Title – Moonscape
Date – August 2001
Location - Rabaul – Papua New Guinea
If you ever needed proof of how different one side of the world is to the other, then Rabaul in Papua New Guinea is the place for you to go. A scene more familiar to astronauts then the rest of us stuck here on earth, this landscape represents one of the most geologically active parts of the earth’s surface and a great place to explore, without almost any chance of bumping into another western traveller.
Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop helps individuals to realise their dreams and travel, to see for themselves, the vastly different environments the world has to offer.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
Title – Village Chiefs Hut
Date – August 2001
Location - Sepik - Papua New Guinea
Being invited to stay in the chief’s hut bestows a great honour on you and on the village chief himself and is an opportunity that should not be missed. But seeing that the chief’s entire possessions can be contained in two small suitcases is a stark reminder. The value of your backpack alone probably exceeds the value of his entire belongings.
Showing respect is a very important part of being accepted on your visit to a new country. Be aware of those who are offering you hospitality and what effect your visit will have on them. Bringing a gift is a common way of showing this respect, but cash in the middle of Papua is of very little use, more sensible gifts that will have a positive impact on your hosts are much more appreciated. This can be as simple as food stuffs or something useful like a pen knife or similar implement.
Beyond The Blue recognises the benefits of generating a positive reaction from your host. As part of our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop we look at non verbal communication and win-win situations to help you achieve this positive impact.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
Title – Giant Stride
Date – August 2001
Location - Papua New Guinea
Diving is one of life’s great pleasures to those who have experienced it, the feeling of taking a giant stride into the ocean anywhere in the world takes you from your familiar world into a completely new one where all your senses are transformed and where you feel weightless and relaxed amongst one of the world most beautiful environments.
Diving isn’t for every one and common sense has to prevail when taking part in this activity. Many people learn to dive during a round-the-world trip or gap year. You should choose your diving school carefully, make the right choice and you’ll end up with a diving school and instructors who teach you how to dive responsibly and safely, go for the cheapest option and you might find yourself with an Open Water Certificate, but not the fundamental skills required to take part in the sport safely.
Beyond The Blue believes in the value of training individuals attending our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop to understand the basics of decision making, when dealing with subjects that are unfamiliar in their normal day to day lives.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
Title – Welcoming Committee
Date – August 2001
Location - Sepik - Papua New Guinea
Arriving at a new village in the heart of Papua New Guinea you can be guaranteed a welcome and you can guarantee a welcoming committee. At this village there was a complete lack of any males about on our arrival, having walked round the village with our new friends in tow, it was discovered that all the men were out on a hunting trip. They had taken their spears and bows & arrows and headed off up river to hunt crocodiles!
When they got back I was shown to the chiefs hut, who turned up shortly afterwards with a sack over his shoulder. It had been a good hunt and his share of the bounty (the villagers always share the bounty out amongst the whole village) was three small crocodile heads and several live turtles that he delighted in empting on the floor in front of me.
Beyond The provides Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop that help to prepare individuals planning to travel for all the different types of cultures and environments they may encounter along the way.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
Title – On Top of the Tuvurvur Volcano
Date – August 2001
Location - Rabaul - Papua New Guinea
The top of an active, unmonitored and unregulated volcano that sends columns of smoke and ash out on a daily basis, is no place to go without making sure you have a good plan in your head and have told others of these plans. Take advice from locals and don’t put yourself at any more risk then you have to.
When you find yourself on your own on the rim and look down into the abyss, you will never feel as insignificant, but don’t fight, the fear it’s a good thing. Fear provides the little voice in our heads that helps us make a sensible decision and move as soon as we get any indication the volcano doesn’t want us there anymore.
Planning a trip can be a daunting prospect, when you start to look into potential destinations there seems to be hurdles to jump at every corner and the warnings and bad luck stories abound. Sometimes you feel like staying at home, might just be the smart move. Beyond The Blue runs Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop to help you overcome these hurdles and to break down the fears you may have and put them into perspective. In short we’ll help you get on your way with confidence.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
Title – World War II Bomber
Date – August 2001
Location - Rabaul - Papua New Guinea
The Second World War left much of the Pacific region littered with debris, artillery, crashed planes and munitions. There can be no stranger sight then walking along and finding a WWII Bomber lying at the side of the road, after 60 years almost untouched and half buried in the ash that fell after several eruptions from the local volcano.
The west went out to the Pacific to fight a war and when it left, life just went back to normal in the islands or as close to normal as can be expected after the damage done to the region and its people.
At Beyond The Blue we realise that when we travel to another country, it should be a positive experience both for the traveller and for the host country. Understanding the environment and culture of your host country can help you enjoy your trip and leave a positive experience behind with the locals. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop helps you to prepare for your travels and gives you the tools to make a positive contribution.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
Title – Giant Barracuda
Date – August 2001
Location - Papua New Guinea
The Giant Barracuda is really a fish worth giving a wide berth to. As the magpies of the sea, they love nothing more then taking a snap at any shiny object in the sea, be that your watch or chrome attachments to your diving gear. Its razor sharp rows of teeth will mean your wetsuit provides about as much protection as a wet tissue.
The trick is to check your suit for shiny objects before you dive in areas where they are found and turn your dive watch onto the inside of your wrist to stop it reflecting.
Beyond The Blue instructors have a hundred different tips that they introduce when relevant into our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com
Image – ©Peter Mayhew
