Hold-up at Tawali

[billt4sf]

I made the original post and I feel it is valid to list such an event (if true) and await comment. I never said no one should go there. I do think we want to think carefully about our safety in a remote location in a third world country.

Like I said before, a one-off incident, though worrisome, would not stop me from going somewhere.

But I would want to know how the event happened, whether it is just ONE SINGLE event, and why it is not a pattern. For example, if it were people that escaped from a nearby jail, that would concern me (a jail nearby to a remote location in PNG). If it were a band of thugs that just happened to come to this place, I might look on that differently. If they came from a boat that is worrisome because such types could come back once they know where it is and that it is vulnerable.

The fact that he had his kids there does not, in and of itself, make me feel secure about it, because I have witnessed parents doing really stupid things with their kids. (I'm not saying he did so).

At the current moment I am inclined to make a reservation - if we could actually get them to respond! I have nearly given up a few times. Does anyone else experience week-long (or more) delays hearing from Tawali? I sure do!

Thanks,

Bill & Emily

 

[Zalick]

I know this is an old thread, but thought I would chime in with my experience. I'll break this up between Port Morseby and the islands/islanders. I will preface this with I've been robbed at gunpoint in multiple countries by police etc. Although scary at the moment, not the biggest deal, and I'd still go back to visit ALL those places in a heartbeat. PNG included.

Port Moresby
I spent two days in Port Moresby. Was only planning on a same day transfer but... First flight cancelled and flight next day overbooked and we got put on the following days flight. So we spent one evening, one full day and the following morning in Port Moresby. Can't remember the hotel we stayed at but it was considered the most secure and the most expensive. The GM was an Aussie ex-pat. Very nice guy. He took me out that evening driving, with a gun in his lap. We did a loop around the city. He said it wouldn't be safe to get out of the car at night. He pointed up the roads in the hills and said if you go up there alone, you likely won't make it back. The main grocery store was walled and had armed guards. He stopped on a hill and told a story about a bank robbery the previous year that involved a helicopter by the robbers and maybe a rocket launcher by the military shooting it down. My memory is hazy as it was 15 years ago. He wasn't trying to scare me, but rather just explain how Port Moresby works and the highlands. The next day, while I was sitting outside my room window at the pool, my room was burglarized and everything of value stolen. I was not 10' away from my bag through the floor to ceiling window. I went to the police station and filed a report. The officer told me there was nothing I could do. My GF at the time was standing 20' away at the entrance to the station. He asked her to come inside because she wasn't safe out there. This was mid-day. I learned that the highlands are extremely dangerous and highland people are also dangerous. (I know its a generalization and doesn't apply to all highlanders). The lowland people/islanders are generally afraid of the highlanders. I was told once you leave Port Morseby things settle down immensely.

Off the main island.
I spent a lot of time sailing around the various islands east and north of the main island. Diving was simply amazing. All the people were incredibly friendly and gracious (for those islands that actually had people). We were invited in to their homes/huts for dinner etc. I could go on and on, but the moral of the islands is that they are very safe and I never felt a drop of danger.

While I've not been to Tawali, its on my list of resorts to visit. This report does give me pause, but only momentary pause. Tawali is on the main island so there will be risk that the raskols can get to the resort and cause problems. I will still visit Tawali at some point and not worry about it. I figure my risk of dying on the drive to the airport in the States is higher than my risk of being injured at Tawali.

I would encourage anyone thinking about diving PNG, via liveaboard or Tawali, to just go. Its diving like no other and you won't regret it, even if you get robbed.

 

[charlier]

A few years, my colleagues working near Rabul were delayed in traffic. The car in front of them cut someone off. Let's just say it did not end well. FYI, my U.N. colleagues are not allowed to leave their rooms or conference centre in Port Moresby. WetPup is on the mark regarding the airport - just stay put and wait.

 

[Wingy]

PNG - listen to the people who live there. Last time I was in PNG (Yes, supermarket was still the same) the basic deal is if you do have to go anywhere at night, have your PSA skilled in driving and do not stop for police roadblocks..

