Traveling eastward from Papua New Guinea for the last day and a half, we, the guests of National Geographic Endeavour, have had time to digest all that we experienced on the islands further west. Full of culture, sights, sounds, and colors sure to send anyone’s senses into overdrive, Papua New Guinea offered us a grand introduction to what will be one of the most culturally stimulating trips many of us have ever been on. Now, at 8 in the morning, the Solomon Islands are peaking on the horizon, and we eagerly anticipate what is in store for us there.
Solomon Islands are a nation that consists of more than 990 islands, together covering a land mass of 28,400 square kilometers. The Solomon Islands have been inhabited by Melanesian people for at least 30,000 years. In the 1890’s, the United Kingdom established a protectorate here, where some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later, however, the country remains a Commonwealth Realm.
Our first stop was at Kennedy Island, named after a young John F. Kennedy. The island is remembered to be the area Lt. John F. Kennedy had aided his injured crew ashore after his boat, the PT-109, was rammed by the Japanese Destroyer Amagiri in World War II. They came ashore at what was then known as Plum Pudding Island, though Kennedy called it "Bird Island." It was barren, so after resting, the crew members swam to another island in hopes of food, eventually making their way to an inhabited island. According to Naval archives, Kennedy cut a message on a coconut,"11 alive native knows posit & reef Nauru Island Kennedy," and handed it to a native, shouting "Rendova, Rendova!," the name of a nearby island with a PT base. The message was received, and the crew were rescued a few days later.
In 2002, National Geographic Explorer, Robert Ballard, led an expedition to the Solomon Islands in search of JFK’s PT-109. And what did he find, 360 meters below? A torpedo and torpedo-launching tube caked in coral and rust. He said during the expedition, "I'm very pleased, because it was a real needle in a haystack, probably the toughest needle I've ever had to find." Shortly after, U.S. Naval experts confirmed that the wreckage found was that of PT-109, one of the most famous sunken ships of World War II.
The island, now famous, was a fantastic stop. Even though most got as wet as the scuba divers during our visit on land, wide eyed snorkelers and divers took in the bright colors and admired the incredible reef surrounding this island.
It is here that one of the 28 species of anemonefish was sighted. Probably one of the most photogenic of all ocean creatures, the anemonefish, which is in the damselfish family, captured our minds and hearts today. Never more than a few inches in length, one would think they were as big as a Sherman tank, feisty and aggressive, always protecting “their” anemone, their mouths moving up and down as if they were muttering disapprovingly at your behavior.
So far our historical senses have been touched profoundly by the Solomon Islands - perhaps a quick nip by a damselfish touched us physically as well. Our second day beckons. . .
Solomon Islands are a nation that consists of more than 990 islands, together covering a land mass of 28,400 square kilometers. The Solomon Islands have been inhabited by Melanesian people for at least 30,000 years. In the 1890’s, the United Kingdom established a protectorate here, where some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later, however, the country remains a Commonwealth Realm.
Our first stop was at Kennedy Island, named after a young John F. Kennedy. The island is remembered to be the area Lt. John F. Kennedy had aided his injured crew ashore after his boat, the PT-109, was rammed by the Japanese Destroyer Amagiri in World War II. They came ashore at what was then known as Plum Pudding Island, though Kennedy called it "Bird Island." It was barren, so after resting, the crew members swam to another island in hopes of food, eventually making their way to an inhabited island. According to Naval archives, Kennedy cut a message on a coconut,"11 alive native knows posit & reef Nauru Island Kennedy," and handed it to a native, shouting "Rendova, Rendova!," the name of a nearby island with a PT base. The message was received, and the crew were rescued a few days later.
In 2002, National Geographic Explorer, Robert Ballard, led an expedition to the Solomon Islands in search of JFK’s PT-109. And what did he find, 360 meters below? A torpedo and torpedo-launching tube caked in coral and rust. He said during the expedition, "I'm very pleased, because it was a real needle in a haystack, probably the toughest needle I've ever had to find." Shortly after, U.S. Naval experts confirmed that the wreckage found was that of PT-109, one of the most famous sunken ships of World War II.
The island, now famous, was a fantastic stop. Even though most got as wet as the scuba divers during our visit on land, wide eyed snorkelers and divers took in the bright colors and admired the incredible reef surrounding this island.
It is here that one of the 28 species of anemonefish was sighted. Probably one of the most photogenic of all ocean creatures, the anemonefish, which is in the damselfish family, captured our minds and hearts today. Never more than a few inches in length, one would think they were as big as a Sherman tank, feisty and aggressive, always protecting “their” anemone, their mouths moving up and down as if they were muttering disapprovingly at your behavior.
So far our historical senses have been touched profoundly by the Solomon Islands - perhaps a quick nip by a damselfish touched us physically as well. Our second day beckons. . .
