At Bonriki International Airport, this little boy went through customs and security with his gun. The thought that some one would have a real gun is beyond comprehension.
Personalised number plates - as in make them yourself! Cars are registered for about $20 per year, but not to a person. The thought that they would be registered to a person is odd. How do you know who owns the car? Whoever has the car! Everyone knows whose car it is. I have people I don't know tell me they saw my previous car at Betio or at the Airport! They also know my new car, and wave as they pass on the road.
Boys often cover themselves in sand/mud from the lagoon and pose by the roadside.
The road is constantly in a state of dis-repair. When I first arrived 12 month ago, the holes were occasionally filled with a sand and cement mix. There is no cement now and groups of men fill the holes with sand - often patting it down with bare feet. If it rains the road is full of holes again; if it doesn't, everything is dusty. Since the last Parliament in early May, the road repair has been non-stop. There is a contractor in town preparing for the new road, which should start soon.
Sleeping shelters are called kia kia (kee-ah kee-ah). They are simple covered platforms big enough to sleep a family together. They are cool and if it rains, large woven louvres are lowered to protect against the wind and rain. It is not often windy and it is always warm. Inside they have woven sleeping mats which can be easily aired. A kiakia by the beach is much more comfortable for sleeping than a western style block room with small windows.
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