03 Nov 2016

Expedition Explores Most Remote Solomon Islands

Over the last few days we have being visiting some of the most remote Solomon Islands.  The islands of the Temotu region are very rarely visited by supply vessel and visited even less by tourists.  Our visits took us to Nendo, Duff and Vanikoro Islands. 

At Nendo Island expeditioners had the option to snorkel and discover the underwater world, while others were taken by our local guide for a jungle hike.  With everyone returning to the vessel for lunch, we moved the vessel across to the Township of Lata and we set off in the back of the local taxis up to a village for a full welcome and traditional dancing and singing known as Sing-Sing. 

Overnight we moved the vessel out to Duff Islands, the outermost Island.  We dropped off Dr Simon Salopuka of the Vaka Trust (for more information on this Project visit their website: http://vaka.org) and visited the main island of Taumako.  With a long zodiac transit from the vessel, we headed off as the tide started to come up so we could get the zodiacs inside the outer reef system.  World-class snorkelling just off a white sandy beach was next and we found all types of coral that was healthy, untouched and unexplored!  Being careful to leave it as pristine as we had found it, we then packed up from there and headed down to the main village on the Island where we were meet by some very happy local kids and women.  They welcomed us onto the Island with local songs and performances.  After the full welcome we had time to meander and interact with the children and this gave us a very good insight into their way of life.  As we departed the main village we made a landing at the small Island just off the Main Village, as this is the place that are building the Vaka, or traditional canoes as part of the Vaka Project.  One vaka is full completed and ready to sail, the other is still being worked on to try and have it ready before the winds turn.  These are amazing craft and it is heart-warming to see the locals working to keep this skillset alive with the dream to pass the knowledge and skill onto the next generation of the region. 

Vanikaro Island, was the last place in the Solomon Islands we visited and it treated us well. Once we dropped the anchor the birders set off exploring and soon after the rest of the group was ashore at the small but ever-growing village of Usili.  There was time to walk, explore and talk with the locals and even sing with the local children!  After lunch we boarded the zodiacs for Buma in the north of the Island.  A group of men welcomed the zodiacs in warrior-style and we were then led to the main area of the village where the chief of the village formally welcomed us into his village.  A traditional Sing-Sing unique to their village and their culture was proudly presented to us.  On the way back to the vessel we visited the memorial to La Perouse one of the great French Explorers.

We are about to clear into Vanutau and start to explore this new area of the South Pacific. 

Photo (from file) of Nendo Chiefs: Heritage Expeditions