhaps a bit too cool if you are not from these parts.

But when you are up in Mt Hagen, expect it to get chilly so bring some warm clothes, after all it’s a high mountain which ends in a natural fashion.

You’ll notice the grass is green and surrounding forest is pockmarked by recovering foliage where kaukau gardens once stood and fed a family or perhaps a hamlet.

This is Makentomb Kana in the Baiyer gorge outside of Mount Hagen City. The rocks and deep winds shake the trucks and PMVs travelling to and from Baiyer like a paint mixer. Every window in the truck is rolled down so that people could have some leverage to hold on and not to lose grip which they needed so greatly.

The source of the Paiya River is that misty, crystal-clear cascading waterfalls, which flows from the Mul area and into Mauka River in Baiyer. Mauka River then joins with Walo River and connects with Lai River in Enga Province and finally links the mighty Sepik River.

This natural spring is the source of life for the surrounding valley, its people, livestock gardens and forests. In the evening, peaceful silver clouds cover the mountains. But the calm doesn’t last too long. Tired but woken by the lukewarm rays of the sun by dawn.

New gardens have sprung up beside the river where mothers toil on peanuts, corn, ru-kenga bananas, and the inevitable oka (kaukau) - the staple of the highlands.

From the top of the pass, the waterfall is spectacular and the surroundings serene.

The people here are peaceful. In fact this is what makes this place a touch of paradise where it offers excellent views for free-ride. It did not matter whether it was cold or chilly because the view is breath taking.

Where Birds of Paradise roam wild and free, this is God’s country.

Welcome to Mt Hagen, elevation 1, 677m, temperature cool during the day and chilly at night.

picture courtesy of RITA PEKI, PC, Mt Hagen