We arrived
Honiara on April 1st and I have to say I did think we were victims
of a completely bizarre April Fool’s joke. Despite the lovely beach and the
enticing yacht club posts on Facebook this town is a very challenging place so
far.
The town
itself is located along one long road between 2 bridges that are single file
bridges – so the traffic is horrendous because only one way traffic can use the
bridge at any time in either direction, and everyone is in a car. We were told
this morning that another bridge is being built and will open in 2017! Also
this morning we spent 45 mins in traffic to cover about 6 klms (we really could
have walked it faster but it was so hot we would expire!). Thus we have made a
decision that we need to live in the town centre and not far from Ron’s work so
that we can walk around or catch cabs if necessary. Having said that, it was
Easter Saturday today and there were a lot more people on the road than might
be at any other time – so I am prepared to say ‘let’s wait and see’ – but we
will live in town. That decision is going to cost us hugely financially as town
accommodation is very expensive – more expensive than Sydney and Abu Dhabi for
something that is nowhere near the standard you would expect in either. My
focus is on getting something comfortable, secure and with a pool,
airconditioning and reasonable furniture. We will only be able to afford one
bedroom so I guess we won’t be able to have anyone come to stay, which makes me
very unhappy! Maybe we can organize a fold out sofa, but I am not sure who
would want to come and sleep on one L. There are a few hotels to stay at,
the best one being the Heritage Park Hotel which is next door to the second
best one which is the one we are staying in – and there is a significant
difference between the two, although we are very comfortable here – it is just
a bit old that’s all.
The weather
has been dry, although we are at the end of the wet season and should expect to
get more rain this month. It’s been dry since cyclone Pam made her way down to
Vanuatu. The streets are just as you would expect in a developing country –
worse than what they were in Vanuatu – the usual holes and ruts and footpaths
that are pretty dodgy, but we will get used to walking with care and watching
where we step.
The
population in Honiara is much larger than in Port Vila and seems to be crammed
into a very narrow plain along the seafront. There are ridges above the town
that have housing and then there is quite high mountainous terrain above that
and it is not inhabited. The roads that go to the housing on the ridge are OK
but many are unsealed and I think could be a bit difficult in the wet weather.
A 4 wheel drive is essential if you live up there. We are not sure we want to
buy a car as there is not really anywhere much to drive to! The sealed roads
run out just out of town and become impassable in rain. Most transport is by
boat to areas beyond the sealed roads. I don’t think we will be investing in a
boat.
However there are cruises that can be arranged to the nearby islands for
outings – snorkeling/diving and swimming. It’s not advisable to use the
seafront for swimming as the town drains into the water from three rivers that
flow into the sea – it’s a bit to icky for swimming.
The people
have been very welcoming and Ron’s colleagues look like a great bunch of people
to work with. He has had a pretty comprehensive briefing from a NZ Education
Adviser from the Ministry who has great corporate knowledge and experience and
will be working with him.
We will now
be sending for our shipment from Abu Dhabi to get underway, with the extra bits
that have been identified to come on to Honiara. As you know it was a really
protracted process to exit Abu Dhabi and as a result we have resolved to live
more simply and to not accumulate. We loved our home and the comfort of it in
Sas Al Nakhl and have no regrets about how that happened as we enjoyed and
appreciated every day of it and what we had there – often pinching ourselves
and reminding each other of how blessed and grateful we were. However it was a
huge task to make the move out, complicated by all the ADEC exit procedures
that seemed to be never ending exercising in pushing and shoving, demanding and
negotiating.
The thunder
is rolling in, so I think we might be in for a wet evening here in Honiara. We
met a man on the flight who sat next to Ron and they chatted a bit. He and his
wife, Les and Jan, were in the café when we went for breakfast this morning and
have invited us out to dinner with another couple. I am hoping this may be the beginning
of some new friendships and will sweeten the adventure a little for us.
We have
very limited access to very expensive internet so I will be reactivating the
blog with this post and hope that you can log on to it from time to time to
catch up with us. Of course I will also try to keep in touch by email but it
will not be so easy as it has been up till now.