SAMOA, TUVALU, VANUATU AND THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

I can finally comment my last weeks in Polynesia and Melanesia even my memory is not very fresh anymore especially when thinking the quantity of red wine consumed.
On Feb.11. I flew to Faleolo, the Samoan capital, a boring place filled up with all kind of churches of different Christian movements. I spent my days mainly sitting in the bar of my Hotel Millenia with red wine bottles looking beautiful views to the sea. I could not use my laptop, my phone did not work there because of Fiji SIM -card,  and then came the big bang ..... my Visa card was cancelled, my Diner's was not accepted in Samoa, and I was practically out of money. I called from the hotel phone to Visa Finland, and they told me that even I had not lost my card someone was using it happily in NEW YORK ! They sent me via ATM then as much I needed to get back to Fiji, where I could use my Diner's. I then spent 3 nights in Suva in Holiday Inn. In the second evening was invited to hotels cocktail party, where I was introduced to two fellow Finns, technicians from Wärtsilä working there for 4 months.  On Feb.18 I flew to Funafuti a tiny village but the capital of Tuvalu. There was no possibility to do anything because the stormy sea, heavy rains and strong winds, just at the same time when the cyclone Winston , the strongest ever,  hit Fiji badly,  leaving 49 people dead. There was a small grocery near by, where I could get inexpensive Australian wine. I drank 9 liters of wine, some beers, read a book and made crosswords with me in 4 days. People there were most nice and friendly.
When I wanted to leave my very primitive lodge Afelita ,with 5 guest rooms, to a quite same standard   restaurant 2km away, lady Afelita, the owner said, wait a minute I'll ask my daughter to drive you there. So I sat behind her back on her motorbike, and she brought me safely to that place. When I then some hours later asked for a taxi , the young woman in the bar said that she cannot remember taxi's number, but do not worry I'll drive you back. So I sat on the back of a motor bike again and she refused to take any money for the ride. On Feb.23. I was in Fiji again, this time at Novotel Resort in Suva for 3nights. On Feb.26. I was in Vanuatu at the most perfect place on this trip until now. The resort Vanuatu Beachfront Apartments was ideal, and I was the only guest. On a lagoon finest sandy beach, calm and clear sea 20 meters, the pool and the bar only some steps from my sea view room.    
The capital Port Vila was most picturesque and pleasant small town in South Seas I have seen, and luckily they had recovered very well of last years cyclone. On Feb. 29 I was once again Fiji for one night to get to Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands on Guadalcanal Island. This was the place of heaviest fights during WWII for 6 months, when americans finally 1943 won the Japanese troops.

Club Fiji Resort, Nadi /Fiji Feb.4.

This is my 5th day here. Because I am a shy character I did not speak to anybody in three first days,
except personal. I had no need to. Then an Australian, Bruce, about 50 came to me and we were very soon talking about the girls.  He told me that because he is from rural countryside selling tractors to farmers, he never had a chance to get practically more girl friends except his wife. Then he asked how about me.
About that matter we talked two hours. He was very curious to know of my many adventures around the world. He told me that I definitely must write a book. Meanwhile I saw two very pretty and very young girls checking into Resort.  Yesterday I saw them sitting with a Californian Bob, whom I had met earlier. Bob is almost my age, and I went to them in the bar and asked if it is permitted to join them.We then sat several hours together there before we all four had a dinner together. It was a very joyful evening until we all said good night to each other.  The young ladies are from Adelaide, Australia. Imogen is 18, very talkative and studying to be a teacher, Mary is 19 and maybe more serious and is interested in criminology for some future profession. They both have fantastic smiles and charmed Bob and me totally.

Another day on a Fijian schooner "Whale's Tales" on Jan. 29

Due recommendation I had booked a whole day tour to an uninhibited island with this schooner.
The day was perfect, we were a group of 10. I immediately found two persons, I did like to socialize with. They were best friends from Auckland, New Zealand. Cindy was 26 originally from Korea, and Angela 34 and from China. I had good fun with them, especially because this very sweet Cindy was almost a copy of a great love of mine 40 years ago,  Eun Joo from Seoul, then 26 too. We were going to marry that time, but her father on a high social position then told the young lady that he will cut her family relationships, if she should marry an European.  That was the end of 2 years love affair.
I told Cindy the whole story, and she said that Korea was a totally different country then.
She then added that it was no wonder that Eun Joo fell in love with me, because I have so beautiful blue  eyes like the sky or the sea!

