LAE TO BUANG FOR ARI SAM BASIL

Papua New Guineans are quite familiar with a joke about motorbikes collecting church offerings in Buang as Morobeans were comparing their church sizes and capacity.

Vividly I remember Late Bulolo MP Sam Basil over a few white cans laughed about the joke and shared his passion for motorbikes. It was a good laugh but Buang people really needed bikes for transportation given the geographic challenges they've endured for decades.

On May 12th 2023, thirteen local bikers from the Lae City Motorbike Club set out on a journey from Lae to Buang to commemorate the first anniversary since the passing of Late Sam Basil.

LCMC has been taking part in various rides around Lae and neighbouring districts since 2020. They did the Somare tribute ride and also went in an awareness ride for a peaceful and safer Madang over the Easter holiday this year.

Led by LCMC President Gordon Matafimo, the bikers without any experience on dirt biking the Buang road sets out on this expedition with Papa Willie Amos from Niugini Dirt bikers piloting the convoy. 

Papa Willie is a top notch rider as he is known to all bikers as Lapun Man. The Yangarian (from Yanga village, Lae) packed his beloved cans of beer and summoned the bikers to an early start at Lae's Raunwara.

I don't ride dirt bikes, but I have been a member of the club ever since it's inception in 2020. I don't wanna mention the unfateful afternoon I crashed at Pile river, I'll save it for another story later.

Fast forward a few hours later and the bikers arrived at Buang junction along the Bulolo highway. From there, they joined a pilgrimage of locals travelling to Sagayo village where the remeberance program is being held.

The bikes manovoured through smaller creeks and rocked up the mountains as their engines drew local villagers to the roadside. Children ran after the bikes while the elderly gazed in amazement as the bikers wheeled through the villages.

Buang is mountainous, but with a can of your beloved SP, you'll managed to ride through the dirt like it's your turf. The boys did had a few cans but lapun man Willie and president Gordon were cautious that they all stayed in line.

Word of the bikers coming to Sagayo had reached the people. The stopovers for photo shoots and relieve didn't delayed the expected arrival time as they raced through into Sagayo.

Awaiting them was Bulolo MP Sam Basil Jnr and the Basil family who had gathered to commemorate the passing of a great Kumul. 

Master of Ceremony, the legendary Mona Tonsy Clyde announced their arrival as singsing groups and locals cheered them. 

The tomb of Late Basil is positioned at the top of his village looking down on his village home and Buang LLG. The commemorative ceremony was held at the foothills of Sagayo overlooking the Buang river snakes its way between the mountains.

The Buang waterfalls and the scenery are magical. Legends say, a cave is found under the waterfalls and that remains a mystery for thousands of years.

Buang itself is a treasure hunt for adventure tourism and those who wish to immense themselves in the charms of mother nature. The soft cool breeze is mesmerizing and the view is breathtaking from the top as the sun rises and sets eveeyday.

This was the moment for truth for many who had rubbed shoulders and shared food and stories with Late Basil. He was a Motorbike enthusiast and a leader who had always strive to bring the modern world into his beloved Buang. There's electricity, telecommunication and now motorbikes that are only seen in magazines and movies in towns and cities.

I remember Late Basil lighting the Buang skies with fireworks on a New Years Eve and recently hosting the Prime Minister James Marape and senior cabinet members at his village residence for the night.

The bikers stayed for a few hours and later returned to Lae following the same route they've taken from Buang junction.

At Buang junction, two police SRU units from Lae waited and escorted them into Lae city where they parked into the famous LFA clubhouse and quench their thirst with a few beers.

LCMC does alot weekend rides to rural Morobe and had a growing interest in making bike riding become a tourist attraction in Morobe.

Member for Lae John Rosso has been a strong supporter of the club as they continue to advocate for a healthier and safer Lae and Morobe for everyone.

Keep an eye out for the next journey we take to promote peace and good order and encourage more young people to be part of the adventure tourism in PNG.