Arriving at Kiriwina island

The locals travel between islands on board these canoes

I’m a bit late with this post. Late to bed last night after a long day on the Island walking around and doing some snorkelling.  Got a touch of the sun on the back of the head and back whilst drifting around looking at the coral and fish. Not sore at all but expect the he scalp to start peeling a bit in a few days as the skin dries out. Not quite as bleached though as these DEAD HUMAN BONES we found. It was 10K to see them and hear the story of their origin, seems to have been a famine a few years back and the locals crawled under this ledge and didn’t come out. There was another pile of bones nearby that were attributed to a Japanese grenade in 1942. Not sure about all this. Maybe belongs in a Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ on the Gold Coast! Then again you never know so I shouldn’t be suspicious.

Interesting spot this! I looked around for some Live Human Bones.

The Human Bones

While waiting in the queues to go ashore in in the ship’s tenders we were surrounded by canoes with their sails up. It was a welcoming ceremony with much blowing of conch shells and excitable shouting and spear waving. Very colourful event.

The Pacific Dawn was ‘surrounded’ by these canoes with the locals blowing conch shells and making threatening noises.

Yesterday was PNG Independence Day and there was much celebration on the Island, including a visit from the Deputy Prime Minister. So there was a bit of security floating around the celebrations. We are getting used to the usual line up of locals selling shells, wood carvings and the like. Much dancing around too in traditional gear. All seem to be having a good time of it. BBQs on the beach and lolling around under the shady trees. Looked a bit like Bondi Beach on Australia day. Although there are not many trees there!

Back on board the ship we enjoyed some more ‘Sailaway Sangrias’ and prepared for a big effort in ‘cruise along trivia’. So did a few others as we again just maintained our position in a group behind the leaders who are now about 6 points up. We will need a big win now to claw back. Some comments were made amongst the team about Cheryle making late changes to answers and some small slip ups here and there. AMEN is all I can say to that.

Well our next stop is Doini Island. Until then…….