Clay Pot Fire Cooked Feast (Ep22)

Simple living, rich tradition — join us in Papua New Guinea as we cook over the fire in a handmade clay pot and experience the rhythm of island life. The morning begins with a canoe pulling alongside our boat — locals bring us one of our favourites: fresh baked cassava pudding, still warm from the fire. Not long after, they return with live mud crabs they’ve just caught by hand along the mangroves — strong, fast, and very much alive as they make a chaotic escape across the cockpit. Out here, life moves with the tides. People grow up on the sea, learning to sail, fish, and navigate from a young age — skills passed down through generations. We often talk about how it feels being here; how the community looks out for us with such care that it reminds us of being “cubs” — protected, guided, and watched over. Later, we go ashore to a small fishing outpost. Along the coast, local fishermen have built simple structures — a hut for sleeping, others for drying fish over the fire, or taking shelter when the weather turns. These places tell stories of everyday island life — resourceful, communal, and deeply connected to the ocean. We light a fire and cook in a traditional clay pot, a vessel shaped entirely by hand from local clay, then fired and hardened over coals. These pots are more than cooking tools — they hold deep cultural significance and are used during weddings, funerals, and feasts of importance. Each one represents care, continuity, and the sharing of life’s most meaningful moments. As evening falls, we return to our floating home to tackle a small but steady task — repairing wood rot on the boat, keeping her ready for the next crossing. A day of fire, craft, and quiet purpose — moments that remind us why this life at sea feels so rich and full. 🌀 A story of craft, simplicity, and connection in the islands of Papua New Guinea. 🔥 Episode 22 – Sailing Louisiades, Papua New Guinea 📍 Location: Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea 🎣 Themes: Traditional Cooking, Clay Pot Traditions, Island Culture, Ocean Communities, Simple Living, Sailing Life ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 – 🍮 Fresh baked cassava pudding & live mud crabs delivered by canoe 1:52 – 🐚 Life at sea & being cared for like “cubs” 2:52 – 🎥 Intro video 3:18 – 🥥 Coconut plantation — a way to provide water during droughts 4:10 – ⛵ Sailing culture — learning the ocean from childhood 7:12 – 🛖 Exploring the fisherman’s huts ashore 11:05 – 🔥 Cooking on the fire in a traditional clay pot 13:06 – ⚙️ Boat repair — fixing wood rot aboard 🫶 Support Our Journey: 💡 Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Buy us a coffee → https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef 🎁 Send us a gift → https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow Our Adventures: 📸 Instagram → @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 Business Inquiries: onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey, we’re Ryan and Poppy — two sailors exploring the remote islands and reefs of the Pacific. Through stories like this, we hope to share the beauty, culture, and simplicity of life at sea while raising awareness for the fragile ecosystems and communities that sustain it. 🧭 Subscribe and join the voyage! #PapuaNewGuinea #IslandLife #TraditionalCooking #ClayPot #OnceUponAReef #SailingDocumentary #PacificIslands #CulturalHeritage #SimpleLiving #AdventureTravel