POSTCARDS FROM WINDJAMMER - ONCE A BEAUTY IN THE PACIFIC

I have never set foot on Winjammer Hotel in Wewak in the last two 20years, but heard stories and seen pictures of how beautiful it was during it's days. It was an iconic hotel - preferably the Pearl of the Pacific for many decades.

Situated along the Meni Beach, Winjammer gives a picturesque view across to Wewak harbour on the right and Wewak Hill and town on it's left.

I visited the old rundown mansion during my stay here at Wewak in January 2018 and I could only imagine how beautiful it was like back in it's hey days.

What remains now of Winjammer is nothing but memories.

The building itself houses a rare collection of artefacts from different parts of the Sepik. It could have been turned into a museum or an arts centre where cultural artefacts can be stored for display.

The entrance of the hotel that amuses and attracts visitors holds no value of what it used to be depicting the crocodile culture of the Sepik River people. Sepiks from far and wide take pride in Winjammer. It wasn't only a hotel, but like I've said, it is a replica of a traditional haus man.

There is a traditional garamut at the bar and chairs and tables that have Sepik masks carved at the back of each one of them.

Remnants of three machine guns lines up the front view facing the sea. These are memoirs of the World War II that torn apart and destroyed so many casualties. Our forefathers who have built the hotel were so clever that they want their children and other visitors to have a feel and see the remains of the war that has transformed our traditional way of life and led us to colonisation.

Some of the people who could have told me the greatest story of the war and other historical things that have transformed Sepik have passed on their children still lives in Wewak today. I believe the Tang Mow family who now owns several portions of land in Wewak town and runs a very successful supermarket and wholesale business have a very good collection of how Wewak was like in it's glory days.

Little I knew about who owns and operate the hotel (maybe I should find out an write about it too) but it was indeed a great set up back.

Today, Winjammer is now a rundown mansion. It has turned into a shanty home for drugs, alcohol, gambling and prostitution to thrive. Electricity and water have been disconnected and the once luxurious rooms and apartments are now occupied by people who rents them for K50 - K200 a fortnight. Whoever that is collecting the rent is non of my business and I don't wanna know about it too.

These are few questions that I kept on asking myself and the answers are from my personal observation (you can have your say as well).

Winjammer hotel could have collapse due to mismanagement issues or other reasons (which are not of my interest either).

- We have seen that lately there have been a lot of similar businesses sprouting all over Wewak town. A lot of new hotels, guest houses and cheaper accommodation facilities etc.

- Attitude is another issue that could have caused a decline in customers frequenting Winjammer. Overtime, it used to be the only secured place to have a few beers with friends, but being opened to the beachfront, a lot of drunkards have accessed it to spoil the party.

- Windjammer has also been known to have been exposed to high tide and strong waves that have destroyed parts of the bar area. Strong winds and rising level of sea from where it used to be could have somewhat caused inconveniences for those enjoying their time next to the sea.

These could be some of the many reasons for it's closure, but I would really wanna see Winjammer being resurrected in the near future. If the government is serious about tourism in Sepik, it has to get it's acts together with it's word.

We cannot sit back and watch a very iconic and successful business crumbled to it's knees and the government doing nothing to restore the pride that once it has shown to visitors worldwide.

As a Sepik, I would like the government to consider buying the remnants of Winjammer. The carvings, totem poles, the war memorial guns etc and put them in a museum before we lose everything to mother nature.