Solomon Islands, ‘Taka dive cruises’ has a weekend trip to the Florida Islands.. need only 8 to make it happen Reply

Hello fellow divers …

We have an opening on board Taka this weekend and thought we would throw a quick weekend trip to the Florida Islands together if we can get enough participants. We only need 8 to make it happen!

Pick up: Friday November 17th, 6pm at Kokonut Café

Return: Sunday November 19th, 8pm at Kokonut Café

Cost per Person: $4000SBD Upper Deck, $3500 Lower Deck

(Sorry – I messed up the conversion on the first email)

Includes accommodation, meals, all diving, reef fees.

Excludes gear rental, nitrox, courses, bar tab

Gear Rental: full kit $600SBD

Nitrox: $400SBD

Itinerary:

Friday night – dinner, boat orientation, steam to Tulagi

Saturday – 5 dives

Sunday – 3 dives, return to Honiara

To book:

Email us back to let us know you want to join

Fill out the attached booking form (and rental form if you need gear)

We will confirm numbers by Wednesday night

We will collect payment on board on Friday.

Shaz Kozak

Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions

+1 877 300 9487 (North America)

+1 206 925 3953 (International)

www.solomonsdiving.com

Cell: 604 315 5932

Let’s talk about ‘awa’, ‘wai’.. yes, WATER.. life giving, replenishing, it’s abundance, how important it is to all life that lives in it, on it, beside it.. #WaterIsLife, #HeOraTeWai, #Marcus Matawhero Lloyd.. #StrongHeartHikoi.. Marcus is on a 10,000 steps hikoi (walk) around East Coast/ Central of North Isl New Zealand to bring attention for saving ‘WATER’, the pollution in our creeks-rivers- streams- oceans of New Zealand are being polluted, and around the world.. what was once pristine is being threatened.. if you wish to add your own favourite original story & photo, of your ‘water scene/ place’, just follow #WaterIsLife Reply

#WaterIsLife, #HeOraTeWai, Marcus Matawhero Lloyd.. #StrongHeartHikoi

  
This is dedicated to an important subject, #Water, ‘awa’, ‘wai’, our lives depend on it..!
one that Marcus is creating alot of noise & attention for, and rightly-so.. he is on a 10,000 steps hikoi (walk) around East Coast, North Island New Zealand’s to bring attention to an important ‘resource’ for our planet and every single living thing on it.. ?

“Life giving WATER”.. with out this resource, we all are in alot of trouble..

The ‘WATER we drink is being polluted, help protect ‘WATER’ .. follow Marcus by clicking on the highlighted name is the start of this post, see what else is happening & how you can help..  this affects you too, it affects all of us..

   
Most of my immediate family/ grandparents/ cousins/ uncles & aunties – that can relate to my ‘korero’ (story).. since I was a lil girl, (a 2 year old- dad & mum tell me) I have ’embrased the waters around Mahia like a ‘fish’, I could swim at 2 years of age (2yo) confident & keen ‘young protege scuba diver’ from 7yo, and I still dive today, now a keen GoPro underwater photographer & editor for a Tropical Pacific nations Website..The Pineapple Post, Solomon Islands I have been fortunate to snorkel & dive off some of the most stunning Solomon Island tropical iconic dives sites, best in the world, and photograph/ video these.. but, what I did notice, was pollution, plastic bags & other domestic waste floating in these waters.. sad to say these are now destroying the once pristine oceans around these tropical islands that make up the 900+ islands..

    
Aotearoa: ..when I was old enough to remember’ 4yo-13 year old, We’d drive back here with my family, dad Arthur and my mum Joy, my 4 siblings back in mid-1960’s-1980’s life there is relaxed, slow & abundant.. with plenty of kai moana gathered by my dad (local diver), plenty of hungi’s, gathering for events at the marae, lamb’s tails cooking & that distinct smell of ‘burning wool, up the air’, I remember eating ‘paua, kina, crayfish, snapper..
It was always a very long productive day on the boat scuba diving/ spear fishing..

  I love the ocean, connect to it, respected it’s constant change & dangers, and, I’ve always been a passionate advocate for ‘Water’, loved this journey.. 

My childhood journey as a protege scuba diver with my dad, AAotearoa:.. my dad & my uncle/s would always do a “karakia” to bless our activities for this day.. -we always returned tired, but with a blessed abundant catch.. ready to share our catch with the Opoutama whanau..

I have been raised by the water’s here, protected by the ‘wairua’, guided by the ‘tipuna’.. 

