Not a very productive weekend. Went for toktok lessons Saturday morning, Steve arrived back from Makira Island and met me for an afternoon of general discussion about the programme, how am I doing, settling in etc. It’s hard to believe I’ve only been here a few days, everything has been hectic, so much for the laidback lifestyle.
Had dinner Saturday night with Steve and his family, taro, rice, pasta, tomato, fresh fruit, it was better than I was going to have, well, more variety, I was going to have rice and stirfry.
Sunday has been wet all day, went to 8am Mass this morning, I’m not Catholic, but I like the ceremony associated with Mass. It is certainly different when it’s conducted in Toktok pijin. I must be getting an ear for it, I understood most of what was said.
The churches are all open sided, and everyone dresses up, it’s like a competition with the women, who can wear the whitest dress and accessories, hats, gloves, beads, frangipani flowers in their hats, almost ankle length dresses, white shoes. The singing is worth going for alone, about 1,000 people all singing. Warning for anyone who does come here and attends any church. If you’re a new face you will be recognised and mentioned from the altar by the priest, and welcomed by everyone. It’s a bit like Ireland where everyone knows if you have gone to Mass or not.
I’ve had a head full of thoughts all week, woke at 4am this morning and started writing out my 2 year goals for the Botanic Gardens, 14 pages later I’m still going.
I have to be mindful of the costs, SEB is a NGO and relies at the moment on donations and aid funding, so major expenses are something to be avoided.
I’m not getting involved in the politics of the situation, my brief is to assist and give advice and practical assistance where required.
Sundays in Honiara are reminiscent of 1950’s New Zealand and Ireland. Everything is closed, a few convenience stores are open, and the Kukum Market opens about 2pm. It’s a Seventh Day Adventist community initiative, and it shuts on Saturdays. Even the roadside betel nut sellers close till midday.
Everytime we have a power cut here, my water system gets an airlock somewhere, and I’m without water for a couple of hours after the power is back. Another little quirk that I’m getting used to.
We had a spectacular lightning and thunder storm over Bloody Ridge last night. Driving back from Steve’s the sky was constantly lit by huge flashes of lightning, and the thunder rolled across the air like a large tank. On this side of the ridge it was wet, but judging by the state of the rivers this morning it had really rained down in the hills. Honiara is on the sheltered side of the island, the weather pattern comes from the south, and the Weather Coast on the south side of Guadacanal gets hit with all the weather first. The floods of the last few weeks have caused a lot of the bridges to be washed away, and travel to the west and north of Honiara isn’t possible past Bonegi Beach at the moment till the bridge is replaced.
Toktok word for today is Cokoroko, if you say it, you will sound similar to a rooster, it is pijin for chicken.
Gecko watch : 9.21pm, and not a one in sight anywhere, even the usual one in my bedroom is absent.
Pic for today is the Metroxylon salomonense growing beside the Nursery
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