Solomons pics
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Destinations
Forum Name: Solomon Islands
Forum Description: Solomons destination and travel info, advice and trip reports here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=81310
Printed Date: 28 Jan 2026 at 3:57am
Topic: Solomons pics
Posted By: bazza
Subject: Solomons pics
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2012 at 11:11am
Watching sharks fighting in 150 mm of water pretty spectacular.
  Fishing in 250 mtrs under the hot sun fairly exhausting.  ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Replies:
Posted By: Yoti
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2012 at 12:45pm
|
Well done keep them comming. Don't smile too much we're still working here and could be offended |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2012 at 1:46pm
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bet your wishing for some wind.... nice to see your away enjoying yourself bazza... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: Barrie
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2012 at 2:32pm
| and no bottle of wine to be seen |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2012 at 3:27pm
Awesum bazza--looks like you dont wanna come home already.  PS-dont forget the oysters...  |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2012 at 2:42pm
Yum .... mantis shrimps & king size oysters for lunch ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2012 at 3:55pm
 
Connection painfully slow so only a couple of pics max at a time. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Stuck Here
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2012 at 4:00pm
That's okay, gives us jealous barstools a chance to get over them somewhat before the next lot appear..... Can see you're having a good time..... ------------- Family Law Court = SNAFU!!!! |
bazza wrote:Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2012 at 4:16pm
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2012 at 4:50pm
Nice one Baz and Stu, keep them comin ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2012 at 10:30pm
| Good stuff Bazza, hope you're enjoying it. |
Posted By: tobez
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 7:27am
|
what does mantis shrimp taste like? ------------- Waikato North Harbourmaster...Got a Nav Safety question for the Waikato region?...call me 021705642 or download the app Marine Mate! |
Posted By: John_Ra
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 8:11am
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2nd Tobez comment, about to quick fry some tigers myself for breaky mmmm mmmm Nice pic's by the way ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 5:20pm
A enjoyable mornings' fishing .....
A double hookup ... a GT & a coral trout
 The catch
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 5:33pm
nice work bazza~~geeez that water looks cold
|
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 5:38pm
The short answer = FANBLOODYTASTIC .... imo way ahead of
prawns or even cray .... do not turn red when cooked tho. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 5:40pm
|
nice pics and fish well done. ------------- Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2012 at 7:01pm
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great to see you enjoying yourself bazza.... dont let that Capt A lead you astray or anything like that.... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2012 at 1:52pm
Looks like another shocker of a day ... so was off to the market
on another island about 40 mins away by boat.
 Arrived at market in rush hour
 A chance to buy fresh vegs etc.
 Lisa brought some chooks ... one of which took a fancy to Adrian.
 Can only hope we don't find feathers in his bed tomorrow morning.
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2012 at 1:58pm
|
Teasing us Bazza, looks like paradise ------------- slowly going where everyone else has already been |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2012 at 1:50pm
 Were intending yesterday to walk over to the other side of the island to
try landbased fishing but Stu generously offered us the use of his small
Mac boat & electric motor, so we setout to a nearby sheltered island. We
never caught anything on small lures but had an enjoyable time exploring
the island.
   Connection too slow .... to be cont. later
Managed to get a meal of island clams, giant oysters & mantis shrimp
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2012 at 9:12pm
Now for something different ,,,, namely a nocturnal coconut crab hunt.
 We were in the capable hands of locals Albert & James along with the two
resident dogs. Unfortunately Adrian & myself were armed solely with an
underpowered torch each as the hunt charged about this way & that with
Albert in bare feet which seemed rather questionable considering the terrain
& the fact our quarry possess a formidable set of claws.
 Found quite a few small ones but eventually had three decent sized specimens
in our bag.
 james can be seen here holding one down with his bare foot!!!!!
