Early this morning we are anchored off of Tuam Island. There are a bit more clouds than blue sky and we go ashore prepared. As soon as our tender, Xplorer, touches the beach, the rain begins … not particularly heavy and certainly not cold. Our main worry was would the sing-sing be canceled, as we know this small island put on one of the best in the entire area. As we climb over the top of the long, narrow island the rain continues. Most of us notice the windbreaks made from palm and pandanus leaves, to protect house and garden from the prevailing winds particularly during the real rainy season. By the time we make it into the village the rain is just a bit more than a sprinkle and not enough to stop the dancers.
At first we watched people with elaborate headdresses do dances that made us believe they were in their canoes, at war, or fishing. Then nearby a second group stated a dance that seemed to take place on land with completely difference music. Later, much to our surprise, a third sing-sing began composed of only woman. Pretty amazing for an island that could not have had more than a couple of hundred people and the performers were great! Oh, and the rain also stopped.
In mid-afternoon we arrived at Tami Island, really a group of islands for water sports. It is now sunny and almost hot. There are divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters. I do the dive and we travel along a very nice reef with lots of fish. The snorkelers are also happy and judging from the looks on the folks in glass-bottom boat, they seem happy too. And so it should be in this very pretty piece of paradise.
