Thirteen tourists from Russia arrived in the country just in time to celebrate the nation’s 50th Golden Jubilee of Independence.
Their first stop was Port Moresby’s Murray Barracks, where the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) hosted the Festival of a Thousand Tribe led by Governor Powes Parkop.
The atmosphere was alive with color, rhythm, and unity. From New Ireland’s graceful dance to Madang’s cultural performance, to a powerful poem on independence from students, the visitors found themselves swept into a celebration that showcased all 22 provinces.
For the entire Russian group, it was their first time travelling to Papua New Guinea and it was the best and most unforgettable introduction they could have asked for.
The 13 Russian citizens were not very fluent in English, but fortunately one of them, Dave Primov, spoke more clearly than most and shared his impressions of the visit.
“Today we are here to celebrate 50 years of independence of Papua New Guinea. We are happy to be here because it’s very interesting, it is a real cultural event. The people are so friendly, always smiling, and we like it very much.”
He explained that the group had come for a 10-day visit to Papua New Guinea, and one of the events they plan to attend is the upcoming Goroka Show.
Instead, they found themselves enjoying a mini-Goroka experience right here in Port Moresby, as every province proudly performed their dances, songs, and attire.
Dave also told PNG Haus Bung, who was present during the event, that he has a personal plan to visit 129 countries and Papua New Guinea is at the top of his list because of its diverse culture.
He then extended an invitation to other Travellers “I want to invite all tourists around the world please come to this celebration. It is very beautiful in Papua New Guinea. For me, this is one of the countries I have visited out of the 129 I plan to see. Because it is different. We like it a lot, and we are already speaking about coming again next year.”
Tomorrow the group will travel on to Mount Hagen then drive up to experience the Goroka Show live.
These 13 Russian tourists came searching for culture, and in Papua New Guinea, they found more than they expected because they found friendship, color, and pride during the country’s Golden Jubilee.