Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

Sunday and we arrive at Owaraha Island which was named Santa Ana by Mendana when he discovered it in 1568.At the briefing our Expedition leader said that there was a small bay called Port Mary though it had not been entered by any Expedition ship he had been on.Obviously Captain Alex took up the challenge and we of course anchored in Port Mary.

.

.

The ferry was in-

.

.

.

.

.

Soon after we anchored the ferry left-

.

.

As it passed the Captain sounded the horn and several boys jumped off-

.

 

[drron]

The zodiacs were lowered,scout boat in and passengers started out to the beach-

.

.

.

.

Once again the welcome challenge-

.

.

.

The village was out to watch-

.

And flower arrangements everywhere-

.

 

[drron]

There was a short walk to the performance area past the church and lots of stalls-

.

.

The audience was ready-

.

.

The band started-

.

.

With traditional materials for their instruments-

.

.

And the audience approved-

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

Then the women were ready to dance-

.

.

.

.

.

Under supervision of course-

.

Whilst the men awaited their turn-

.

 

[drron]

.

.

And how many kids can fit under 1 palm frond-

.

.

.

.

Kids showing some ingenuity-

.

.

And there is a change in the women's groups-

.

.

 

[drron]

But the locals have spotted something else-

.

The Santa Ana mudmen-
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fa_lM4vKaUE/VEHgL2LEMHI/AAAAAAABe2U/rvCCi3idndg/s400/DSC01106.JPG.

.

.

.

They are said to represent a Polynesian raiding party who of course were interested in the women-

.

.

.

Just in time the goodies(Melanesians) arrive-

.

.

 

[drron]

The fight is on-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Naturally the baddies flee-

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Back to the people of Santa Ana.Back in the 1920s a German married a local woman on this island and eventually became an elder.The only white man to achieve this in a Melanesian community.His family stil live here.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

This crowd was watching one of the English passengers dancing.They found it amusing.However the house came down when an older local woman came out of the crowd and invited me to dance.I put all I had learnt at Dobu into the effort.It literally brought the house down.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

..

And back to the village-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

That last photo is interesting.It is a replica of a structure from the men's sacred area which a boy crosses over to attain manhood.But this was not there for our benefit.The Solomons are having an election next month and this is where a fellow announced his candicacy for the elections.
I had a long talk with the local organiser of the visit.He said he was about 70.I asked him what he had done.Turns out he was a Custom's Officer.He was working at Henderson Field in 1969 so it is very likely I had met him before.The Solomons were a British Protectorate then.They gained self government in 1976 and full independence in 1978.He told me that the British had sent him to Australia twice,New Zealand and Japan to learn Custom proceedures and to speak better English plus a little Japanese who were the major tourists then along with US veterans.However in 1977 he had to resign.I just said 'wrong clan" and he nodded.He was another who felt independence was not such a great thing.

So now it was time to go back to the ship,past the snorkel safety boat and a few locals.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

After another beautiful lunch it was time for me to go back and snorkel.I had missed the first session on Tuam.I also had to try out my new camera.But most importantly I was under instruction to find Nemo and take a picture.
There were several young boys sitting on the bulbous bow of the Explorer.We made a couple of high speed passes eventually scatterin them-

.

The expedition staff were on hand at the beach-

.

So to snorkelling-

.

.

Soon I was happy-

.

.

.

.

.

I went back to the beach and played shark with several of the youngsters.I believe in the Joseph Heller quote.When I grow up I want to be a little boy.This was one of the times I was successful.
Then there was this young girl who stuck by my side.What a smile-

.

 

[drron]

It was time to leave Santa Ana as the rain clouds moved in-

.

.

But another beautiful sunset-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Monday and it is Malo Island in the Solomons.We pass other islands before anchoring off Malo.

.

We arrive at Malo-

.

.

As you can see the Captain does a great job again making for a short and easy zodiac ride.There was a little rubbish in the water-

.

.

The last photo is of the neighbouring island.I didn't realise that there was a ship sinking at the dock until I downloaded photos that night.It onviously had happened only recently as when we left there were 2 other ships close by this vessel.But life on Malo was unaffected-

.

.

.

.

.

As you can see there were no threatening warriors here just friendly greetings.What is not apparent from these pictures is that there was a series of earthquakes near here in early 2013 culminating in a 7.9 event on February 6 2013.This resulted in a 3 metre tsunami.Around the nearby islands 10 people died.We are the first ship to visit since that tsunami.

 

[drron]

The children again are very interested in our visit-

.

.

Again floral decorations adding to the magic of this place-

.

.

.

.

A large mangrove swamp behind the beach.There were demonstrations of daily life set up-

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Then it is off to the area that has been prepared for the presentation.As always a welcome from a village elder then an explanation from the tourism organiser from the village.

.

.

.

.

.

The dancers arrive-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

In the first dance there was much clashing of wood telling the story of battle-

.

.

The next tells what happens after the battle.First they all join arms-

.

A young fellow climbs up and walks across the arms-

.

.

As he gets towards the front those at the back break off and run to the head of the lines-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

The fellow then climbs a tree-

.

.

.

The tree breaks and down he comes.Today of course he is caught but in years gone by the fellow up walking was a captured enemy.He would fall to his death and become the evening meal.Then followed another dance by the men with the addition of a couple of ladies-

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then it was to a sacred area where there was singing-

.

.

.

 

[love_the_life]

Such interesting experiences and photos. Thanks for keeping up the posting!

 

[drron]

Such interesting experiences and photos. Thanks for keeping up the posting!

Thanks.Probably a 48 hour hiatus in posts.Flying home tomorrow and then on Wednesday leaving home at 0430 to fly to TSV for work.