Madang, Papua New Guinea

Capital City

Madang is not the idyllic tropical paradise it may seem. With a population of just 27,420 as of 2005, this coastal town in Papua New Guinea has a lot going on beneath the surface. The climate is brutally hot and wet, with over 3,100 millimeters of rainfall annually. And while the town has attracted some NGOs and expatriates, the history is rife with challenges - from the German colonial era's failed coffee plantations to the near-destruction of Madang during World War II. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the town's reputation as "safer" than larger cities like Lae or Port Moresby is faint praise at best. For those seeking a remote, low-key outpost, Madang may hold some appeal, but it's hardly the tropical dream.