 One of three caught
Am giving up ... service is hopeless ... might try later
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2012 at 9:19pm
| Boy oh boy, a story lies untold here folks, just you wait...... :-) |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2012 at 9:20pm
|
Nice one Baz and team keep them coming, we aren't the least bit jealous...Yeah Tui's ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2012 at 9:21pm
What don't tell us Baz caught the crabs...for dipping his wick where it shouldn't be. ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2012 at 7:21pm
|
OK long story short whilst system seems to be running.
Eventually caught ( or at least Albert & James did ) three reasonable
sized crabs which were hung in a bag from the rafters.
 About 4 am was woken by what I thought was Adfrian shuffling & rustling about
but when it went on for 5 mins or more realised the noise was coming from
MUCH closer & when I shone a torch found this critter climbing the wall less
than 1/2 mtr from where my head was lying.
 We managed to get it in a bucket but it jumped out again to hide behind a
cranny so had to try contain it by stuffing towels above/below then keeping
torches shining at it ( power is off from 11pm to 11am )
 However after about an hour it began to move again so after considering
waking up Stu to help but deciding at that hour he would be more fearsome
than any angry cc crab had to find Albert then wake him to come help.
He managed to recapture it & discover another one we had not seen on a
rafter above which he managed to get down then tie up.
 I can tell you does not take much noise now to wake me up or from having
nightmares !!! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2012 at 7:29pm
|
hahahaha--classic bazza... just imagine if the one in the rafters fell out of the rafters and landed on ya face... oh boy ..
------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2012 at 7:57pm
| This is a tale just dying for embellishment...... one day, one day.....:-) |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2012 at 8:10pm
|
...guy wearing the pink towel needs to adjust his dress a tad
|
Posted By: Yoti
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2012 at 8:34pm
| Now I know how to stop the snoring just move something in the dark...looks like they were trying to escape from the snoring |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2012 at 7:35am
Ha Ha ..... had not noticed that but before you get TOO envious
Bill .... have to tell you it is actually a torch! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2012 at 10:40pm
|
Considering the trauma involved in their capture it was of some consulation that they made The machete is required to penetrate the chest killing the crab & to drain any bitter tasting liquid
however I also managed to slice my finger in the process as well thru not realising it was so sharp.    The next day went out fishing covering literally miles for a total of one small barracouta
plus a failed hook up on a GT & a couple of fish lost
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2012 at 3:54am
|
should have put your sliced finger on plate as well bazza... sure looks like a lot of fun though... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2012 at 8:13am
|
Went to the market in Gizo the other day ,,, just over an hour by boat& a
chance to stock up on veges / beverages etc.
  Had lunch there at the pub
 Buggar !!! just lost over half this post along with about 5 pics so will give
up & try later
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Daniel K
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2012 at 3:32pm
|
What a paradise What did the Coconut crab taste like Bazza?
|
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2012 at 12:06pm
We had 3 between us & presumed as with crays, prawns etc that the
best meat would be in their bulb like tails but when we cut them open
found they were full of a buttery very rich yellowish/brown goo which
was not to our taste so concentrated on the meat in the claws etc.
However we asked a local that was passing local who said that was
the best part & went away happy as a sandboy with one of them.
We found out later that the contents of the tail are far too rich to eat
on their own but great for dipping the meat in or spreading on a cracker.
Ah well live & learn.
part
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2012 at 7:25pm
|
For those that are envious of the weather up here will be consuled to
hear it peed down on our trip out yesterday.... fishing wasn't bad tho!
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2012 at 7:39pm
|
Nice one Baz and team, we miss you dearly reading these reports...NOT! ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2012 at 8:16pm
|
but the rain was warm right??? ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2012 at 7:03pm
|
The clear winner of this week for the most meritorious catch
has to be this local with his Maori wrasse ........
  Caught using his homemade speargun & operating from a dugout.
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2012 at 7:22pm
|
Awesum Bazza... Hope you making the most of them king oysters too mate... Those wrasse are a nice colour,they are called maori wrasse-are they in any way tied back to the nz maori at all.. Just curious how they got there name if someone on the island has said ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2012 at 7:36pm
| There are a fair number of "Maori" fish.... basically, it is what the original european namers gave to fish that seemed to have wavy lines all over their faces., like the maori tatts. |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 2:08pm
|
A passing dugout with a catch of crays on board called in & was
able to buy 3 for $20.
