Finally back in civilisation, although I’m now convinced that isn’t really all that good. Brilliant weekend on Savo, a few minor problems getting there. We didn’t go till Saturday, the driver got a flat on the way down to get us, so wasn’t able to pick us up till a day later, but it was still worth it.
It’s sort of basic accommodation, the rooms are good, go for the double rooms with the sea side balcony, $150, rather than the singles, they are on the shaded side of the block. The bathroom (shared) is in a state of almost finished, the shower and toilet work, only air temp water for the shower, which can be a bit chilly in the mornings, but in comparison with the sea, it’s actually preferable.
The food needs a revamp, more on that in a minute, there is a great barbque set up, and hammocks etc through the trees on the front. Rose spent most of the weekend asleep in a hammock, or wandering along the beach looking for shells, along with all the little kids she met along the way.
John, the boat driver who takes you over, is a youngish guy, as with all Solomon Islanders, friendly, keen to help, and a lot of fun. We booked to go to see the infamous Megapod bird, at some stupid time in the morning, with our guide Manuel, a Phillippino who married a local girl here. Unfortunately, there had been a fundraising party for one of the local Island bands the night before, and from the accounts we got, it took 3 buckets of water to wake John up, so instead of leaving to go around the Island at 7am, it was closer to 7.30, well past day break. No birds, but a lot of tracks, and holes where the eggs were laid. Nice place to walk through, full of Metroxylon solomomense palms, and cocoa trees. We could have done the Kastom Village tour, but it’s like looking in peoples windows, so neither Rose nor I felt like being that crass, Manuel was a bit upset , it gets the villagers $20 each person, I’d rather just give them the $20 and leave them alone. Anyway, we went, we saw what was there, I’m going back on the 22nd to collect orchids for the Orchid house, and get a days fishing in as well.
The meals aren’t all that impressive, I’d have rather fired the barbque up and had Island style fish and rice, with stuff, but it was sit down smorgasbord of fish pieces, chips beans pineapple etc and rice. Not one of the highlights of the place. I’ll have a word next time I’m over there, it is a great place to go to, the beach is safe, if you watch which way the tide is going, you tend to drift out quickly at times. I watched several logs and floating debris drift back and forth for 3 days on the tide, so it would be a matter of just drifting along with the tide.
Beer is $15 a bottle, wine, which Rose gave a bottle of to Manuel, is $150 for NZ or Australian, all good brands too. We had a Hardys Shiraz, and a White Cloud Chardonnay, nice wines in the right setting.
There isn’t a lot to do there, if you have never done a volcano walk, there are two good walks into the thermal area, be prepared to slip, slide, get saturated with sweat, it is hot. Snorkelling and fishing are superb, the water is clear to 10 – 15 metres from the surface, you can easily see the coral reef from the boat underneath, the dolphins are always in motion around the Island, our dinner was caught off the beach in front of the lodge, large trumpeter fish, pics I’ll post.
If you don’t drink wine, and pester the staff for a barbque, you’ll have a cheap weekend, and if you like fishing, then you’re in heaven.
Rose had a good time, like me she found Honiara to be a bit of a slum, with all the rubbish and smell, but Savo made up for that.
We’ve got ArchBishopDesmond Ballerina Dress arrived today to tell us all how to be culturally sensitive and to hug each other like they do in Africa, and be all friendly towards each other, for which the Solomon people are paying for everything. Sanctimonious little prat, but that’s only my opinion, he’s probably a really nice guy.
Pic is of our dinner being scaled on the foreshore, and also one of the pickaninnies cooking their dinner on the barbque.
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