100 Things To Do Before You Die: The Mt Hagen Show

“We’re going to the future. Do you want to come along?”

What an explosive quote! That was Dave Freeman’s favourite quote – the advertising executive whose travel guide 100 Things To Do Before You Die inspired a generation of travellers to treat each day as if it might be their last.

The guide, subtitled “travel events you can’t miss“, was based around the revolutionary notion of creating an agenda based on 100 “sites” and marketing it by reminding mortal readers that their time on earth was limited. After becoming a bestseller shortly after publication in 1999, it spawned an entire publishing genre.

Sadly, on the 17 August 2008, the man who told us how to live life to the full, died in a freak accident at his home in Los Angeles – age 47. He had only managed to get round to visiting just more than half the places recommended in his famous book.

And yes, Papua New Guinea did make the book – courtesy of our world famous Mt Hagen Show.

I think the simple fact that the Mt Hagen Show made Freeman’s book is a testimony to the continuous efforts of the Mt Hagen Cultural Show Committee over the decades, its volunteers, and the show of support from corporate sponsors.

This year saw the 47th Mt Hagen Show successfully held at the Kagamuga Showgrounds – attracting more than 300 international tourists and about 50,000 spectators.

NOTE: I included a slideshow of pictures from the Mt Hagen Show:

~ by Tavurvur on September 3, 2008.