 Freshly caught & cooked cray for dinner
 Preceeded by sand oysters opened over an open flame.
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 2:12pm
|
Painted crays they are vegetarian bazza... let us know how they taste, ive never eaten one.... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 2:21pm
Taste much the same Eric but reckon the shell is harder & a bit
thicker as is harder to crack. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 4:45pm
|
On the way to have a snorkel & use my u/water web vid cam
stopped of at skull Island.
It is where the heads of notable chiefs rest & the bones of headhunted
victims are heaped on the lagoon floor. Apparently headhunting was still
practiced as late as the 1920's.
Pics later lnternet service too slow.
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Clutch
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 6:06pm
| You better hope they have all forgotten Baz.............. |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 6:17pm
Maybe they are still operating in spirit Smudge as cannot find
my passport so doesn't look like I will be going home with the
others tomorrow! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 6:36pm
Bazza that is terrible news mate. Must be gut wrenching to know that you have to be tortured by staying over there in such a place for an extended period of time . ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 6:37pm
Sweet,,thnx Stu. ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 9:16pm
Skull Island cont ....
  The final pic is of the good luck shrine where you have good luck if you leave
the chiefs something. I left a 50 cent kiwi coin but maybe it was not enough
as never had my wish to catch a fish on a popper granted & furthermore my
passport is now missing! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 9:26pm
..those poor buggars in the back rows ain't getting much of a view bazza |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 2:10pm
|
Stu, Cliffe & Adrian will be back home by now but no doubt
tire after arriving after midnight.
As for me I am stuck in Honiara trying to get a new passport
issued & cannot book a flight out until I get it.
Ah well .... as inconvenient as that might be at least am better
off than the poor guy who was on the plane with us from Munda
to Honiara for he was in a coffin.
A couple of days earlier Lisa who owns the Zipolo resort was on
the way to Munda by boat ( the only option ) was flagged down
by a yacht with two Austrian guys one of which was pretty sick
& needed to get to hospital at Munda asap. Lisa managed to take
him there but he died an hour later. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 2:15pm
|
Wow thats no good Bazza,so you cant still do a bit more fishing while waiting ? And why cant nz immigration send something thru to the powers that be over there and confirm that you do have a passport so you can at least fly back home. Cos do you have to cough up for a new flight as an extra cost or was it transferred ? That guy off the yacht musta been pretty crook to die an hour later.. Hope you still had a great experience mate ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 2:51pm
I have a photo copy of my passport but unless it is ultra special circumstances
then there is no way you are allowed to fly without a current passport. Well that
is not absolutely the case as can be allowed to board if you have a special report
from the police however would not be enter Brisbane or NZ so not much point.
The NZ consulate here is being most helpful but they can only move as fast as
Wellington wants to take & as is the same world over govt. departments are not
known for their desire to process anything post haste.
The police report is part of the requirement to have a new passport issued & that
took a mere 2 1/2 hrs to type a two paragragh letter. This was after having been
told at the front desk "u men kum friday bak" & had to then further explain the
urgency whereupon was given the ok to ask at CID which involved walking thru
the prison compound & inmates to reach the office where finger printing etc was
being carried out. Certainly a great insight into how things work or conversely don't
work in the Solomons.
Meantime am in a hotel room the most affordable I could find & still after negotiating
a special deal is 4NZ200 pn plus meals etc. plus will have to pay for new flight booking
& $NZ360 for passport. Thank goodness I have travel insurance which should cover
most costs involved less any excess however have to pay up front beforehand so rang
visa to have limit increased as would be a disaster if it was declined on trying to pay
for the flight at the airport.
