To Tikopia - In Photos

When we found out that it may be practical to stop at Tikopia in the Solomon Islands enroute to Vanuatu, I was hoping to it would work out.  Tikopia features as one of the success stories in Jared Diamond's "Collapse" (He also wrote "Guns, Germs and Steel" - another interesting ready but not necessarily relevant to Tikopia). Furthermore, our new sea gypsy friends in Infinity had spent a considerable time there providing a base for the "Message in a Bottle" TV series (which we have a copy but only in Norwegian).  So when Tikopia remained right on our rhumb line and then the trade winds shut down ... a stop was in order .

Liz wrote about our wonderful time there in this blog post and now here are some pictures:

Landfall - Approaching Tikopia.  The squalls were not particularly helpful as we tried to find our way in.  The charts were less helpful

The yellow dot is approximately where we anchored. (Google Earth image)

Everyday there was a steady procession of dugout canoes to say hello and to trade.  Older folks and

younger folks ...

These kids stayed onboard and visited for awhile

and then sailed their very overloaded canoe home again.

 

The thatched homes are traditional with very low entrances so that anyone entering, regardless of physical or political stature, has to bow low to enter.  It also makes them more resilient to cyclones.

Traditional homes

Traditional homes

But of course it was the people of Tikopia that made it special.  Here Liz is with her constant entourage that followed her everywhere.

One of the families we got to know in our short time in Tikopia

Even quiet visits with a family were well observed from the spectators outside.

Victoria teaching crocheting while Johnathan enjoys a coconut

We traded some supplies for handicrafts and then this lady gave Liz the bag as well

Benjamin was particularly popular, although he was not sure if he appreciated all the attention.

And no lack of help with the dingy.  Note the lad at the stern has a toy boat on a rod and line.

Heading ashore at spring low tide - hence the challenging reef - and our welcoming party is already massing.

Heading off to the other side of the island for a hike

The lagoon.  It is a brackish lagoon and therefore has a different eco-system than the outside reefs and another redundant source of food.

The lagoon

A snorkel-nosed Benjamin fish.  He likes to wear the kit but is less keen to swim with it.

Great water clarity for snorkelling

The local boys were impressive to watch spearfishing.  No equipment other than some really old masks and pole spears.  Sharks must be less of an issue as they had the fish stringer around their waist.

And the usual trying to fix stuff in the village.  A solar panel system and in this case a well worn out inverter system that was beyond my repair.

Liz had more luck though resuscitating this beautiful old Singer sewing machine.  The lady was so happy to have it working again.

and then sadly, it was time to move on again ...