Huge bats on Halloween? Perfect! After a great Zodiac cruise on the west side of this uplifted coral island in the morning, we repositioned to the east side and went ashore to a small village. A stiff breeze was blowing down the bay, so the ride in was long. This gave us plenty of time to watch as huge flying foxes flew by slowly, high over the water. Real bats with three-foot wingspans made for a pretty great evocation of All Hallow’s Eve. Once ashore, we were treated to a wonderful cultural dance, a delicious fruit buffet, a hike to a limestone cave, and an opportunity for swimming in the turquoise water off the fine, soft sand beach. All in all, it was a wonderful, celebratory day.
1/1/2025
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National Geographic Orion
Nendo, Solomon Islands
What an amazing way to start the year! We woke up to the sound of rain pattering on the ocean as we cruised toward the beach of Nendo in the Solomon Islands. Piling into our BAT mobiles (Best Available Transport), we headed up the mountain for an hour to reach the remote village of Noipe, rarely visited by outsiders. The locals gave us a warm, vibrant welcome—dancing, singing, and sharing delicious local dishes. They also showed us their traditional crafts, demonstrating skills passed down through generations. This included the creation of tevau, feather money, an extremely rare art and currency still used in the Solomons today. Back on board, the adventure continued as we encountered a small pod of sperm whales, including a mother and calf. As we continued cruising, we made our way to circumnavigate Tinakula Volcano. With a stormy sunset painting the sky, it was a powerful, unforgettable way to end the day. What a first day of the new year—full of new sights, sounds, and experiences we’ll never forget!
