Solomon Islands, Honiara

The Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana de Neira discovered the Solomon Islands form a European point of view looking for the legendary Ophir where Salomo found his gold. This is how this far away string of islands got it's name.

Although more than 40.000 people live in it's capital Honiara but the place feels small. Only one big road runs through town and then there's the inevatible central market where the islanders sell and buy there products. That is the place where you can see all these people come together with their different looks, 74 languages and orange beetlenut smiles.

Young nationa's independence tested to the limits
It hasn't always been this quiet in Honiara though. The young nation's independence since 1979 was tested to the limits at the beginning of the new century. Different islands fought eachother and hundreds of people died. In the end an Australian led coalition of police brought some rest and since then things have improved. There's even some carefull tourists these days looking for the amazing WWII dive sites just ofshore. Back then the Solomons were also a hard fought over land. Over 40.000 soldiers died. But today Honiara was peacefull and quiet.