SALOMOINE ISLANDS TRAVEL REPORT.

  

At Jacksons Airport in Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), at the Check in of the Air Niugini Company, for the flight to Honiara, they asked me to show them the Airline booking attesting to leaving the Solomon Islands.

 

Punctual as never before, my plane no. PX80, operated by Air Niugini, in the direction of Honiara Henderson Airport (Solomon Islands), (multi-leg fare Honk Kong - Port Moresby, Port Moresby - Wewak, Wewak - Port Moresby, Port Moresby - Honiara), taxes included: HKD 6,933 ).

 

A sandwich and a drink are served on the aforementioned aircraft.

 

The duration of the flight is 2 hours 20 '.

 

Punctual arrival at 12.15 p.m., at Honiara Henderson Airport (Solomon Islands).

 

There are 9 hours of time zone, compared to Italy, when summer time is in force in Italy, 10 hours when winter time is in force.

 

To enter the Solomon Islands it is not necessary to have an entry visa, for tourism up to 90 days. To easily obtain the entry stamp, it is necessary to present a passport with six months of residual validity on the date of entry into the country and the completed form indicating the address where you intend to stay.

 

Keep in mind that in some areas of the Solomon Islands, Malaria is present (high risk).

 

In the Solomon Islands there is the Guide on the Left, in English.

 

In the Solomon Islands, many are tattooed.

 

In the Solomon Islands mobile phones with Italian cards do not work, except that of Vodafone which sporadically allows you to send a text message in Italy but not to call.

 

At Honiara Henderson Airport (Solomon Islands), it is possible to withdraw money at ATMs, but it is also possible to exchange cash (Euros, US Dollars, Australian Dollars and many other currencies), at unfavorable exchange rates compared to the city center, where in Via main (Mendana Ave) there are some banks that change currency. I exchanged it at the Bank "N ° 1 currency" at the following exchange rate (1 Euro = S $ 7.77, USD 1 = S $ 7.93). From this it is clear that in the Solomon Islands it is clearly advantageous to exchange American Dollars against Euros.

 

Keep in mind that there are very few vehicles on the roads of the Solomon Islands, with the exception of large cities such as Honiara.

 

In the Solomon Islands, even in the dry season it is possible that it rains mainly at night.

 

If you are visiting the Solomon Islands, the first thing you will notice is the bright red teeth and lips of the local men and women. The cause of this particular color is betel nuts, which the locals call "buai". Green betel nuts are a fruit that grows in the tropical climates of Southeast Asia and is very popular in the islands of the South Pacific. They can be found at every corner in the country's streets and are chewed as a key part of the most important ones. social events, but also in everyday life. Betel nut has a mildly stimulating effect and, in addition to traditional reasons, the locals chew it to reduce stress, increase alertness and suppress hunger.

 

Languages: English and local languages

 

Religions: Protestant.

In the Solomon Islands the police are generally kind to foreigners and do not bother them with requests for money.

 

In Papua New Guinea, there are many Filipinos and Indonesians working there.

 

The roads on the island of Guadalcanal are in poor condition (except the road that runs from the capital to the airport), especially in the north-east. Keep in mind that only the northern part of the aforementioned island can be easily visited.

 

From Honiara Henderson Airport (Solomon Islands), located about 10 km east of the city center, to reach it you need to take a taxi or a minibus that passes on the main road 200 meters away. about from the Terminal. The taxi costs about S $ 100 while the minibus costs S $ 5. You pay the attendant after getting on. The ride takes about 20 minutes and ends in the main street (Mendana Ave) near the central market.

 

One of the cheapest solutions to sleep in Honiara is to stay overnight at St Agnes Union House, located on the hillside, 5 minutes walk from the main street (Mendana Ave). I booked by e-mail at the following address: stagnes@solomon.com.sb. Cost for a double room with ensuite bathroom: S $ 381 per night. Mosquito net not present. Fan present. Air conditioning and television not present. Wifi, present but not available to guests. Shared kitchen available. Breakfast not included. Night watchman present. Well kept and spotless accommodation.

 

Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, is great on foot and appears quite safe during the day. After sunset, however, it is convenient to travel by taxi.

 

If you want to visit the House of Parliament, the symbolic building of the capital, located on the hill above the city, you need to book.

