Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

We passed Turtle Island and an old volcano-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Finally on our way on to Dobu Island.Of course first off in the morning means last off in the afternoon-

.

.

 

[drron]

As usual there is a welcome party but by the time the last group came ashore it was just the musicians-

.

The children as usual caught my eye-

.

.

.

.

There was a collection of the villages most sacred charms-

.

.

.

One young fellow wanted a better view-

.

 

[drron]

School was let out for the afternoon so everyone could see us-

.

.

.

.

We along with several other passengers had brought along things for schools-just basics like pens,pencils,paper and exercise books.These were presented at most of the villages we visited-

.

Then came the sorcerer's dance-bringing a person back from the dead-

.

.

.

.

Now it probably wasn't totally traditional.One move the fellow made caused much laughter amongst the younger people.I put it in my memory bank-

.

 

[drron]

The dogs got involved-

.

.

.

Then the girls took over first with the coconut dance-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

Then they did a song that could come from any church school-the place is an Uniting Church mission,previously Methodist.

.

.

.

.

Then some refreshments-

.

.

And shopping-

.

 

[drron]

I have a few words with Dr.Joel before I set off around the village with our guide.He turns out to be the local builder who learnt on the job from his uncle.

.

.

The first stop is the school.He is proud of the new buildings for kindergarten-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

He was proud to point out his new project-a hall for the women's Fellowship and the work of the students-

.

.

.

The school toilet block,no kidding-

.

.

.

Good to see the staff get a door.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

The school oval-

.

As you get to higher grades a little more equipment appears-

.

.

That room was described as the "science"room.I presume home science.It had the only TV screen for the kids to watch educational programs unless they are on at the same time as Rugby,League or soccer matches are on when the men come here.Unfortunately the TV hasn't been working for 12 months.

.

.

We next visited the "hospital".There are 2 resident nurses.If someone needs to see the doctor they are sent by canoe to a neighbouring island.Over 2000 people live here.This is where patient relatives sleep-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Interesting-

.

.

Well that should sterilise anything.Must be the private wards-

.

.

.

.

The emergency room-

.

.

Then off to the church-

.

.

 

[drron]

The remains of the old church and the village market place-

.

.

The base of a very old mango tree-

.

.

.

.

The call to church is by drum.But you don't throw out your old drums-

.

.

But more than ever it was the people.I would always introduce myself but here people would come up,introduce themselves and ask your name and where you came from.And those smiles-

.

.

 

[drron]

Now I really did up embarrassing one little girl.I introduced myself and her name is Rhonda.Her little friends then set up a chant-"Ron,Rhonda...Ron,Rhonda" which kept going for several minutes.This is Rhonda-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then it was time to say goodbye.And guess who was there to say it-yes the group of children who followed us all the way back to our landing site.

.

Dobu was our last adventure in PNG.It also symbolised our visit.The tropical paradise of our imagination.Stunning scenery,beautiful water colours and lush tropical growth.An ideal place unless you live here.The paucity of equipment for the school and hospital.Yet here the people are generally happy.They love their life.The things we worry about are so trivial compared to their challenges.So why are many of us miserable?
Talking to our guide here they are aware of some of the problems keeping them back.They know their politicians are corrupt.They know PNG is a country rich in minerals and oil yet they are not seeing any benefit.They just shrug this off and enjoy just living and their families.

 

[drron]

Back to the ship.Tonight was the Venetian coughtail Party and Dinner.Only 11 out of 115 are first timers.However before that it was the sunset-

.

.

.

.

We had dinner with the Staff Engineer-just us and him.But learnt a lot about the ship.Seeing it was designed as a cold climate ship there are real problems in the tropics.The engines run best at lower temperatures and must be kept under 28C.However seawater here is 30C +.Got the lowdown on the problems of the anchor.There was a funny noise coming from below.So Mrsdrron asked him if he could tell if there was a problem just by the sound the engine makes.Of course he replied.But that noise you are hearing is the crew preparing for their BBQ night!
Friday was a sea day.A really lazy day.
Saturday and we were in the Solomons passing several islands-

.

.

We arrive in Honiara at 1300.This visit is necessary to go through Immigration and customs formalities for the Solomons.I was here in 1969 and brought the family back in 1980.So we forgo the village visit to take a walk through Honiara.First though the port,as usual very uninspiring-

.

.

.

A group was preparing for our welcome-

.

 

[drron]

A very musical welcome-

.

On the dock was a police car.But Highway Patrol?

.

Past the Hotel Mendana where we stayed in 1981-the hottest spot here in Honiara.

.

.

There was a walking tour which was taken to a "handicrafts market".Not much there and the prices were the same in the air conditioned shop in the Hotel Mendana.

.

So back to the hotel and cool down-

.

.

We made a friend when I asked the waiter how long he had worked here.He had been here since 1979.We told him we still remembered the Kokoda at this hotel as the best we have had.He beamed telling us that when we were here he worked in the Kitchen.
Walking around made me feel sad.I had noticed a decline in standards from 1969 to 1980 but the fall has obviously accelerated.Over the 3 days in the Solomons I found a lot of older Islanders who felt that Independence was a mistake.

.

.

.

In 1969 the Yacht club was the place to go for an expat.Not a shadow of it's former glory.

 

[drron]

This picture saddened me-

.

But there is some pride-

.

.

So back to the ship-

.

.

Loading cargo Solomons style-

.

.

.

How many can you fit on a ferry?

.

And our farewell begins-

.

 

[drron]

.

And the ferry steams into the west-

.

.

But how many entertainers can you fit into a Toyota pick up-

.

.

.

All of them plus their instruments of course.We cruised off into the sunset.As usual for this part of the world it was stunning-

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

I'm sorry but I just love sunsets-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[amaroo]

Some great screen savers in that lot!

 

[love_the_life]

Pretty nifty sunsets there - I love the ones in the tropics, always such intense colours!