Papua New Guinea – the very name conjures up images of a land and people that remain one of the last vestiges of a culture untouched by civilization. Alive with natural beauty, the fabled rain forest is resplendent with stunning Birds of Paradise dressed in shimmering iridescent hues and river valleys so remote that they were not penetrated by the outside world until very recently. One of the world’s most exciting destinations becomes even more so every year during its annual Highland Show, affording us the opportunity to witness in a few days what few people will ever see in a lifetime. Then we cruise the mighty Sepik River onboard the 40-passenger m.v. Melanesian Discoverer, our luxury floating home, discovering isolated villages, the stunning architecture of the Haus Tambaran, and the fascinating “Art of the Sepik.”