Altho most here only earn about $NZ1 hr most things are relatively expensive eg the
internet connection card to use this pc was $NZ50 & would not work however reception
managed to get it operating after a mere 2 hrs of trying & seveal phone calls. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 2:59pm
|
Mate bazza that sux-i and am sure others here feel for you dude. Making it a bit of an expensive end but like you say lucky you have got the travel insurance and hope they come to the party but i dont think should be nay hassles. So i wonder who nabbed your passport ?? ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Yoti
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 3:11pm
|
Sorry to hear of your holdups.. Make the most of it, take some more pics of your adventure and share when you finally get home. Looks like you short changed on the 50c good luck payment back on the island good luck on getting home |
Posted By: Barrie
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 3:18pm
Hadn't thought of that Now we know the cause and where to find your passport |
Posted By: mike_e
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 4:05pm
| Where you staying, Kitano??? |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 6:11pm
|
The dude that died (Austrian), had been ill when he hopped on the boat in vanuatu. They sailed past the whole solomons chain, including Honiara and the main/best hospital, to reach Munda. No doubt the guy was doing the bloke thing and "toughing it out", but he had chronic pneumonia. He was in a very bad way when Lisa picked him off the boat and took hm in to Munda hospital. 10 minutes after they left, his system just shut totally down, his lungs had filled with so much fluid he basically drowned right in the arms of the doctors, nothing they could do about it. Guy was in his early 40s. A sobering thought really, isn't it. We all arrived back in Akld on time (fractionally early in fact), I rocked in to home at about 2-30, loaded my pics onto the comp, and hit the hay at 4. Up at 7-30 when I had to move the truck for someone to get their car out, then at 9 finally when the phone went nutso. Sigghhhh... Mi wan fella tired tumas. I understand Barry is staying at the King Solomons Hotel, at least, that was the plan. Barry, I told the counter dude you couldn't make it, but he was so busy, no idea if he passed that gem in information on or not. |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 6:18pm
No .... not aware of Kitano ( presume it is a hotel ) am at the
King Solomons as is the most affordable accomodation I could
find close to the NZ consulate.
Was intending to go for a swim in the hotel pool but it has been
raining all afternoon so no point ..... seems like I cannot win ....
maybe Ivan is right about being a tightwad at the shrine & should
have tossed in $5 instead of 50 cents. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 6:28pm
|
The Kitano is the Mendana, Bazza, that is the other hotel option we discussed. It is pretty much the same as the King Sol, but is on the water. Did they give you a decent room, not one of those ground floor uglies we got on the way up? |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2012 at 6:28pm
|
So if he hadve gone to Honiara then he wouldve had a good chance at surviving... Silly boy.. ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 9:28am
Some picturesque scenes from Honiara .... went to Chinese resturant
last night only about 3/4 km from hotel but was strongly advised not to
walk after dark so took a cab there & back.
If you thought your local gas station could do with a spuce up .......
  Outdoor gambling dens ( top pic )
 Then there are the pristine streams & a larger nearby river is also used to
drive vehicles into to wash them. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 2:23pm
|
At this overdue point I would like to aknowledge the invaluable contribution
towards the success of the trip for Adrian & myself by Stu aka Capt Asparagus.
It involved pre trip advice on gear to take etc. thru to our benefiting from his
experience & knowledge. Mind you he slipped up rather in not preventing me
from losing my passport but made up for in heading me in the right directions
for best dealing with the situation & but for him I would not be languishing here
in my hotel room on the Island paradise of Honiara watching the steady deluge
of heavy rain outside.
Only joking about the last bit Stu ........ thanks for everything mate. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 2:51pm
------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 7:24am
|
Looking hopeful for being able to fly home on Tues with a temporary
passport waiver document.
In the meantime have arranged to visit this afternoon some of the WW11
battle sites where almost 40,000 lives were lost.
Has stopped raining & weather looks promising, so hopefully will be a good
day for it.