I'd be back there now if I could having said that.

 

[Zalick]

PNG - listen to the people who live there. Last time I was in PNG (Yes, supermarket was still the same) the basic deal is if you do have to go anywhere at night, have your PSA skilled in driving and do not stop for police roadblocks..

I'd be back there now if I could having said that.

Agreed. Didn't mean to scare anyone off. I highly recommend it to anyone considering it. In fact this thread has me looking for dates to visit Tawali in 2018.

 

[mikeycanuk]

Almost exactly 4 months until we visit Walindi/FeBrina. Looks like we will stick to the hotel for our 6hr layover on our way home.

 

[Christopher_B]

you will find that there are very few hotels that people will recommend. And you will find that they are all obscenely priced. This is where all the expats stay - for a reason. I know people balk at the prices (which start at about $350 per night)

Sorry, this is totally inaccurate. Overnighting in Port Moresby is easy and no problem, and not expensive, an the Highlands are not to be avoided.
I organise tours for clients to PNG year-round. (www.bestofpng.com) None of them, and there have been hundreds over the last five years, who have overnighted in Port Moresby have had a problem. Some do half-day tours with guides, and you can even get a taxi from a hotel and go to the Nature Park for a couple of hours.
Decent 3-star hotels in Port Moresby start at $140 per room per night, including transfers - either Gateway next to the airport or Ela Beach if you want to be closer to downtown and the sea. There are some deluxe hotels, like, Grand Papua or The Stanley that cost from $220 for 2.

I also run trips to the Highlands for the festivals in Goroka and Mt Hagen, and to the Sepik River. We visit villages and even sleep in villages. All without being held-up. At the Goroka festival we walk round the show grounds full of locals. In five years we have had two cell phones stolen, sticking out of the owners' pockets. One was recovered. The cultural experiences in PNG are unique and enriching, missing out on them through unnecessary fear is a shame.

 

[WetPup]

I have personally been held at gunpoint in the highlands. So you'll have to excuse me for disagreeing with you on that.

If you actually bothered to read the rest of my posts on this forum, you would realise that I am a strong advocate for travel in PNG. However I would be remiss to ignore the fact that there are genuine safety concerns in parts of the country. I am in Port Moresby several times a year for work (I am a mining geologist, I spend a bit of time around the Pacific Rim), and I always have an armed escort with me when I have to go into town.

 

[Christopher_B]

I have personally been held at gunpoint in the highlands. So you'll have to excuse me for disagreeing with you on that.

If you actually bothered to read the rest of my posts on this forum, you would realise that I am a strong advocate for travel in PNG. However I would be remiss to ignore the fact that there are genuine safety concerns in parts of the country. I am in Port Moresby several times a year for work (I am a mining geologist, I spend a bit of time around the Pacific Rim), and I always have an armed escort with me when I have to go into town.

Why would I read all your posts on the forum? I've read the ones on this thread. I've been hit on the head with a bottle in Paris, assaulted in London, it doesn't encourage me to make people worry.
I go around Moresby in a taxi, escortless and unarmed. I know a number of expat Moresby residents, those who work for ExxonMobil and the Australian embassy tend to live in more fear as it is fostered by their employers. Exxon employees are contractually obliged to use the armed security escorts provided. But they aren't necessary and making potential tourists think that are is not helpful.
As a mine employee /sub contractor, you are a more likely target than a tourist, and an asset your company has decided to invest some protection in. But there is no need to put people off an overnight in a reasonably priced hotel.

 

[JR.]

Tawali was held up again last Thursday, 30th November 2017. Five armed men raided the resort in the middle of the day holding guests and staff at gunpoint and taking cash and other valuables. There was a security contractor and two police on site at the time, but they were ineffective. 4 Australians and a number of international guests were impacted. The local security contractor was taken hostage.

The resort did take great care of us after the incident, increased security and ensured that items taken were replaced.