I was looking forward to this trip as I organised everything in advance and used a tour operator that knew these islands. In addition, I spent a lot of money so expected the best. It was not the best of starts as nobody picked me up from the airport. Luckily, a guy waiting for his clients asked if I needed some help. He tried to call the company for me but couldn't get through. Luckily, for me again he was heading to the same hotel so he gave me a lift. He even bought me a coconut to drink. He gave me his number just in case my pick up forgot me again the next morning. I spent the rest of my precious day and evening trying to get in contact with the company to see if they knew what was happening. At least my room at the quirky King Solomon hotel was booked. I had to change rooms as I didn't get my sea view room as expected but they apologised and let me change rooms. The quirky part of the hotel left me exasperated, as I had not quite worked out the system yet. To get to each level where the rooms are you had to use a funicular. There were stairs but it was too hot to go that high. I eventually found my room with the sea view and promptly collapsed on my bed with the aircon on full blast. There was Wi-Fi but only in the lobby so off I went to see if anyone had got back to me. The Hapi Isles group guide left a message to say he will pick me up as expected but I wanted to speak to him so the hotel called him for me. I told Flyod my guide that I unhappy that I wasn't collected at the airport. He apologised again. The Evis resort guy said everything was booked. By the time this was all sorted, it was time for bed. I didn't even get the chance to enjoy the infinity pool at the hotel. This is what is so annoying. You try to avoid things like this and book a tour but shit still happens. It got worse in the morning when the Evis resort guy said my flight had been cancelled as his wife had chartered the flight to bring back a body. Wtf! I couldn't believe the message. As I didn't have any dinner I had an appetite for a big breakfast but that quickly disappeared. I tried to eat something but wasn't in the mood. I was hoping Flyod my guide would help with the flights and thankfully, he did. We spent the first hour at the airport sorting out my flights. As instructed by the Evis resort guy I got on a flight from another island. After having my new flight confirmed, I was then able to enjoy the city tour knowing I would be going to Seghe and to Evis resort. On the tour, I learned a lot about how Solomon Islands was involved in WW2. There are over 70 navy vessels shipwrecks in the ocean just of Guadalcanal. They call it the iron bottom sound. I saw the US memorial at the top of Honiara so had great views of the city. We drove through some local villages and even the area where the drug dealers hang out. At this point, I find out my guide does deal in drugs on the side for extra money. He had a bag of approximately 50 rolled up spliffs in the glove compartment of his car. I was hoping not to be stopped by the Police but as there are no traffic lights on the island because there are no rules, there was no chance of that happening. Even if it did, Floyd said he would bribe them. It was that type of place. We stopped by his mate's house to see some butterflies. Then went to the military museum but more of a park really where all the war wreckages of the US and Japanese are brought back to the park and put on display. Mosquitoes devoured me at that park. Then we went to Mbonege beach to see the Japanese shipwreck. Then we visited the central market, which had a smell that slapped you in the face as you got out of the car. Then we headed to the airport for my flight to Seghe via Munda and Ramata. It was a long wait but luckily, it was in the air-conditioned car. I said goodbye to Flyod and told him to not forget to pick me up 3 days later. The plane was a small 16 seater. I sat in the front practically in the pilot’s lap. It was super-hot but cooled down once we were in the air. The views of the hundreds of islands were great. I was forever taking photos. When we landed in Munda we had to get off the plane for refuelling. I took a stroll to the nearest shop to get some drinks and as I came out of the shop, I heard the plane engines on full blast. Omg my plane was about to take off so I ran the few yards to the landing strip and got on the plane. Once I got to Seghe, I couldn't see anyone there to collect me. Another guy on the plane said he would stay with me until I was collected. He was even trying to call the resort for me but there was no signal. People are so friendly and very helpful. Then the so called airport which was a small strip of land and a hut and the so called staff which was a guy and his kids said the Evis resort staff came earlier and figured my flight was cancelled so would come on the next morning’s flight. I'm not sure why they said that when I got on the next flight the Evis resort guy told me to take. The airport guy said Evis resort is on another island and I needed a boat. There was a private boat hire for 500 sol dollars and I decided to take it as it was going to be dark soon. Laisa the boat driver spoke great English and said he would take me and discuss payment with the resort. I said goodbye and thanks to the guy on the plane and the airport guy who helped. I got into Laisa’s speedboat and had a great ride to the resort. I couldn't hide my disappointment when we got to the resort and it wasn't as I expected. There were bungalows on the beach but in dense vegetation. What was worse to come was that nobody was expecting me. The only guy on the island was the caretaker. The place looked run down...looked like it was out of season and closed. The place was a mess. Laisa tried to get his money and realised it was not happening but Laisa said he would stay with me until the caretaker sorted me out. I then found out Laisa owned an eco-lodge and had just dropped off two clients at Seghe airport. The caretaker Donald tried his best