Hmnn ..... wonder if it is too late to increase my donation at the good luck shrine
as now my camera seems to be packing it in .... flash no longer works, pics don,t
seem to be as sharp or colourful plus other probs so can but hope it holds out for
a few more days. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Clutch
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 7:58am
|
Maybe you should just stay in your room til tuesday and then get out of dodge
|
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 10:53am
Yes probably would be safer however feel a bit less at risk after
finally sussing the road rules which I reckon go something like this :-
(1) Motorists have absolute r.o.w over pedestrians at all times including
footpaths.
(2) Wherever possible no gaps to be left between moving traffic that
might let a pedestrian cross & doing so will incur demerit points.
(3) If traffic is halted then no gap to be left between vehicles that would
allow a pedestrian to cross & if they attempt to do so then merit points
will be awarded if either driver manages to crush their legs between
the bumpers.
(4) Should a pedestrian attempt to cross when their is a gap drivers must
speed up then swerve in their direction even at the risk of tyre damage
from mounting the kerb or meridian strip.
(5) The above rules should be adhered to at all times & in particular if the
pedestrian is elderly, impaired or blind.
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 11:35am
|
Been crossing the road...or trying to... then Bazza? :-) The camera.... if you are going into and out of a nice cool air conned room, chances are your cam is condensing up a bit. Try leaving it in the full sunlight for a while, that could help it dry out. Honiara is the armpit of the pacific, not as bad as, say, Port Moresby, but heading along that way. That is why taking a taxi everywhere is so much better, and cheap as too. Mind you, I don't think you would be any safer walking at night in parts of Otara or south auckland , so although the place looks run down (coz it is, maintenance is , to Solomon Islanders, something that happens to other people), I don't think it is actually dangerous. Sure not like Moresby where your life is in very real peril. But yes, public sanitation, public perceptions about littering etc all are hopeless. Out west though, where the resort is, is still beautiful. |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 12:36pm
I agree totally Stu & in actual fact have found once I accepted the frustrations & the downsides
of Honiara that in some perverse sort of way it kinda grows on you as you begin to assimilate.
Bit of a worry actually a I understand that is one of the symptoms of going "Troppo" & reckon
the onset may well have been contracted thru someone like yourself in the advanced stages.
Went for a walk in the opposite direction to town this morning to try finding a beach but must
have been about 4 kms or more before I found an access point namely a small public park as
up until then all the beachfront land seemed to be private fenced of land. There was a small
arts/crafts Sunday market there run by a couple of Aussie women & was refreshing to find
they were organising a rubbish pickup of the area, which judging by the confused look on
their faces the reluctant participants found such a concept quite alien.
This was the beach AFTER the clean up with the residual rubbish including a dead dog!
 On a more positive note as you are well aware the hand crafted woodware
is nothing short of exquisite & was sorely tempted to buy that bowl with
the intricate inlaid pearl shell despite the shortage of funds & luggage space.
Asked him how long it took to complete & he said a month therefore even
at the negociatable asking price of $1000 Sol = $NZ 200 would equate to
about 75 cents per hour or even less if cost of materials are considered.
 Where else but the Solomons would a hotel room have :-
Pots & pans but no cooker.
A double sink SS bench but no dish detergent etc.
Cutlery plus kitchen utensils but no plates.
A large fridge/freezer plus bar fridge but only a small carton of longlife
milk to keep cool.
A microwave but no micowave dishes etc.
An ironing board but no iron
Ect ect.
However once they hear of my situation the staff have been very helpful
kind & considerate & the freezer space a boon for layering the frozen fish
with wet paper to form a frozen case which combined with the chilly basket
you gave us should ensure it remains frozen for the trip home providing
there is one of course.
  Pool has been most welcome tho & will be entertaining a new found friend
& his family there with a dip & a few cold ones later on today.
