04 Nov 2023

Dancing in the rain at Nemboe Village

Today we visited Nendö Island, the largest island in the Santa Cruz Islands, and our last stop before leaving the Solomon Islands Group. Biologically, these islands share more with Vanuatu than the Solomon Islands. However, they still have their own endemics including four bird species - three of which the birders were lucky enough to see on their trip ashore - one of their best days birding to date.

It was raining as we headed ashore to the welcoming dances, before walking to the nearby village of Nemboe in the rain. The mossy-covered tree trunks of the forest trees were a clear reminder that we were walking through rainforest. The warm rain and the excited welcome from the locals as we walked along the puddle-lined road added to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the day.

Nemboe Village is the home of the traditional red feather money belts, carefully constructed as 'bride price'. We joined the villagers in their local dances - everyone laughing and clapping as we danced in the rain, and then wandered back to the shore with our newfound friends and examined the red feather money belts on display. These belts are traditionally made from the scarlet feathers of the Scarlet Myzomela- a little red and black honey-eating bird, which village hunters catch and partially pluck for their red feathers before letting them go again. Before we knew it, it was time to return to the Heritage Adventurer. The rain had stopped by now, but for most of us, the best part of the morning ashore had been visiting the village and laughing and dancing in the rain.