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