A Lovely Get-Away...

As some of you may know, Teddy and I will be celebrating our TEN YEAR Wedding Anniversary in the end of May. Since we were both off of work on Good Friday for Easter Weekend, we thought it would be a great time to celebrate early and get-away for a couple of days!

We were prepared with extra snacks, a picnic lunch, and comfy hiking clothes…so we set off to Rondon Ridge Mountain Lodge…located high up in the mountains just south of Mt. Hagen. The elevation was approximately 6,500 feet, and Teddy enjoyed driving the Land Cruiser up and around our winding mountain path. We arrived and were pleasantly surprised that we were the only guests there! We had the whole place to ourselves and it was wonderful!

Teddy navigating us up the mountainside

We made it to the top!

We spent some time exploring all the tribal artifacts on display in the main building…some of which were for sale…but cost A LOT…so we took pictures of them instead. : ) After getting settled in our room, where some large totem/tiki statues greeted us, we decided to take our picnic lunch and hike around the trails surrounding the property. 

 

            

This guy was in the middle of our room!

The property is filled with beautiful, well-maintained trails that pass through jungle, fields, streams, and even give glimpses of waterfalls. After hiking for about an hour, we found a perfect rock in a stream bed to spread out our picnic blanket and have lunch. Our meal was the kind that seems to taste even better when eaten outdoors surrounded by God’s beautiful creation: sausage, cheese, bread, and pears.

Our picnic spot

 On Saturday morning, after breakfast, we set off to do some more exploring of the trails. Teddy was able to track down several birds of interest and we had a lovely rest in the equatorial sunshine before heading back to the lodge to check-out and head back to station. 

Tracking birds...

Black-Billed Cuckoo-Dove

Jungle Graffiti

Beautiful butterfly in a clearing

The LARGEST spider web we have ever seen!

View from the top!

Teddy climbed to the VERY top!

View of Mt. Hagen from above the clouds!

Enjoying God's Creation!

Overall, it was a wonderful two days. It is amazing how refreshing it is to be away from one’s everyday surroundings and absorb the magnificent mountain air and sunshine. We feel so blessed to have had the resources and time to get-away…it was very restorative. 

Bikpela em i wasman bilong mi. 

Olsem na mi no inap sot long wanpela samting.  

Em i mekim mi i slip long gutpela gras. 

Na em i bringim mi i go long ol liklik wara 

na mi dring na mi malolo. 

~ Buk Song 23:1-2 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. 

~ Psalm 23:1-2