highplanesdrifters

Mbili Island A good bit of fun. 20230503_141217.mp4

Mbili, Solomon Islands A very warm and heart felt welcome from the beautiful tribe. The schoolchildren greeted us with leis and the carvers were out in full force. My oh my these are next level carvers. The area was lined with at least 30 carvers showing their goods. We strolled around before the dances. Now that we've broken the purchase seal it's all in. Oh lordy, what are we thinking, we never buy stuff like this. Demonstration

Thanks much Terry. Just upgraded to a Go Pro 9 black, and really like it. I had been using a GP 7 which I found at the bottom of the ocean in Turks.😃 This one is so much better. Larger screen so I can actually see what mode I'm in. Longer battery life, big plus. Didn't feel like I needed the higher models as my career as a millennial streaming influencer never really took off. 🤣

THAR SHE BLOWS!

GH010119_ALTA576854578815981488.MP4 MBILI ISLAND

Mbili Island, Soloman Islands A few pics from our snorkel. A very long shelf with a dramatic wall. Can never get enough of the blue stars.

Exciting! You will love the Venture or Pursuit. We have booked the 40 day Guam to Valparaiso for September 2024. After the first week on this itinerary I'm still excited to do more on this trip and next year.

Must have been an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing. Maybe I need a pointy hat.😃

It will be more than a drink! 😉

Thanks so much for posting this. It worked! I owe you a big one.

Thanks @Port Power just getting her warmed up for you! Sea day tomorrow. Will write more about the fantastic job Silversea are doing.

NEXT UP Mibli Island, Soloman Islands A very remote island not often visited. We have high hopes for the snorkeling in Marovo Lagoon. It is the largest saltwater Lagoon in the world, surrounded by extinct volcanic islands. It is noted for its high bio diversity. We are said to be getting a welcome reception and then off to a snorkeling platform. The ship will be positioned where the cloud is in the center. I think the island was made by aliens. Love me some maps. Sorry about the creases. Mbili is located near #30. We forget about the vast distances between islands.

The less than ideal snorkeling is a combo of: not the most interesting Reef, a bit of garbage, not a lot of fish, and some damage. The dancers are painted. The orange/red with mud and the dark with charcoal. Still trying to find out what the pointy white hats are all about. Nice to hear the dances are universally entertaining. One always worries about a canned tourist preformance. Amazing how we slip in so easily and become part of the tribe. Their daily lives are interrupted by a little merry making and trade. We are much richer for it.

Santa Ana, Solomon Islands There are numerous explanations about who's who in this dance. We're hoping to learn more from our local Solomon guide. For now we are going with the explanation below.😃 The mud men are supposed to be Polynesians who come to the island take the local women, but are driven away by the Melanesians. There is a definite pecking order among the Pacific peoples, and the Polynesians see themselves as being the top rank. The Melanesians see things differently. The female part is usually played by younger hip thrusting seductive ladies. We tourists are not allowed to see that. Instead we get the grannies. You can hear the local laughter in the background as they see family members in a different light. Quite an interesting dance. 20230502_090145.mp4 20230502_090458.mp4 20230502_090608.mp4

Santa Ana, Solomon Islands Explorer has shifted out of the Coral Sea and into the Soloman Sea. Slipping into this little bay under cloudy skies, we are happy for the break from the intense sun. The locals were out in full force. We find a very busy little village preparing for our arrival. Known for its excellent carvers and a blond gene. Let's begin with some sheer JOY! This will never get old. 20230502_105921.mp4 The Carvers. Thanks goodness I am in the 'no more stuff phase'. Never mind. These are too cool, and only $20. Which one did I get, Pigboy or Batshark? A cruise ship grounded not far from here. The locals make good use of the dinning chairs.🤣 The snorkeling has been lacking. But, there are always a few interesting bits to find. Let's not forget we are in the South Pacific, in 86 degree water, it is wet, and I am happy. GH010055_ALTA576854578815981488.mp4 Welcome dances to come.