 You could well be right ( when are you ever wrong?) Stu re the camera as
noticed on Zipolo that the inside of the dribag I keep it in was getting quite
damp inside with condensation in the humid weather,
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 12:59pm
|
That handcrafted woodware looks pretty good Bazza,,a lot of work has gone into it , the fish looks pretty good.. $200 nz over there--you imagine how much people would sell those items for over here..... ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 1:29pm
|
Try to sell something like that here, and someone will immediately say they can get it for$1-95 at the $2 shop. To folks who have not been there and seen the difference, a hand carved bowl that is a work of skill and art is no different from a stamped-out mock wood mass produced p.o.s. Then again, even up there, there are huge differences in the products... the carvings you mostly see are hum-drum, made for the fastest buck possible stuff, then otehr times you find a carver who is a real artist. I have a ton of carvings here now, and can show you so easily the difference between the run-on-the-mill workmanship normally seen, and the true art some of the carvers are capable of. For something so seemingly similar, once you have the two types of work side-by-side, you cannot fail to spot the yawning gulf in skill levels. Photos certainly cannot do them justice. |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 1:38pm
|
So true Stu. And yes photos do look good and cant tell if they are really good quality just by looknig at photo
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Posted By: Clutch
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 5:07pm
| Seriously the place looks pretty dangerous to me.... |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 6:36pm
|
Nah, not that dangerous really, just messy, disorganised, chaotic and ineptly governed and run. The people are pretty much universally friendly, but of course there are those everywhere that see foreigners ... particularly wealthy tourist type ones, as targets for a quick buck. But... there are NO guns in the solomons, so you don't have to worry about any sort of fire-arms violence at least in robberies, and there really is not that much of that sort of thing anyhow. As I said, South Auckland would be more perilous most nights I would say. |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 6:54pm
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Ah well, it looks like bazza's staying on to sort the nasty ones
|
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 7:09pm
|
IMO it is synonimous with any other situation where there is mass
migration to a city from a multitude of different ( for the want of a
better word ) tribes that have left behind the values & culture they
were brought up with.
Sure Honiara is disgustingly unkempt in many ways yet not so on
the smaller outlying Islands where they are more under the influence
of tribal values & disciplines.
Can honestly say at no time have I felt seriously threatened whilst in
Honiara anymore than in downtown Aucks on a weekend. I have found
the people readily respond to a greeting or being treated on an equal
basis. Having said that it sems such a pity the same people do not seem
to take any pride in their surroundings & I must admit many seem to live
a rather mindless existence.
Just goes to show what happens whn individuals do not get out fishing
often enough! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Clutch
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 8:03pm
|
Yeah Capt. I guess its like anywhere else. Auckland central is as bad as anywhere...even Sth Aucks. |
Posted By: Martini Max
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 9:12pm
|
"But... there are NO guns in the solomons, so you don't have to worry about any sort of fire-arms violence at least in robberies, and there really is not that much of that sort of thing anyhow". No they just bring big eff off knives and machetes to fist fights ------------- "I do nothing..I do it well.. I then move on to doing more of nothing" |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 9:55pm
|
Well they say we learn something new every day & am inclined
to agree for today I learnt you cannot dry damp laundry in the
microwave without burning holes in it.
Geez I am finally going to be with the current fashion of wearing
tee shirts with holes .... not quite so sure about the undies tho! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:01am
|
All systems go ..... have passport waiver documents .... Nz High Commission
are taking me to the airport which will no doubt be a comfort to all back home
to know there tax dollars are being well spent.
All things being equal should be back in Otearoa by midnight.
Hotel wanted to charge me $ 350 Sol for being one hour late checking out but
have managed to get them to recind that. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:04am
|
Good stuff Bazza,,you will be glad to be home dude... $359 for an hour... Is that how much they wouldve charged the hooker that was going to use it for an hour ?? Pretty expensive isnt it and after you spent all the extra $ with them... ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:16am
|
Could it be they were trying to recoup some $'s to pay for fumigating your room after the fried grundies episode bazza?
|
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:21am
Wonder how much it would be if we shared ?
Naah .... will be too busy packing! ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:21am
|
fried grundies ? is this anutha story hasnt been told yet ?
