So I left...on the 31st of May, on a BA flight to Brisbane...never been on such along journey! But went well, slept all the way and when I got to Brisbane I was pretty fresh, so I spent all day visiting the city...saw koalas as well! So Australian!

Then, late night, and finally collapsed, I got back to an empty airport to board the Solomon Airlines flight to Honiara. Not many passengers...and trying to look at their faces to figure out who might be on the cruise with me...but few looked like tourists! None, actually...nevermind...slept again all the way through, and landed in Honiara around 5am. A short ride to the King Solomon Hotel...tired, and looking outside the van, seemed to be a place a lot better than what I expected..not a third world country at least.

The next day I woke up mid morning and spoke to my parents..so far away I was!then I took a walk in the very hot high street of Honiara looking for an adapter! Of course I had forgotten mine...the atmosphere did not seem weird at all, and I feel quite comfortable walking on my own. But back at the hotel, still no sign of bilikiki people...

I found the dive centre (lets go diving) and met Evan, who told me all about the situation...the country was in turmoil..all the dive sites around guadalcanal were closed and it was not possible to visit ANY war memorial. Not good news hey!

I boarded the boat, the Spirit of Solomons in the afternoon...I met my fellow travelers and it was only 6 of us...very assorted...father and son from San Diego, a single non diver traveler from Queensland, an Italian (much to our surprise) couple from Milan who lives in Auckland, NZ, and me...

We witnessed the best sunset ever, had nibbles, made friends, and set sails (so to speak) towards the outer islands...

And so it began, my dreamed holiday in the Solomons...it begun perfectly, perfect weather, perfect company, nice food, beautiful surroundings, and so on...

But bad luck stroke on the third day, when, while diving in the Russels, I had increasing problems with my left ear and then had to stop diving...much to my upsetting...barotrauma, that is what it was, but at the moment, we did not know...

The weather was constantly rainy and wet, and very hot...but I did not get muchof a tan either...

And then in the end. we disembarked on the 10th of June, at the Kitano Mendana hotel, and found the island in turmoil, as there had been a military coup while my ear had had its own coup...we got evacuated the following day on a military plane with the nice and friendly and gorgeous NZ Minister, Philip Goff...we ended up in Auckl;and, while our ozzie friend, Ron, had been himself evacuated to Townsville with the other Australians on the island...

It was an adventure..many odds, ok, but I still think it has been a great chance for me to meet great people, see some amazing places, and cultures, and ultimately, end on worldwide news!

Thanks!