The Islands of love

Maris, a pilot friend,  flew us in a Norman Islander to the Trobriand Islands  for a weekend.  These islands are known  as  the   "islands of love"   as the people have  maintained their ancient  customs despite the hard work  of missionaries.  During the yam harvest, through July and August, the people celebrate the harvest by exercising free love - all marriage vows being null and void during this period.  These people make the most beautiful carvings of ebony and dive for black pearls.  A very special place that we fell in love with.

While Maris inspects black pearls, another of our companions trades Betel nut for some ebony carvings

The houses erected by  Trobriand Islanders

were exquisite.

Barbara goes snorkeling

A Kiriwina girl

Ebony carvings

Home 

Yam storage houses are off the ground and open to keep the yams dry

Such detailed plaiting and thatching, all raised from the ground, to be kept perfectly dry, in the "wet".

Teenage Kiriwina girls in the native dress of the Trobriand Islands