Sailing on Fijian waters Jan 28.

It has been a marvelous day. I was sailing all day in a schooner "Seaspray" built in Sydney 1928.
We were 21 people  from many nationalities, aged between 19-35, plus two ladies from Texas in their 50's and me. I enjoyed my time mostly with two couples, honeymooners from Ireland and Italy but had good fun with the young Colombian, French and German couples too, as well as those ladies from Texas, not to forget the 3 pretty 19 years old from Munich / Germany.  There were also youngsters from Australia, New Zealand, England and Japan . On board was served free as many you could drink water, beer and vine, including a nice grilled lunch. Temperature was +33C, but soft trade winds made staying on board pleasant. Because of the wound in my leg, I could not join other people in swimming or snorkeling. But very seldom you can have a perfect day.

Tarawa / Kiribati 24.- 25. 1. and Nadi /Fiji 25.1. ....

I met on the way to the airport in Majuro 3 friendly Polish people, a married couple and lovely Marta, their guide. We happened to have same Fema Lodge Resort in Tarawa / Kiribati, and so we had a nice evening together. They had booked their flight to Nadi /Fiji for the next morning. It was however delayed by some 8 hours. I had found out that there were absolutely nothing to do, most boring and primitive place I've ever seen. Even though the young women were most beautiful to look at. So I decided to try to join my new Polish friends and fly to Fiji together with them. After some difficulties I managed to book same flight. Before leaving the resort, we met a young Russian from near Moscow, who had been 15 years away from there, and did not intend to return his home country as long as a certain president rules there. However he was optimistic that the power will be in new hands not so far in future. My friends and I departed at Nadi airport, and Marta and I promised to see each other one day in Krakowa and Helsinki. I was my first night in Capricorn Hotel having a funny evening with an Australian. Jake and I decided to taste different Fijian Rums among some other drinks. His favorite was Coffee Rum, mine Chocolate Rum. Today I changed my hotel due lack of WI-FI connection to Tokatoka Resort near the airport until next Sunday. Bula Bula!

Majuro, The Marshall Islands, Jan.!8-24. 2016

I've been here since last Sunday, 5 days. Nothing special to tell. Spending mainly my days at the hotel  pool bar having in this open air place a nice view to Majuro lagoon, where bigger and smaller tuna fish trawlers lay in anchor. Weather has been mostly sunny, some quick showers, but warm +30C.
I visited with my leg the local hospital but according to the doctor the wound is heeling well.
The city of Majuro does not offer to much to see. Some cathedrals of different religions, a few bars and some shopping centers with very good vine selection 9 - 17 dollars a bottle.
Next Sunday I'll fly  to Kiribati.

Kosrae Jan.16, 2016

The Federal State of Micronesia consists of four different states Chuuk ( Truk ), Yap, Pohnape and Kosrae. The people on these four islands (states) do not understand each others language at all but have to communicate in English to get along. Here is one Kosraean example from the beach
" Tia sisi kutkut nu inkoe". It means "Do not litter ".
On Tuesday I had with a private driver for 3 hours roundtrip on the island, not much to see but real tropical surroundings. On Wednesday I didn't do anything but reading a bit and consuming a bottle of
"Jacobs Creek" Shiraz Cabernet for USD 28. I do not remember what happened on Thursday, but it was a bit rainy day, I guess I did look CNN and making crosswords. Yesterday I then decided to go snorkeling in the "Blue  Hole" at the lagoon but inside the reef. I should have known it, I stumbled at the corals  and hit my right leg on coral. The result a bleeding wound, not big but dangerous enough. Happily it happened just afterwards I already had studied the coral world and those fishes enough.
The medical man of the hotel has taken care of my leg, and he is studying it every day. We'll see.