Today we're tendered at Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati. It's located 262 miles north of the equator, 500 miles north of Tahiti and about 1000 miles south of Hawaii. Kiribati is comprised of 33 coral atolls and isles many of which are unpopulated.
Although you may not have heard of Kiribati, you've probably seen it because it was the site for the closing shots of the Gilligan's Island TV show.
Much of Kiribati is no higher than 6' above sea level. Unfortunately it's predicted that because of the warming of the ocean and the rising sea levels, it may no longer exist by 2100.
We weren't sure what to expect when we tendered in. The place is relatively untouched by civilization. There's no electricity, no running water and no plumbing. But the color of the water surrounding the island was gorgeous!
We were greeted on the dock by a large group of children and adults singing to welcome us. There was an area on the shore where they sold pretty jewelry, baskets and other items they had made. The people on the island speak english because at one point it was a British colony. Everyone was very friendly. Today was a holiday on the island so the children were not in school and we saw them everywhere.
Although they have so little in the way of material things compared to our world, they truly seemed happy with their lifestyle of living off the land and sea. For us, this was like a trip back in time.
We have two more sea days and then we'll be in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Although you may not have heard of Kiribati, you've probably seen it because it was the site for the closing shots of the Gilligan's Island TV show.
Much of Kiribati is no higher than 6' above sea level. Unfortunately it's predicted that because of the warming of the ocean and the rising sea levels, it may no longer exist by 2100.
We weren't sure what to expect when we tendered in. The place is relatively untouched by civilization. There's no electricity, no running water and no plumbing. But the color of the water surrounding the island was gorgeous!
We were greeted on the dock by a large group of children and adults singing to welcome us. There was an area on the shore where they sold pretty jewelry, baskets and other items they had made. The people on the island speak english because at one point it was a British colony. Everyone was very friendly. Today was a holiday on the island so the children were not in school and we saw them everywhere.
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| Singers welcomed us to their island |
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| Some homes were thatched huts while others were made from containers that had washed ashore. |
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| Classroom on the island |
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| Classroom on the island |
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| No paved roads - just dirt paths |
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| Tender ride back to the ship was like being on a roller coaster! |
We have two more sea days and then we'll be in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
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