Reflections on December: Adventure, Culture, and Christmas Cheer

What a month December has been! As we entered the holiday season, the air was filled with the excitement of Christmas decorations going up around the house—something that my wife takes pride in, so I mostly stayed out of her way.

However, the highlight of my month was a memorable trip to Tarawa, Kiribati, an experience I will cherish forever. My journey began with a flight from Adelaide to Nadi, Fiji. Midway through the flight, an unfortunate situation occurred as a passenger experienced a medical emergency, requiring us to land in Noumea. Sadly, the gentleman did not survive. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family. After some delays, we finally received clearance to continue to Nadi, where I spent a few nights at a lovely hotel on Denarau Island.

During my stay in Fiji, I immersed myself in nature, going on thrilling jungle tours and embarking on a solo hike in the Koroyanitu National Park. The trek led me to breathtaking waterfalls, where I enjoyed a well-earned swim to escape the tropical heat.

Next on my itinerary was Tarawa. I arrived at the airport early for my three-hour flight, and when I landed, I was struck in awe by the runway's proximity to the ocean, a stunning blue-green hue I had never seen before. Stepping off the plane, the heat and humidity welcomed me—it’s true what they say about being close to the equator!

After collecting my bags, I encountered a friend who took me to my lodge on Betio Island. The experience of Tarawa was like none other; the population density is astonishing, with buildings stacked closely together and traces of waste visible in every direction. However, the well-maintained bitumen road provided respite as we navigated through slow-moving traffic. This allowed me to soak in the sights along the 30-kilometer journey.

I was fortunate to stay near historical landmarks, including old Japanese batteries and bunkers from World War II, remnants of the infamous battle of Tarawa. As a cub scout leader, I had the opportunity to connect with the local scout group, which was made up of some incredible individuals. Their enthusiasm was contagious, especially among the kids from their cub pack, who were overjoyed to meet me as the first outsider to visit their group. I am eager to help facilitate donations to rebuild scouting in Kiribati, which has been dormant for some time, and to aid in training and developing their new program. I can’t wait for my next visit to Tarawa to reunite with them!

After my time in Tarawa ended, I flew back to Fiji, where I spent a few relaxing days near Sigatoka, soaking up the sun and capturing coastal photos to remember the stunning scenery.

Returning to Adelaide marked the start of Christmas festivities, and here we are now, embracing the holiday spirit.

Be on the lookout for some new nature-inspired designs from my recent trip! I've already uploaded new coasters, stubby holders, and other products featuring nature prints from my photos. More items will be available as we move into the new year.

I hope everyone had a delightful Christmas and wishes for a fantastic new year!