Monday, 11 February 2013

Part 8 - No more drama




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
I nearly forgot the SIFF for this update[4]…enjoy!

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, ChoiseulSanta 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.







[1] Also known as a pub crawl in many other parts of the world!


[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!


[3] Gym STILL ranks last in case you were wondering.


[4][4] All courtesy of Solomon Islands Visitor Bureau























 







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