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Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:23am
 ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Uncle
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:37am
"Well they say we learn something new every day & am inclined to agree for today I learnt you cannot dry damp laundry in the microwave without burning holes in it. Geez I am finally going to be with the current fashion of wearing tee shirts with holes .... not quite so sure about the undies tho!" |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:43am
|
Holy undies. Oh Bazza mate--did you really ?? Haha--im just about falling off my chair pissed myself laughing at that,lucky i have got arms on the chair.... 10 points for trying tho mate. You will now have to beware in public as you might get done for indecent exposure dependin where and if the holes let things hang out to dry. This has to go up for nomination on here for the yearly "new innovation experiment" prize me thinks..GRIN You can certainly say you have had a memorable trip and experience Bazza with all the new thnigs you have tried . ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2012 at 7:42pm
|
Arrived back safe & sound in the early hours this morning. Virgin were late leaving Hon & arriving at Bris leaving only minutes to make the There was a worrying moment or two when they stated they would probably get us One fly in the ointment so to speak on the Bris \ Ak link was the mum & two little However by practising extreme restrain & tolerance managed to avoid being arrested Most of today been spent applying for a new passport to replace the lost therefore ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: smelli
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2012 at 7:59pm
|
Glad you back safe n sound Bazza and good on the NZHC for making it all happen smoothly mate and your fish didnt get delayed either. Pity about the rats sitting behind you,i wouldve politely asked the mother to control her kids and kept enforcing the point or tried anutha seat i was any spare .. Oh no,not anutha extra cost,but yes better safe to make sure it is back in time for your next trip. Are you going to Norfolk island to relax and unwind mate ?? Have anutha good time Bazza ------------- http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=717361 |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2012 at 8:23pm
|
just make sure your not locked up in this place while your there bazza.. eat fried fish on Friday at the restaurant, absolutely fantastic... everything is duty free...  ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2012 at 8:53pm
Maybe not for much longer Eric as the Island is broke & understand that Aus is
about to take over very shortly .... but good luck to them if they think the Islanders
are going to pay taxes.
Gotta admit tho has been a good ride whilst it lasted but the reality is .... can't have
it both ways ie live the good life without paying anything towards it.
Apparently is near impossible to sell a property there at present.
Fishing is still good tho & am looking forward to finding out how good. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2012 at 7:06am
|
With almost 1000 islands in the Solomons group it follows that
boats are widely used for transport & commuting etc.
They are basically all of a certain design ie relatively long & narrow
with a semi flared bow. They are remarkably stable, ride well, seem
to have a huge carrying capacity, are dry, acelerate & move along
at speed even with lower powered motors than would be expected.
There must be downsides otherwise surely we would see the design
being utilised in other countries however there did not seem to be
any that were apparent except maybe :-
Might not suit trailering & as they were mostly open perhaps they do
not suit cabins etc altho did notice a couple with bimini style tops.
We went to Gizo market one day a return trip of over 2 hrs. for supplies returning with what most of us would consider an overload
of cargo & six pax on board initially on the return out into open sea
under fairly rough conditions. Nevertheless seemed to handle it OK
at flat tack (the only speed travelled) even if it was rather disconc
-erting to observe mere inches of freeboard amidship.
There were a few moments when I felt concern ... firstly when
motors cut out thru a fuel line problem & we were drifting fairly fast
in the direction of a nearby reef with surf like waves breaking.
Secondly when one of the motors hit a barely submerged rock
bringing things to an abrubt stop & throwing the driver forward
into the boat. Could not help but reflect on what would have
happened had we drifted onto the reef or the back of the boat
had been split or torn open under impact or had the hull hit,
however I seemed to be the only one that was peturbed & we eventually arrived back
safely.
 Prob posting pics will do so later
 There is no slowing down out of consideration of other users including
this mother & child padding a small dugout in mangrove crocodile
territory. Many are concerned at the increasing population of crocs due
to them now being protected & the fact most guns have been confiscated
since thee unrest with a co responding increase in the number of people
being taken or attacked. Joe said there had been sign that a croc had
left markings on the beach recently which was very unusual for one to
enter clear water but a bit of a worry nevertheless.
