| ozziegiraffe10:29 UTC27 Jun 2008 | I've been asked by a local travel agent to escort a small group to the artificial islands in Malaita, Solomon Islands. All the proceeds will go to the locals (villagers, local transport providers, and accommodation in Honiara etc.) For that reason, I am not promoting something from which I will make a commercial gain. Possible times are Sept/Oct this year, or late January or Easter next year.
If anyone is interested, please send me a PM.
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| ozziegiraffe10:53 UTC27 Jun 2008 | Sorry, everyone, I didn't mean to mark this as a question, and now I can't change it.
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| zefiro11:50 UTC20 Jul 2008 | hi ozziegiraffe, i'd like to join this or a similar tour when im in solomon, something that may happen in october (almost impossible in september, but it could be, at the end of it). it's important what you remark that the proceeds will go to the local, but it's also important to know about the cost of it. do you have an idea?
by the way, is this a PM? i don't know... what is it a PM? I should know this after so long... anyway, have a great time in solomon islands and thanks for the arrengements
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| ozziegiraffe09:52 UTC21 Jul 2008 | Hello Zefiro,
From your previous posts, I gather you will be entering Solomon Islands from PNG.
The group tour I am escorting will depart from Brisbane, and has a very limited size because of accommodation in the village. The fare the travel agent is organising will include plane travel from Brisbane and return.
The dates are determined by Australian school holidays, beginning 27 September for 2 weeks. The Malaita component starts in Honiara 30 September and returns a week or 8 days later.
Because an agent in Australia in organising the package, priority would need to be given to anyone travelling from Australia for the package.
However, you have 2 options:
1. If there are less than 8 people coming from Brisbane, you could join the group in either Honiara or Auki. Costs would be calculated on the basis of the portion of the tour you would be included in. A rough guide would be about $200 Australian or US from Auki, or $300 from Honiara ($400 if we travel by plane), including overnight accommodation in Auki.
2. I could organise for you to visit the lagoon separately from the group, at a time that suits you. This is what I am hoping the people in the village will be able to use their guest house for, and that over time, they will be able to earn income from several independent visitors a year. If you required an escort, you might need to add an extra cost to the above, but it is reasonably easy to get there by public transport (either ship direct from Honiara, or truck out of Auki). We would have to notify people in Honiara, and get them to inform the family in the village that you are coming.
The PM is a personal message - you can send one by clicking on my user name in the left hand column, then clicking on send a Personal message.
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| zefiro02:20 UTC22 Jul 2008 | crystal clear ozzie..., I'll be watchful about this trip and, as I get closer to Honiara, I'll see what are the chances of joining it from there (you shouldn't, however, count on me from now for the timing is tight for me; good luck with it!). Anyway, as you suggest, is very likely that I will go there, whether included in the tour or on my own, so I will seek your advice. thanks a lot
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| ozziegiraffe13:04 UTC23 Jul 2008 | OK Zefiro,
I might end up meeting you somewhere, whatever you decide to do. I will be home (in Australia) most of the time until the last week of September if you want to contact me. Did I send you this link where there are more details about the artificial island and a link to pictures?
Also, the home page Exploring Solomons is about the best up to date information on the more interesting parts of the country, and adventure travel there.
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