Villagers in Milne Bay depend a great deal on what is found in the rainforest to feed their families, mango, papaya (paw paw), chestnuts and pineapple are abundant, as well as several varieties of banana and coconut. In fact there is a new variety of dwarf coconut in PNG and they are being planted so that the coconuts will be easier to pick and won’t brain you if they fall on your head. Tawali has six of them planted in the garden area.

Then there are the garden vegetables grown here, eggplant, many different squash (all called pumpkin), limes (called lemons) and lemons (called limes), tomatoes, cucumber, lemongrass, herbs and of course, bettlenut. Because the ground is so rich and fertile and the growing season year round there is much opportunity for villagers to grow plenty of food for themselves and for market.

One problem though has always been getting their vegetables to market.

The trip to the market in Alotau is expensive and unreliable, many times villagers will sit and wait for a public transport bus for a full day without being able to get to town. Many just take the time and walk to Alotau which can be a two day trek using mountain passes and trails.

Protein is more of a challenge, everyone knows how to fish by a very young age and a wide variety of fish is available, but villagers must fish daily.

Then there are the pigs. By driving down the road it would seem that everyone in the villages must have at least 5 pigs, yet pigs are still a prize possession (just hit one with your car and you will find out how prized) and they have always been a sign of wealth, and as such you will see them depicted in all of PNG art forms.

Fish when not eaten fresh are smoked over open coals made from coconut husks. Pig is roasted in pits till the meat falls from the bones. If you want you can try this while at Tawali, it is always amusing for the locals to watch.

< Back to Dining