Thank you Solomon Islands!
It was a very quick yet visit to the Solomon Islands, and it was very worth it! Solomon Islands is an incredible country inhabited by some of the most kind, caring and beautiful people in the world.
We were met with smiles at Honiara Airport from Karen and John of Travel Solomons and quickly hit the ground running, visiting Hotmail Cultural Village; only a 20min drive from the airport. The lush rain tree covers the festival area where guests are treated to cultural singsings, and have a chance to experience life in the village.
The first evening was a visit to the incredible Amazing Grace Boutique Cocoa Farm where we were treated to a performance and delicious local dinner. Located on the water, Amazing Grace is a family run cocoa farm, offering tours to see the chocolate making process from start to finish. You can easily spend half a day here taking a dip in the clean ocean which is right on their doorstep, and be spoilt by their incredible cooks for lunch or dinner. There is also the Kaviki Beach Front Pub located next door (owned and operated by the same family), so a cold drink is not too far away either!
The next day was spent exploring the historical sites of WWII. From the first landing of the US military in 1942 at Red Beach, we took in the eerie stillness at Bloody Ridge, paid respects at Mt. Austen Japanese Memorial Site and learnt more about the battles which took place here at the Guadalcanal Memorial.
The museum sites such as Betikama Outdoor Museum and Vilu War Museum display very intact artefacts from WWII. These are two great spots to visit following a first hand look at the actual sites where warfare took place to really get a feel, understanding and overall empath of what these brave people went through.
It was then a run out to the western side of Guadalcanal, where we stopped off at Bonege. Bonege is about a 30min drive from central Honiara and is a coastal village perfect for an afternoon picnic and swim, as well as a snorkel around a shallow sunken Japanese wreckage from WWII. Head another 20min west, and you will find Peariu Beach, a similar site, yet it offers a beautiful house reef for snorkelling, with the team at Travel Solomons also offering kayaking expeditions.
While it was a quick trip, it certainly was magical. The Solomon Islands has a lot to offer, and we have only discovered a tiny part so far. South Sea Horizons, together with Travel Solomons will be putting together a great package for travellers to come and discover the beauty, history and culture of this wonderful nation.