Today, I am proud to say, Water Is My Life, and let’s protect what resources we have left..
I endeavour, to return home to Aotearoa from Oz, where I have lived for many years..returning to learn the ‘traditional Māori ways of wairua, te reo Māori, Rongomaiwahine te iwi, Waipiata te awa’ and return to help keep our traditional lands sacred & protected.. 

Arohanui e Para Siempre

Dive Munda, Solomon Islands ‘Press Release’.. Dive Story and Photographs By Klaus Obermeyer and Dive Munda Solomon Islands ~ Belinda Botha Reply

Bilikiki Dive & Cruises- Solomon Islands.. 1 space available for Easter 2017 14/04-17/04/2017 .. 3 nights- 3 days.. are you a solo traveller this Easter Wknd.. 1

Bilikiki Dive & Cruises- Solomon Islands

                                                                    

       
All inclusive in cost of cruise.. diving in some of the best spots in the Solomon Islands, your accommodation (twin share cabins) all your meals, also for non-dive-ticket-holders: there is snorkelling, fishing (not near divers), swimming, relax.. speak or contact the Bilikiki team if you want more detailed information, contact info attached below..  

There are also 1 or 2 island stops, if fishing interests you, notify them in-advanced and the Bilikiki team will arrange a tinny and one of the team will take you to an allocated spot.. (fishing is not permitted within the Islands & reefs)

 
If you think you’ve missed out this time, you & frens will get another opportunity,  Bilikiki Dive & Cruise Solomon Islands has planned another dive cruise for 28/04-30/04/2017.. look for post towards the end of this week.. or contact them

contact: enquiries or bookings/ Honiara office: +677 20412 …. located upstairs near Yacht Club

Email: bilikiki@solomon.sb… 

‘Maravagi Resort’.. on the island of Mangalonga, part of Florida Islands area.. snorkelling is just so easy to do here, out front of your room, service was friendly, food plentiful.. discover the boat wreck and coral reefs (soft), heaps of tropical fish, huge clams, baitball, manta rays.. stunning & vibrant colours, warm water.. great for underwater photographs Reply

Maravagi Resort: Part of the Florida Island area.. Solomon Islands..

  

 

Just returned from a snorkelling weekend away @ this stunning area, (underwater shots done on my gopro camera).. heaps of tropical fish, baitball, ship wreck, manta rays (not this time), sandy beaches, bush/ hill walk (check with hosts), basic & humble accommodation, good food (daily menu) great company.. quiet & peaceful too.. 
just laze away the hours, snorkelling just right next to island, took my ukulele to play quiet easy listening music, there is walking on the stunning beach, or take photo’s (ask permission to take photo of local people)..

     

Maravagi Island, part of the Florida Group of Island 
Solomon Islands

Traditional owners are the hosts, with the help of family members.. (Some work & live on site)
Maravagi Resort contacts: 
Bookings: John: +677 885 5470

Joyce: +677 873 8777

Mathias: +677 732 4472

{Editors notes: some of the easiest and best snorkelling & photography I’ve done.. everything was easy access..just returned from 2 days & nights out on Maravagi Resort, service was friendly & helpful, meals plentiful..couldn’t eat it all.. rooms were basic but, after plenty of activities like snorkelling, photographing everything, walking, and playing my ukulele and a shower.. anywhere to sleep was welkam..

If you walk outside the boundaries of the resort, ask your hosts; where ‘not’ to walk, ask for information of where to go, what the track is like.. stick to the tracks, let someone know where you’re going and approx time of return.. wear clothes that cover your legs/ arms (or sarong & open cotton L/S shirt) because of sandflies & mozzies..

One thing you might notice.. it’s peaceful & quiet, plenty of places to sit and while-away your time, read a book, watch everyone swim or snorkel.. everything is within walking distance.. 

unfortunately didn’t get to see the ‘manta rays this time’ but there was plenty to do & see.. (only confident swimmers/ snorkellers need try this, they feed in strong currents, banana boat ride out to these is separate cost, if you don’t see any, you don’t pay for it)

Pack a parker/ rain coat (light-weight): One thing I wished have packed was my ‘raincoat/ parker’, it rained off & on, that wasn’t a problem I was already wet, but I needed it for the early banana boat ride back to civilisation.. 

