11.02.2013
Morning all,
Hoping you are all doing super.
Well, I’m writing to you after much drama since my last
update (actually a fortnight ago).
No more drama
Thanks to everyone for your kind
thoughts this earlier this week, particularly EJ and Co. and Claire that
managed to effectively mobilise the world and his wife to check on me in the
space of about 15 minutes! After a slightly hectic tsunami warning and a
request to seek higher ground in the afternoon, the threat to Honiara and
surrounding provinces was lowered and the status quo had returned by the
following morning.
The same cannot be said for all
parts of the Solomons. The epicentre of the earthquake originated just east of
the Solomon Islands with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter Scale, which subsequently
led to a tsunami of water and debris waves reaching 0.9 metres. A few villages
in Temotu Province were wiped out and there have been a handful of fatalities.
Another earthquake estimated at 7.1 hit the following day led to the
destruction of the wharf, which has caused further complication to aid efforts
in the area. My friend, Irene, whose been reporting to ABC and the BBC told me
today that those in the region have been forced to unload the aid shipment by
hand! The serious aftershocks have also caused the Prime Minister’s flight to
be aborted. Since Wednesday, around 200 smaller quakes (I know, 200!) ranging
3.0 to 5.0 have been recorded.
I’ll keep you posted as
information flows down from those working on the ground.
Just fine
I did, however, have my own
life-threatening experience recently. Over the last fortnight, I took my first
adventure to Western Province. And boy, was it an adventure. Nothing could have
prepared me for what took place that week. Not even the recommendation to bring
my life jacket from seasoned travellers at work (or a DWP PAID weekly work plan
for that matter). Not even!
I mentioned last time that the
Central Bank is currently preparing for the 2012 Annual Report and part of that
is to visit the provincial hubs, Gizo in the west and Auki in the east. My work
colleague, Louisa and I went flew to Munda on Monday afternoon and stayed the
night. After a night in the busy streets of Munda (there must a have been about
10 buildings in the town), we took the bus to Noro where we were given the
opportunity to tour the tuna processing factory (believe me, it was freaking
awesome) before taking a small rowing boat with a 25hp motor engine from Noro
to Kolombangara. We then visited one of the big logging companies, which is
located at the bottom of Mount Kolombangara. The views were spectacular from
what we could see. A trek up the volcano is one of the must sees here but alas,
no time!
It wasn’t until the morning after
that all hell broke loose! We had to take a similar sized boat for 45 minutes
from Kolombangara to the provincial capital, Gizo. However, the journey ended
up being the scariest journey…EVER! It wasn’t that the journey took 3.5 hours
with Louisa and I constantly bouncing a metre high every 3 seconds and then
slamming back down on the wooden seat the whole time fearing that we would fall
out, or that the heavens poured down on us and the waves kept tearing into the
boat unabated, or even that we had to stop for 45 minutes to take shelter from
the storm because the visibility was so poor. No, none of that. It was the
moment that I looked back at the two drivers (so just the four of us in total) to
see utter fear in their eyes and then looked around to find we were in the
middle of nowhere; no neighbouring islands, no other signs of life, nothing. By
this point, Louisa and I grabbed each other and just prayed.
Thankfully, the drivers persevered and we arrived in one piece. Soaking wet but in one piece. I did, however, have
to miss the first meeting of the day (we had 6 that day!) to lie
down because I was feeling ready to vomit…Needless to say, I won’t be
recommending that leg of the journey to you! Gizo itself was very beautiful. A
much quieter more picturesque Honiara.
Be Without You
Since I last wrote you to you,
two more friends have subsequently been voted off the island. No… wait…I meant
that they have since departed from the hustle and bustle of Honiara. Ugh! And another friend, Simon, is going back to
New Zealand tomorrow. It’s quite annoying and I’ve only been here for 4.5
months!
As several of you have probably
experienced, the habit that one formulates quite rapidly is to find out early
on (preferably soon after knowing their name) as to how long they’ve got left. I know, I know – totally obnoxious but
it can be a significant factor for most! Obviously, not for me as it seems that
I get drawn to the ones with imminent departure dates! Charming to say the
least.
Even so, it is surprising how
quickly I adapt to the situation and how relationships with others appear to
shift quite dramatically. A piece of advice that a long standing volunteer
friend (4+ years), Erin, gave me was that it’s sad to lose good friends when
they leave but you should embrace new friends and arrivals too. She is
definitely right.
And fear not, we celebrated
Simon’s departure very aptly. The organisers of said event call it Pub Golf,
essentially a tour across the drinking establishments of Honiara[1]
dressed in the capital’s finest treasures of second hand golfing attire. I call
it a stag do! Regardless, a very good
evening was had by all.
One love
I must admit without dispute that I am now officially in
love with the Solomons.
Church is fast becoming one of my
favourite weekly events (if only it wasn’t a 730 mass[2])
– the singing is ineffable and the provincial visits provide a welcomed
distraction of highly energised and visually vibrant tribal dancing to the
often yawnful regular proceedings.
However, driving lessons still
top the Kenn Fun Chart (KFC)[3].
Since I last wrote, I’ve taken lessons 2 and 3, which have helped me to
progress to third gear, dabbling with a little bit of reverse mode action, and
going on the open road dodging a tractor and many-a-Hilux. I’m still very proud
that my injury count still remains at zero (phew, I hear you whisper) although
the more flustered moments saw me pull the hand brake instead of the changing
the gear and inadvertently honk the horn quite abrasively in my first attempt
to move from 1st to 2nd gear. Go ahead, laugh. I think, in
both cases, it’s very funny although the former case is a little disconcerting.
I just want to make Theo feel nervous.
I also went snorkelling for the
first time since early December and it just reminded me of the setting that I
find myself in. For all those days that
I find myself missing home of which there have been more recently, in most
cases, I can reassure myself that it’s all worth it by recognising how much I
have already learnt and have yet to learn but also appreciate the wonders of
this beautiful country. For those other few occasions, there’s nothing that a
phone call to ma and pa can’t fix J.
SIFF
1. The Spanish explorer,
Alvaro de Mendana, first brought Solomon Islands to the attention of the
Europeans back in 1568. Mainly Dutch and French settlers were responsible for
forming the islands into a grouping, with later influences attributed to the
Germans and the British.
2. The islands of New
Georgia, Guadalcanal, Makira and Malaita became a British
protectorate in 1893 with Tulagi proclaimed the protectorate capital in 1896.
The islands of Santa Cruz, Rennell and Bellona were included between
1898 and 1899. The Shortlands, Choiseul, Santa Isabel and Ontong Java came under the protectorate only in 1900.
3. The Solomon Islands
gained independence from Britain on July 7, 1978.
Anyway, well it’s time for me to retire as I have lots
to plan in anticipation of my first UK visitor – Lukasz is arriving in 19 days!
Hooray. Who’s next?
Until next time, take care and God bless.
Kennton x
P.S. Hope you’re enjoying the photos. They should all
be up now including from previous updates.
[2] It’s actually an 830am mass but due
to the traffic, you need to get there an hour before mass so that you have a
good chance of getting a seat. The opportunity cost, however, is an hour lost
in bed!
