Abemama
05 May 2011
Greetings along the road
Kiribati has a truly timeless feel to it. They have retained their culture, and while the rest of the world struggles with their economy, radiation, war...the birds here hunt for fish and build their nests in peace, the chickens hunt and peck for bugs, the pigs wait for their next meal of opened coconuts. Woman weave mats for their homes and men cut their copra and fish here, like they have for hundreds of years. Parents try to educate their children and provide for them well, and children continue to blow on blades of grass, and pose for the cameras of the infrequent visits of "I-matangs" ( foreigners). No worries here, no hurries here. Motor bikes scoot along with naked children on the backs, sometimes with as many as 4 people on the bikes, no one wears a helmet and the prayer gong sounds at dusk. The occasional phone that you find near a government telephone tower, is often ripped out...perhaps out of frustration that they cant hear the other party on this expensive communication device, or perhaps because they really don't want or need communication with the advancing world. Even though many have left Kiribati, many have returned and don't need the stimulation and hustle of the outside world. Such a peaceful place, such a pretty place.
Its April 1st here today, the official start in some books to the end of hurricane season...others say May 1st. So we can start moving southwards now. We spent a few days here maintaining a some things up the mast, and then sailed back up to Tarawa to clear out with customs and immigration so we can continue our journey southward.