❤️❤️❤️

UP NEXT Santa Ana, Solomon Islands Port Mary is the name of the bay adjacent to Ghupuna the main village in Santa Ana. A bright white sand beach with huge shade-giving trees runs along the shoreline in front of the tidy village. The houses here are made with local materials and most are built on stilts. Islanders generally welcome visitors with traditional songs and dances performed by members of the three different villages on Santa Ana. Some local people will also set up stands offering souvenirs for purchase. The Solomons are best known for strings of traditional shell money and elegant carvings based on local stories and legends.

Thanks all for your kind words. Sorry about the audio/visual issues everyone is having. @5waldos There are very few masks anywhere. Our host on Pentecost had one on though. @WesW Thanks Wes. You sre the master, so I'll take any tips you have. I do have a new system. I've started posting videos separately after most of the information. I edit them to under 10 seconds, less bounce backs. I can do other things while the download is happening. Still takes time, but not all consuming. Posting helps me to organize along the way. Especially to Edit out junk, and collect my thoughts. Thanks all for following!

Another band for my big party. 20230430_141115.mp4

A bit of snorkeling. GH010019_ALTA576854578815981488.mp4

20230430_142755.mp4 The Water Women The Expedition team tried to hype this up as something special. Boy were they right.

Champagne Beach, Venautau This is the day you dream of when you're researching your trip in mid winter. Sugar sand, turquoise waters, and a shady spot with gentle breeze blowing. These young lads pulled every boat in and pushed every boat out. Highly entertaining. The water singers. Reed Band. The locals were charming. We spent some lazy time floating, laughing, and making friends for the day. They were keen to show their youngest these strangly colored new people. One screamed in fear which brought on roars of laughter. Eventually I got a smile. Videos to follow...maybe.....

UP NEXT Champagne Beach, Venautau As world famous beaches go, Champagne Beach is one of the big hitters. In 2003, CNN ranked it number nine in its list of top 100 beaches and independent travel specialists permanently include it on their list of 50 best beaches worldwide. It’s one of the world’s greatest natural beauties: picture-perfect beach white sand, turquoise water and nothing – save for the occasional cow or curious turtle - around. With only coconut plantations and a few friendly locals to keep you company, this might just be the island of your dreams. The glorious name “Champagne Beach” was given to the island in the 17th century, when Pedro de Quirós believed he had reached the famous unknown southern land or the “Tierra Australis Incognita” (or Australia as we now know it). He believed the effervescent bubbles of volcanic origin that bubble up from the crystal clear waters were reminiscent of the bubbles of Champagne. Additionally, the coastline is shaped like an art deco Champagne saucer, so the name stuck! The beach is located on the largest yet least populated island in the 40-island Vanuatu archipelago, near the village of Hog Harbor on Espiritu Santo Island. If you want to venture beyond the beach, then Espiritu Santu is also famed for its blue holes. The island is home to some of the clearest waters on Earth, benefiting from natural filtering from underground limestone caves. Ride or paddle your way through emerald green rainforest amid the sound of birdsong for an experience that will make your soul sing

Rom Dance 20230429_145224.mp4

Ambryn Island, Venautau It is hot. Sun searing, high humidity, no breeze in sight hot. Except for the children rolling around the surf even the locals are stationed in patches of shade. It is the second excursion of the day. Pentecost offered a steep short hike and hour and a half in the sun. Ambryn offered a short walk, along with plenty of shady seating. Whew. Welcoming committee. I want to throw a party and hire these guys! Giant carvings. Each design is specific to a tribe. If a carver want to use another tribes pattern he must get permission from that tribe. I was concerned that this pair would not fit in my luggage. Ready for the dance. The 'Rom' dance is another fertility rite or yam harvest dance. Or in this case, preformance for the tourists. Circumcision was mentioned with uncontrolled giggles by Jeffee, my host from this morning. The costumes are held in a secret place in the rainforest. Made once a year, and destroyed after the preformance. Or in the case of tourist season, maybe used a few times? Snarkiness aside, the dance was captivating. Elders are in the center. Around their necks are boar tusks. Quite a process to get them to grow in those circles on the boars. It involves tooth removal and hand feeding. A symbol of power. Found on elders necks, the flag and local beer. This is the Chief doing Magic. I have no idea what the magic was. The Aunties The Pentecostal Church. Including their church bell which was a former propane tank. The pig feeding. All part of the village tour. We bailed after this. Community kitchen And surfs up! 20230429_145929.mp4