What I packed: travel towel, toothbrush/paste/ travel bottle with sml amount of shampoo/ conditioner/ moisturiser/ liq soap, Easy enuf to pack a foldable wide brimmed hat, mozzie repellant (there are mozzies), togs & snorkel gear, light clothes (sarong, best to pack cotton gear to wear: long comfy pants/ cotton dress/ long sleeved top etc), pack your thongs, comfy walking shoes/ or rock shoes, I took my own water bottle (3 small frozen filtered alkaline water from home).. note: they did have sum small bottled water for sale.. pack sum plastic seal-up bags (if your boat trip is a wet one- your stuff may stay dry).. my ukulele was in a hard case, on the banana boat, there is storage space to put your stuff, they supply life jackets.. but if you got one- take it.. the boat trip takes between 1 1/2- 2 1/2 hours all pending weather & ocean (crossing) conditions..

* Accommodation is basic bungalow, sheets & pillow, mozzie net, fans provided (please ask for one)..
* Banana Boat trip there & back is separate cost.. take a group or share with others (5-8) share cost of boat.. note: separate to accommodation cost

* 3 meals a day on offer, daily menu, was separate cost to accommodation & boat trips, plenty to eat, when we were there we all enjoyed fruits, fish pieces, fish whole, fish soup, chicken, curried dishes with rice, beef sausages, beef mince (variety of dishes), eggs, vegetables, salad (loved the salad), plenty of rice & the best hand made bread & rolls.. (made & baked onsite)

*vegetarians please notify when booking

I’d just like to say a big tankiu tumas to frens & the former editor of pineapplepost, Gerald & his wife Cat for the invite & for helping out, you made my snorkelling weekend a memorable one.. 

and thank you to all the team that work & live on-site, all local people on Maravagi Resort.. the service was friendly, food plentiful..

  

Pijin Classes & Cooking Classes: ring Maggie Reply

Photo of Maggie (Pijin tutor/ cooking tutor) & Veronika (Editor)

Taken 16/03/2017 @ Lime Lounge cafe, Honiara

Maggie Wateha’a from Malaita Province, South Malaita

Maggie has been teaching ‘Solomon Island Pijin’ for 22 years, involved with RAMSI since 2004 up until 2016, and was involved with a variety of International NGO’s , VSA (Volunteers Service Abroad), AVI, NZH, Australian High Commission.. Maggie has also been involved with the American Peace Corps for 12 years, achieved a certificate teaching S.I Pijin through Peace Corp’s Washington (cert In Linguistics)..

Besides ‘Pijin Classes’, Maggie also teaches

Certificate:

• Teaching Solomon Island Pijin 
• Linguistics

Diploma: 

• Librarian (English)

‘CLASSES’:

• Pijin 
  
• Cooking; for beginners up to advanced / ingredients are ‘fresh local produce’..
  
• Culture Orientation’ classes:

• From one person up to group of 15′
• (No matter how small the group)
• Individuals
• group of 15..

Times: 7am – 9pm.
Duration: Classes run from 1Hour up to 2 Hours (course)

Days: Monday to Saturdays

Cost: (negotiable)

 If you have any queries please contact Maggie

+677 747 3631

+6777399677

Honiara, Solomon Islands

“Be Bold for Change”.. International Women’s Day theme.. Honiara parade will take place on Wednesday 8th March 2017, 8:00am starting @ Honiara City Council Parking area to Art Gallery 3

YWPG members marching on International Women’s Day 2016… ISun file photoWOMEN’S Ministry in Solomon Islands announces the International Women’s Day is set for Wednesday, March 8.

The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) confirmed Solomon Islands are set for celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day on Wednesday with the theme “Be Bold for Change”.
In Solomon Islands, the event regard as an important for Women’s Ministry to look at launching the Gender and Women’s Development Policy and the Women Policy followed by Gender Equality Where We Stand Report.
In addition, the National Women Peace Security and National Action Plan 2017-2021, is also one document MWYCF is eyeing for launching as it pending cabinet’s approval.
The Acting Director for Women Division, MWYCFA, Vaela Ngai calling public’s support and asking nation to joins the Women’s special day to hear their stories and feel their experiences, one time of the year to reflect on their achievements.
“I call to public wish to join the parade, and importantly meet with other women to share stories and listen to reflection of experiences of women,” Acting Director Ngai said.
She said, for a positive change there is need to be bold with women which is crucial women and men be part of this event, and bold with them to drive for changes.

Meanwhile, that day will comprise of awareness campaign, parade and information sharing.
The parade will begin from Honiara City Council parking area to Art Gallery where programmes convene, taking rest of the day with fun and showcasing activities relates to the Theme: “Be Bold for Change”.
The International Women’s Day is an annual event set aside by the United Nation, and this year the Women Ministry, relevant Stakeholders and individuals again uses this opportunity to celebrate social, economic, cultural and political achievements.

