We left Rabaul 40 years ago having lived there for a few years before the massive eruptions of 1994 that buried the place in ash and pumice, destroying a beautiful town - mixed feelings about going back, but it was fine.
Back to Rabaul after 40 years |
Welcome back! |
In the 1994 eruption the original Rabaul town (the flat green area to the left) was totally destroyed; the jungle is taking over |
Rabaul about 1970 (photo courtesy Garry Honour) |
Mango Avenue, once the bustling main street of Rabaul |
Another street in Rabaul - we are disoriented without the buildings and shops |
WW2 map of Rabaul on the wall of Yamamoto's underground headquarters |
There's still volcanic activity - hot springs at the base of the volcano |
We knew this a the Matapit Japanese Betty Bomber (since identified as a Sally Bomber) |
"Please ensure your seat belts are fastened for takeoff" - lined up on the old Rabaul Airport |
Looking down at Rabaul - Simpson Harbour caldera is about 8 km across |
Meeting up with Evelyn and Simon Foo at their Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort ... |
... where we had a great local meal, all fresh from the Kokopo market |
View from Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort |
Bita Paka War Cemetery near Kokopo commemorates the Allied soldiers killed here in both World Wars |
Japanese barge tunnel dug out by prisoners of war - the barges have decayed in the last 40 years |
The Beehives - these rocks stick up out of Rabaul's Simpson Harbour |
Rainbow over the active Tavurvur Volcano as we leave Rabaul |