An American traveller is cycling across Papua New Guinea, combining road and boat travel to explore the country before continuing to Indonesia.
Henry Hall, from the United States, says his interest in PNG began as a child after reading about its cultural diversity, but distance and cost prevented him from visiting until now.
Driven by his passion for bicycle touring, Hall brought his bicycle from the US and assembled it in Kavieng, New Ireland Province.
He cycled south along the Boluminski Highway for five days, then travelled by boat to East New Britain where he cycled around Kokopo.
Hall then boarded the MV Karkar in Rabaul for its monthly voyage to Lae a five-day trip that gave him a chance to witness traditional welcomes at different ports.
After arriving in Lae, he travelled to the Highlands for several days, leaving his bicycle in safe keeping, before returning and cycling to Madang in three days.
He said the final stretch into Madang was the most challenging.
“I underestimated those mountains. They are steep and rocky, but I kept pushing,” Hall said.
Hall spent several days in Madang resting and also joined a bicycle race in the city on September 12.
He said travelling by bicycle allowed him to experience villages, landscapes and communities in a different way.
His next destination is Vanimo, from where he plans to continue his journey into Indonesia.
