27 Oct 2015

Star Harbour, Makira

We anchored shortly after dawn this morning in the sheltered waters of Star Harbour. The birders were first ashore as usual and headed for the hills where they walked the forest trails spotting endemic species with beautiful views of Duchess Lorikeets and the endemic Myzomela. The rest of us set out shortly after breakfast to enjoy a Zodiac cruise through the mangroves at low tide so we could appreciate their aerial root systems. Our cruise concluded at the head of a narrow channel where we landed and set out on a gentle 10 minute amble across a low isthmus through a magnificent garden like setting towards Toru Village.

On arrival we were welcomed to the village by Paramount Chief Rastis. The local children proudly showed us their handmade surf boards which then led to a demonstration of their abilities in the crashing surf out on the reef edge. The boards, made from Sago Palm wood carved with machetes and held together with bamboo skewers, are remarkably strong and light! On our way back to the ship we visited Na Mongha Village on the shores of Star Harbour where the local ladies performed a series of dances accompanied by a mixture of modern tunes and traditional drums. Then it was time to return to the Spirit of Enderby for lunch as we departed for Nendo.