The event also described as opportunity for women in Honiara to bold in action from individual or organisation to help progress gender agenda with reasonable action to accelerate gender parity across the world.

Some of my best bits of Honiara and beyond 2

Leaving on a jet plane, I don’t know when I’ll be back again, oh babe I’m set to go. (Now all the Australians of a certain age have their hands in the air swaying from side to side with the music.) But Oh what a time to leave Honiara. Just when my email inbox tells me there are thousands of local hotties wanting to meet me … oh well always best to leave them wanting more.

Before I go a quick summing up of some of my peak experiences of the Solomons before Veronica and team take over the editorship. And, of course, a chance to share some of those contacts I have been too slack to get out there before this.

Playing with the dolphins at Dolphin View Beach:

You can go out on the boat from Dolphin Beach and chase the local pod of dolphins up and down the coast. It can feel a bit like you are harassing them. But they can swim two or three times the speed of the boat and hold their breathe for an hour and yet they keep coming back and frolicking in the bow wave and leaping and spinning for your entertainment, so you have to figure they are not two upset by it all. And they are still there by the time your petrol starts running out. Of course you have to get in the water and try and swim with the dolphins but they never let anyone get close.

Clean up day HoniaraTomorrow 19th November Reply

Do you want your environment to be clean?

Please come help us stop water pollution

Saturday 19th November

8am till 10 am at the Art Gallery

(Between Heritage Hotel and Breakwater Cafe)

Point Cruz

Organised Vaiclehi, Casssandro, Nahala, Loise, Jolyn and Hendrix
Then afterwards you can visit the great exhibition of some of the best of the Solomon Islands Arts Association in the Gallery. There are paintings, based on or inspired by local culture, history or myth, and prints, carvings, weaving and fabrics. All work is for sale. 10am- 4pm everyday.
Whether it s the waitress casually emptying the ash trays over the balcony straight into the water, or the “Eco-lodge” bailing up its garbage into plastic bags and boating them out into the current off shore, or the casual dropping of everything and anything into the street, or local business emptying its rubbish down the banks of the Mataniko River, Honiara is a cesspool of garbage. 

Who would ever guess, before coming here, that a tropical paradise could be so filthy?

The dramatic increase in population alongside the introduction of plastics and other non-biodegradable rubbish have not integrated well with traditional approaches to garbage disposal. 

If you are sick of seeing rubbish everywhere come along for a couple of hours tomorrow morning and do you bit; set a good example and not only help clean up a little but spur the sort of cultural change so sadly needed in this city. Nothing changes behaviour better than seeing people you know practicing and exemplifying another way of doing things.
The general clean up day at the Art Gallery follows on from the GoGreen – Annual School Clean Up, sponsored by BSP, today Friday 18th November.
I recommend you bring your own gloves and bucket and garbage bags and any other clean up gear you have.
You can easily make yourself and kids a handy rubbish “picker-upperer” and save your back.

Requirements:

(Piece of dowel,old broom handle, or roughly straight stick about 120 cms long,

String, raffia, plastic tape or anything to tie with. About 1 metre,

Glue, any sort,

Strong wire coat hanger, or other firm wire

Pliers or wire cutters, or you can break the wire by bending it back and forth around the same point, but it takes a little longer.)
* Simply cut two or three pieces of strong wire coat hanger about 20 cms long. 

Firmly tie the lengths of wire to a piece of dowel, broom handle, stick with string with about 12cms overlap, as in the diagram below.

Coat the string with glue and allow to dry. 
You now have a handy rubbish picker-upperer to help make Honiara a little more beautifuller and rubbish conscious.
See you at the Art Gallery 8 – 10am Saturday 19th November 

Flash with cash 7

If you are one of the many expats here who gets paid in your home currency, or just not paid very much, you are going to have to deal with with getting cash and International Exchange Rates. Bank fees on foreign exchange are always a huge and painful slug and their exchange rates very ‘conservative’.
The best way we have found is to have friends and acquaintances bring cash into the country when they are travelling. You can bring in the equivalent of $50,000 Solomon Islands Dollars (SID). $10,000 AUD seems to be okay, but that might change if there is a big movement in the exchange rate.

We move money into the friends Australian bank account online and they bring us the cash to exchange here.

The are two good places to change foreign cash in Honiara that give much better rates than the banks. You need your passport or local drivers’ licence for identification.