 

Keep in mind that if you want to visit Tenaru Falls or Mataniko Falls, located a few kilometers south of the capital, it is necessary to hire a mandatory guide, booking it at the Honiara Tourist Office, at least the day before.

 

The Honiara Tourist Office, located on the main street (Mendana Ave), opposite the National Museum, has a website. Although he never replies to e-mails, if you go personally during the opening hours he has very friendly and kind staff who can give you useful information and can help you find a guide or a boat.

 

To go to the island of Savo, located just a few kilometers north of the island of Guadalcanal. To reach it keep in mind that there are no public boats.

 

I relied on the website www.solomonislands-hotels.travel, through which I booked an overnight stay at the Savo Sunset Lodge, located a step away from the sea in the Village of Sakaleki, on the Island of Savo and managed by the former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Mr. Allan Kemakeza. Cost for a double room with shared bathroom: S $ 150 per night. Mosquito net not present. Air conditioning and television not present. Wifi, not present. Breakfast not included. Electricity supplied by a generator from dawn to dusk.

 

Since the Savo Sunset Lodge has neither email nor whatsapp, but only the following telephone number: (677) 7238977, through solomonislands-hotels.travel, through the email bookings@solomonislands-hotels.travel, I remedied transport from Honiara to Savo Sunset Lodge, by car to Vila and then by boat to Savo Sunset Lodge at a cost of S $ 600 (round trip).

 

In the morning at 8.30 a.m. the very young Son of the former Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Mr. Allan Kemakeza came to pick me up at my hotel and drove me to Vila, a small village located on the north-west part of Guadalcanal Island, which is the closest point to the island of Savo. From there a small motor boat was waiting for me to tackle the turbulent Solomon Sea to the Savo Sunset Lodge in Sakaleki Village. The not easy crossing takes about half an hour.

 

Once you reach the Selvaggia, the staff of the Savo Lodge offers you some activities, all for a fee, and described below:

 

1. Excursion by boat (30 'round trip) and then on foot (30' round trip) to see the Vutusuala Volcano. In addition to the boat rental (cost for 1 day S $ 100) and the Guide (cost for 1 day S $ 50), you must pay the Village Chief 20 S $, for the permit to moor on the boat, 20 S $, to cross Volivolila Village, 20 S $, to cross the Kodola Village and 40 S $, to be able to see the Succitato Volcano.

2. Boat excursion (40 ') to see the Dolphins. In addition to the boat rental (cost for 1 day 100 S $) and the Guide (cost for 1 day 50 S $), you have to pay 40 S $ tax.

 

3. Hike (scarce 2 hours round trip) to see KoPapuarail Falls. Keep in mind the route is articulated on the bed of the stream and therefore is slippery and demanding. In addition to the cost of the Guide (cost for 1 day 50 S $), you must pay the entrance fee to the falls of 40 S $.

 

4. Boat excursion (30 'round trip) to see the Megapods and its eggs. In addition to the boat rental (cost for 1 day S $ 100) and the Guide (cost for 1 day S $ 50), you have to pay S $ 80 to the Village Chief of Enagatoga.

 

On Guadalcanal Island, keep in mind that all of the major easily accessible tourist attractions are located on the north coast to the east and west of Honiara. To see them take into account that with minibuses it is very difficult to reach them and therefore you need to hire a private taxi in Honiara at a cost of S $ 100 per hour. Just stop any one on the road.

 

Usually the most beautiful beaches, which are located west of Honiara have an entrance fee but my taxi driver knew the owners and let me in for free.

 

I had to pay instead:

 

• S $ 100, for the Vilu War Museum, which houses WW2 planes, commemorative monuments, ect.

• S $ 50, for the WWII Museum, which houses numerous amphibious vehicles from the 2nd World War.

• Free, US War Memorial of Honiara;

• S $ 50, for the Solomon Peace Memorial Park;

• S $ 100 for the visit of Mount Austen;

• S $ 50 for the Bloody Ridge;

• Free Henderson Airport Memorial Garden;

 

 

 To leave the Solomon Islands it is necessary to present the completed form to the Airport Authorities, thus obtaining the exit stamp.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/01/viaggio-in-papa-nuova-guinea-wewak.html