In 1994 the smoking volcano that you see, erupted and devastated the provincial capital of Rabaul. Fortunately no-one died, they all escaped to the neighbouring town of Kokopo, which is now the capital. Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity, but the friendly locals say that so long as it smokes they’re fine. Pressure is escaping all the time but if it were to cease, then the pressure would build up underground and …. BOOM!
Rabaul is also famous for being an Australian garrison during WW2 but was overwhelmed by the Japanese in 1942. Realising the strategic value and location, the Japanese established Rabaul as their most powerful base in the southwest Pacific. At its peak strength, the fortress of Rabaul included five airfields, a seaplane and submarine base, plus a huge naval anchorage with support facilities. At its peak the Japanese garrison numbered almost 200,000 personnel. The Japanese moved underground, using mainly Indian and Australian POWs to build the tunnels. We visited Bita Paka war cemetery which contains the graves of over 1000 allied soliders.
The people of Rabaul are known as Melanesian people, they’re dark skinned with fuzzy hair, often a yellow colour. They like to eat a certain nut followed by lime which in turn makes their mouths bright red and causes their teeth to rot! The children here were just given a bag of chocolates from the ship!
In 1994 the smoking volcano that you see, erupted and devastated the provincial capital of Rabaul. Fortunately no-one died, they all escaped to the neighbouring town of Kokopo, which is now the capital. Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity, but the friendly locals say that so long as it smokes they’re fine. Pressure is escaping all the time but if it were to cease, then the pressure would build up underground and …. BOOM! 
Rabaul is also famous for being an Australian garrison during WW2 but was overwhelmed by the Japanese in 1942. Realising the strategic value and location, the Japanese established Rabaul as their most powerful base in the southwest Pacific. At its peak strength, the fortress of Rabaul included five airfields, a seaplane and submarine base, plus a huge naval anchorage with support facilities. At its peak the Japanese garrison numbered almost 200,000 personnel. The Japanese moved underground, using mainly Indian and Australian POWs to build the tunnels. We visited Bita Paka war cemetery which contains the graves of over 1000 allied soliders.
The people of Rabaul are known as Melanesian people, they’re dark skinned with fuzzy hair, often a yellow colour. They like to eat a certain nut followed by lime which in turn makes their mouths bright red and causes their teeth to rot! The children here were just given a bag of chocolates from the ship!
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