When two islands finally appeared ahead, we were elated. After the modernity of Australian towns, it was like starting a new adventure. The forested bulk of New Georgia grew and grew, until we skimmed a bay studded with palm-fringed isles to approach Munda village, a cosy collection of leaf and thatch bungalows tucked under the trees.
A vast gleaming-white crushed-coral strip stretched out welcomingly. It had been built by the Japanese in 1942 under a network of suspended palm tree tops. Despite messages sent by the islanders to tip off the Americans that an airfield was under construction, the reconnaissance aircraft could not find it until, when it was at last ready for use, the palm top camouflage was pulled aside.
On the veranda of the wooden terminal, a crowd awaited. We asked Robert if a flight was due it. No, he said, they had come to see us!
From the book Freedom of the Skies
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Glimpses of the journey:
- Around the world
- Crossing the Atlantic
- Saint Louis, Senegal
- Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau
- Timbuktu, Mali
- Cottar’s Camp, Kenya
- Virungas National Park, Congo
- Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
- Sossusvlei, Namibia
- Lumbo, Mozambique
- Antananarivo Madagascar
- Adis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Misfat, Oman
- Jaipur, India
- Himalayas, Nepal
- Mae Hong Son, Thailand
- Bario, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Borobodur, Java, Indonesia
- Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya
- Gimbat, Australia
- Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands
- Hurricane in Apia, Western Samoa
- Anaa, Tuamotu, Polynesia
- Easter Island, Chile
- Crossing the Andes, Chile-Argentina
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
