I hope I am not mad but I now scour the Internet everyday looking for the latest news and anything I can find of interest about the Solomon Islands. Since I have been working on a social networking site, I decided to look for blogs about or by Solomon Islanders. It still amazes me the little treasures that Google unearths if you looked hard enough. I found little gems of unpolished stories on this travel blog: Sta Travel by medical students from Europe who come to the Solomons to do their elective block, perhaps a mandatory banishment to some remote part of the world to gain valuable experience. Read on and discover some of the most honest opinions about the Solomons
I find the honest views of these students very refreshing. In Honiara, most of them herd together and I was pleasantly surprised to see 2 very brave ones sitting on top of the hills at Lawson Tama during a soccer match probably unaware that they were great targets for soccer hooligans sitting outside of the fence ready to throw stones if their team lost. Lucky for these two gentlemen, there were no stone throwing that day. Without further ado, here are some great insights:
Aside from the stunning view, what about the food at Maravagi Resort? “The food there was disgusting (they like to cook chicken here with bones and skin and some feathers still attached) but plenty of it so I didn’t starve, just forced it down.”
Everyone agrees Honiara is dirty and disgusting, even I do but here’s an alternate view nicely put, “There are so many beautiful places to visit outside of Honiara, and so many untouched islands and stunning views. Am growing quite attached to what at first seemed like a dirty, dusty city… first appearances can be deceiving!”
And here’s to the opponents of ‘wantok system’, apparently, even the white folks (first time in Honiara) benefit “With amazing luck I was sat next [on the plane] to a gentleman who spoke excellent English and introduced himself enthusiastically as Wilson… With amazing luck it turned out that the manager of a near by hotel (who is one of his wantoks) was also on the plane so I have a room for wantok price (next to nothing).”
I have heard some high praises about the local beer, Solbrew, by some very distinguished colleagues of mine during the PacINET conference in Honiara in 2007. This is perhaps the best description of Solbrew’s rival, Saratoga – “If I explain what Saratoga is: if you imagine a drink consisting of the cheapest Tesco Value Whisky and mixed with the sweetest Tesco Value cola, you’re about 50% there to conceptualising the mingingness of this drink!”
And some harsh criticism about the ‘white man’ “We were glad to leave Munda as the place is dominated by a white man who tries to squeeze every penny he can out of you. We are both fed up of white people in the Solomons, they are the only things that spoil it and take your attention away from the true beauty of the people and the place.”
And finally, a reference to an old friend, Dr. Jones Ghabu, and the medical profession. “Dr Ghabu put me in charge of ‘training’ this week! What is there to train I asked myself…there ARE no protocols!” Typical of everything else in the Solomon Islands but its an absolute paradise for someone wishing to champion a beginning or putting things in order.
Apparently, everyone agrees that the real beauty of the Solomons lies in the outskirts and outside of Honiara but perhaps the best view is beneath the ocean. What breathtaking beauty – come to the Solomons, the islands lost in time.