Mt Hagen Show

Of course living in Mt Hagen you can't avoid the Hagen Show.  Playing 'spot the tourist' is far too easy.   I choked at the K300 (about AU$150) for the pass to the "centre".  I figured that a had seen good "bilas" (traditional dress) at events such as election campaign meetings for free and wasn't going to pay that price to see an act rather than 'Singsing' for a real occasion.

So I opted for the K4 gate pass.  OK I had to look through the wire fence while the "centre pass" people go to be ON the football oval with the performers.  However, I was satisfied with my K4 ticket.

A man did try and get my friends and I to go around and pay a lot more for a centre pass but I resisted.  Another man came and asked me how much I paid for my ticket.  I replied that I had already purchased my ticket at the gate.  I insisted and I held him at bay.  Fortunately, I knew the man working on the gate.  I also strongly told this man I didn't need to enter into any further conversation with him because he was not an official (I had noticed that officials were wearing shirts labelled "Official 2012 Mt Hagen Show" on the pocket).  He then turned around so I could read the back of his shirt....oops it read "Official 2012 Mt Hagen Show".  Humble pie for lunch but I still told him to go and talk to the guy on the gate.  I never saw him again.

2013, once again I bought a K4 gate pass and this year no dramas :-)  I must say the 'Singsing' at the Prime Minister's visit was pretty similar to Mt Hagen Show with no fences or fees.

If you are coming here to see the show it may be worth the K300 but if you are spending considerable time in PNG - find a real 'Singsing' to visit.

In 2014, we paid a "local" fee to slip into the centre and there were many more cultural groups this year and it was great to be in amongst it.