  Stability
------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2012 at 8:34am
|
The island longboats... yamaha longboats,a jap design I think, are used throughout the pacific certainly, and likely all the worlds tropical regions. With no "v", they are great for skimming over calm waters, reef etc, but not so hot in open water, which is doubtless why they are not so popular here. Their waterline length does give them amazing stability, the otehr bonus is that the long, lean hulls need far smaller horsepowers than boats we are used to... the dive boat, the white one you used mostly barry, in that pic there, is 22ft long, close to my 7.2m boat I have, but whereas I have a 225 on mine, that boat performs perfectly well with two 40hp out boards. Also the length of the hull gives a smoother ride in the short chop often found in the lagoons, connecting the dots so to speak. As for the folks in the canoes, that is not an issue, those folks are brought up paddling around in those little dug-outs, kids will see a speed boat coming, and paddle screaming with delight for the wake, to ride the waves, so unless you zoom past a dugout within inches, then they bob over the wake like a cork, perfectly balanced and controlled at all times. Did you notice the name of that little rock "pier" you pictured at Noro? It is the "Kiwi Wharf", the remnant of the wharf built to run supplies across to the kiwi fighter base on kohinggo island just opposite. With the NZ govt funding the new, sealed road connecting Noro and munda, as well as the rebuild of the munda airport to international standards, it is good to see that we (NZ) are maintaining our links with these islands... another reason why kiwis in particular are so well liked in this part of the world. |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2012 at 9:39am
Maybe so Stu but as mentioned was a pretty heavy sea when we left Gizo when is initially
open sea at first yet Paul gave it full titty & it handled it well .... mind you might have
been due to the weight being carried.
No did not know the pier at Noro had Kiwi connections but did notice the road was in
better condition than even Honiara not that that would be difficult however thought
the improved condition was because of the fish canning factory.
An uppgrade of Munda airstrip will not go amiss either as does not look like much if
anything has been done since the yanks captured it from the Japs. Wonder if they
intend upgrading the current hard case fuel depot namely a rather erratic stack of
44 gall drums behind a wire fence?
BTW ... you are probably aware but whilst in Honiara I came across a group of Japanese
in what looked like full military uniform & were told they are still seaching for human
bones 70 odd years after the conflict as they believe unless they are ceremoniously
put to rest then the persons' spirit cannot rest. How they decide on discovery "in the feild"
so to speak which bones are of Japanese origin or not I have no idea. Maybe they collect
everything then after testing pass them on to the appropriate country. ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2012 at 2:32pm
|
Don't get me wrong, the boats can, and do, go miles out to sea.... hell, we go to the fads in them all the time, but they are still just an open boat, if you can accept regular dousing with water, it is fine. However, there is a huge difference between solomon islands 30degC water, and NZs 15degC water! :-) The refurbishment of the airport will include everything, fuel depot, terminal, run-way, the whole nine yards. It will just need some expats to run it and maintain it, as maintenance is something that Solomon Islanders just cannot get their heads around. |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2012 at 7:49pm
|
Munda airport
Airstrip was built by the Japaness In the 1940s' & was then the
longest airstrip in the Sth Pacific until being captured by the
Americans who then not to be outdone extended it marginally.
It is still in use today but as Stu tells us is about to be upgraded
by NZ as part of an aid project.
Air terminal complex
 Fuel depot
 Downtown
 Market .... we brought a bag of clams for $NZ2
 Wharf & transport to Zipolo
 ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: mike_e
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2012 at 9:26pm
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Been to Munda a few times on the way to Noro but last time was 2006 Road could have used a bit of attention even then. Sounds like you had a good trip Bazza |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2012 at 7:18am
|
To appease anyone that might consider this thread is turning
into a history lesson rather than fishing related here are pics
of some of the fish caught :-
Two fish on one lure = GT & Coral trout
  ------------- When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!! |