With only about 2000 residents and no electricty or indoor plumbing, Fanning Islandis about as close as you can get to the proverbial tropical island paradice.
It is situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
It is part of the Republic of Kiribati which has a scattering of 32 coral atolls; each defined by it's ring shape and interior lagoon. The shape of Fanning Island resembles a human footprint, and was aptly named Tabuaeran which means "hevenly footprint".
This coral reef is an oval form surrounded with white sand beaches. It's land area is approximately 13 square miles with an enclosed lagoon of 426 square miles. The greatest depth is 50 feet and is otherwise very shallow. It is thickly covered with coconut
palms and remains of native brush reaching in hights of 60 - 90 feet; therefore making the island visible from a vessel 15 miles out.
The atoll was discovered by the American Captain Edmund Fanning on June 11, 1798. At that time it was uninhabited so
there is no truly native population. Today the majority of the population is employed by the Coconut Industry. They also harvest sea weed and shell fish.
We tendereed ashore from just outside the atoll and through the gap into the lagoon, as shown to
the right above picture.
The locals are extremly friendly and we were greeted on the dock with a number of the islanders singing and playing music on the dock. A few locals were dressed in native Pacific Island costumes from whichever island they originally
came from.
There were tables set up to sell shells, knives, and jewellery made out of bone and sharks teeth. Wooden bowls, dishes, spoons, boxes etc. All items were well made and some with a lot of time and effort in their carvings. We wern't
hounded to buy but all were very friendly and willing to answer any questions.
While I was looking at the craft tables Bob disappeared and went off exploring the island. After I bought a necklace I also went exploring and walked a couple of miles down
the road viewing their village and their houses. Lots of children were out and very willing to let you take their picture. I also met and walked and talked with others from our ship. We were all amazed at the nice shiney faces of the little ones and no running
water, I guess they probly just bathe in the lagoon.
There were many pigs tied by their hind leg and usually tethered to a palm tree just off the main road, which was mainly just a track through the trees. We saw their homes which are mainly wide open
with just a roof over their head.
It was a beautiful day and I am thankful for the opportunity to come on this cruise and see the way these different island people live. They are such humble people and so very nice.
After sitting under a large
tree and listening to their music and watching the children play we left this delightful island we caught the tender and went back to the ship at 12:30PM. All aboard today was at 1:30PM. It was getting very hot when we boarded the tender so the air conditioning
ship really felt great. We ate lunch and then attended the sailaway party on deck 10, seaview poolside.
After dinner tonight we were entertained by th Internationally Acclaimed Guiterist, Francis Diatchenke. He had several guitars and he also sang some.
A wonderful performance which we both enjoyed very much.
Well according to our "Today on Location" ( which we receive each night before going to bed) tonight our clocks will now be set back 24 hours so that tomorrow we will repeat today, Sunday
again. The only differencw is we will be sailing on to another port.
Confusing or what. Perhaps we are on some kind of " time machine". Oh well. we just go with the flo and anyways who cares what day it really is when we are sailing the ocean and are
so well looked after by Holland America and are having such a great time.