We Slept in a Typical Sepik River House

Everyone Helps Unload the Canoe - Men, Women and Children

We slept in typical Sepik River stilt houses, which the owners build for themselves from trees/plants that they collect in the forest. The floor is a matt of palm leaves, tied to the small trees that are about 1’ apart. This gives the floor flexibility that makes balancing on one foot to dress first thing in the morning a true challenge! Villagers would form a parade to help us unload the canoe into the guesthouse, and reverse the process the next morning. Children, as young as four, patiently waited their turn to carry something their own size.