to accommodate me. Laisa helped me pick the best bungalow although none of them were ready. Donald cleaned while I made the beds. I gave Floyd’s number and Evis resort guy’s numbers so Laisa could get his money for bringing me to the island. Then I find out Laisa knows Floyd and Go Tours travel. I gave him my booking details and when he got back to his eco lodge, he would call them as soon as he gets a signal. I told him to leave as it was dark and the boat trip would be dangerous. I thanked him very much for all his help and hoped Evis resort would pay him. I got my room ready while Donald got me the mosquito coil I desperately needed. I took a shower, sat under the fan, and contemplated what had happened and what was yet to come. It was another night I went without dinner not because there wasn't any at the resort even though I had already paid for it but I wasn't hungry in my mood. I didn't even get to swim in the sea as I was expecting to do while I was on my flight here. I'm going to make the most of it, as I'm the only person on this island along with Donald. Let's see what the next few days brings. What is special is the sound of the waves I can hear as it's right outside my door. It's about the only thing that is making me stay here instead of going to Laisa’s eco lodge. After a sleepless night, because they kept turning the power off. I had to ask Donald to turn power back on at midnight, as it was too hot to sleep. He did but turned it off at 5am so I was up again. I saw, more staff in the morning. They also tidied up the bar and restaurant. I went for a swim and snorkel all before 9am. I met the manager Shelton who apologised for not collecting me at the Seghe and he said he met with Laisa and settled the boat payment. I had pancakes for breakfast and went back to my own private beach with my own reef shark. I kept seeing him swimming up and down. He is small. I spent my stay on this island swimming, snorkelling, sleeping, eating and relaxing. After a terrible 24 hours, I definitely needed it. Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, a third of them are inhabited, and its coral reefs protected. I was looking forward to my visit to Marovo Lagoon with its pristine coral and sea life. I had Nggatirana Island all to myself during my stay except for Shelton the manager, Hannah the cook, Jonas her assistant and Donald the caretaker. They looked after me well. I also had the opportunity to visit the local village in Mbopo and Halisis School. During my numerous snorkelling trips, I saw an octopus all wrinkly and squishy. It was fabulous. I also saw many bright blue starfish. There were two giant clams the size of a small child. It has bluish lips and hole. One was closed and one was wide open. They were massive. No reef sharks while snorkelling but many just swimming around early in the morning. I also went to Mbopo village on another nearby island. The sea was a little choppy so lucky it was only 10-minute ride. The staff on Evis come from Mbopo. I met their families and the children and two cats and a puppy named Sasu. You have to pay to go to school approx 1000 Solomon dollars. It includes boarding and food. They have about 100 children from other islands on Mbopo Island who pay to go to school here. The morning of my leaving the rain was torrential. Normally it stops after 10 minutes but this went on for ages. I was worried about my flight at 5pm as the weather really affects the small planes. It turned out I didn't need to worry about the weather at all. Solomon airline just cancelled my flight and brought it forward 3 hours. As the signal was non-existent on the islands, the airport guy couldn’t let us know. He just asked if I was Sharon as our boat was being tied up. I said yes and he laughed and said your plane has left. I couldn't believe it. He managed to book me on the next morning's flight, which left at 8am, and as it stops at another island before Honiara, the flight was 2 hours long. It was cutting it a little fine for my international flight to Port Moresby at 11am. The airport guy said he would email Honiara office to let them know about my connecting international flight so hopefully everything works out fine. Therefore, it was back to the resort but first Shelton said we had to buy more fuel. No doubt for my all night electricity. Shelton has such a sweet and kind face. I met his wife at Mbopo village and he said her grandpa was Indian. He seemed so proud of her. I really like Shelton and actually felt sorry for him, as he felt bad about the flight issue. He said he called in the morning to confirm my flight but said he was given the wrong information. I don't think he called but mistakes happen. I get another night on my own island and another delicious meal made by Hannah. It's an early morning start by boat and hopefully the sea is calmer and the weather is nice and sunny for my flight to Honiara and then to Port Moresby. I couldn’t sleep and when I eventually fell asleep, the electric went off and I woke up at 4:30am so stayed up until it was time to leave at 6am. I had a quick coffee and had a lovely boat ride with Shelton and Patrick. We got there just before 7am as the airport guy requested to see the police boat had sunk. That gave us a big laugh. I checked in and not only got my bag weighed but myself too. Luckily, for me the scales didn't work as the battery ran out. So the airport guy guessed and he guessed 89 kilos! I didn't care, as I was just slightly ecstatic when I saw the plane. It also left earlier than expected from Seghe and Suvaneo too so I was sure to make my flight to PNG. It was a good thing too as Air Nuigini took off 20 minutes early. I wonder if they would have waited for me. By that point, I did not care as I was on the plane.
Unfortunately for me I lost almost all of the photos from this trip when I was mugged at knifepoint in Port Moresby for my phone. I didn't have any wifi to back anything up. I had amazing photos of my lovely little island which I will forever remember.
