Village - With only 3 flights in/out a week, I knew this property was going to be special, but I didn't realize how much I'd fall in love. As you descend in the plane, you can look at the window and see locals watching and waving as you land. I first thought they were waving to their loved ones who were also on the plane, but came to learn that nearly all of the passengers are just coming to the resort and it's that the local villagers are just excited to meet you. Truly, both Papua New Guinea and Tufi remain one of my most favorite destinations because of the authenticity and ability to connect with locals. As we deboarded and began walking up the small hill, I questioned how far we would be walking, but then realized the airstrip, village and resort are essentially one in the same. We were greeted by the resident hornbill and after settling in my room, I ventured out. I began chatting with a group of village boys who invited me to join them in a game of soccer that afternoon. Sadly, the teenagers were using the only soccer ball, so I learned the game of rugby instead. The rooms have all the necessities and the property has a large pool, bar area and even wifi, which was surprising. The food is traditional with a heightened sense of freshness, especially with the seafood like the over-sized lobster tail caught earlier in the day. The activities from the resort are unprecedented authenticism. You can venture by a canoe raft to a nearby village to learn how the locals utilize sago and their tattoo process. You can go diving (both snorkel & scuba) to see amazing fish, explore sandbars or even catch a lobster. Take time to walk along the mountain top overlooking the fjords or into the village to share some stories. In the evening you can enjoy some local performances, relax at the resort or reflect on the time spent exploring the land of 800+ languages. When we departed, one of the village boys approached a fellow traveler to give her a bracelet he made for her after she spent some time talking with him. In most destinations, there would be an expectation of payment for such a gift, but as we learned and were told, tipping is not part of the culture and a payment would be somewhat offensive. He wanted to give a gift just to give a gift, which really highlights how special and welcoming the villagers are, especially as they all come out to wave goodbye as your depart one of the most authentic and remote places on the planet.
