26 Oct 2016

Exploration of Jungle-clad Kolombangara Island

This morning when I dropped the birders ashore just on dawn it was a lovely clear morning with the last of the stars shinning and the water glowing with bioluminesence... but unusually there was cloud around the peak of Kolombangara. 

Later in the morning this unusual weather continued with several heavy rain showers during the morning. Normally here it is sunny in the morning and if it is going to rain it is in the afternoon.  This was not the case today and by the end of the day we were basking in sunshine and the high peaks were clear of cloud! 

The rest of us headed ashore at the slightly more respectable hour of 0800 and boarded the ‘island’s best available transport" a 3-tonne truck for the drive up to Imborano Lodge which sits nestled amongst the forest on the edge of a deep valley where the Vila River flows. The views from the lodge balcony over the forest and mountain are superb. Despite the occasional rain most headed out to explore the cloud forest all festooned with moss and noticeably a little cooler than at sea level.  There is also an excellent display of orchids growing around the lodge which were well photographed. Returning to the shore the local carvers and artists were ready to negotiate and some lively trading ensued for inlay bowls and carvings. 

This afternoon there was a short snorkel excursion to a local reef conservation area where the coral had been somewhat damaged recently by an influx of freshwater after heavy rain although the fish life was prolific. 

Photo credit (from file): H.Ahern