What an amazing experience to be living in one of the most remote locations in the world with the local people for almost two weeks. It was humbling, unforgettable and unique experience.

Downtown Jabu Village

The only kitchen in Jabu Village

Coconut-leaf thatched homes. They've been providing shelter to families for generations.

Jabu's School

Shauno about to hit up an Arvo snorkelling session

Another ocean-side sunset

We camped in the yard of the island Queen’s house, located front and centre in the small village of Jabu. We were awoken every morning by the soft, dulcet tones of about 9 roosters crowing just outside our tents. “Miss Piggy”, a huge pregnant pig took a particular liking to Justin’s tent, and was found most mornings asleep on top of half of it.

All our meals were put together by Freddy, the locally appointed cook who would crank out pancakes with peanut butter and coffee, before moving onto donuts and peanut butter later in our stay. With white rice and beans for lunch and dinner lets just say all of our digestive systems were running at a snails pace.

The first morning the natural alarm clocks started crowing about 4a.m. (I thought they started at daybreak, bastards!) so by 6a.m. we were up from our temporary beds, which had been set up on some charitable families tiled living room floor. Their house possesses the only 12v internal light of the village and with three rooms, was a Palace by Jabu’s humble standards. I set off on a 45 minute run along the one road of the island, getting my first real insight into life on Arno. The palm-leaf huts and numerous stray dogs, pigs and chickens quickly displayed the quiet and simple way of life. There were plenty of blank and curious looks from people of all ages trying to start their day, disrupted by some random white guy jogging past smiling and calling ‘Good Morning’. After a few days the novelty of our presence wore off and they relaxed.

Our days were mainly spent at the worksite on the small dock in the neighbouring village of Ine. The installation of a state-of-the-art Wind Turbine (the largest in Micronesia) with such a small team was a great experience to be part of and document. The local team was in constant high spirits, and sure they needed their fair share of guidance, but once empowered with their tasks their work ethic was awesome. It would have been an overwhelming experience to see a 15 metre wind turbine being erected in front of their village, along with about ten of Dr. Tom Goreau’s BioRock domes which were then placed in the shallow water. Once they gained an understanding of the whole project, they embraced it with both hands.

And to wind down back in Jabu, how does a swim with the local kids in the most amazing turquoise blue water and coconut tree lined beach sound? Mix it up with a few snorkelling trips to the most breathtaking spots I’ve ever seen and some spear-fishing with the local fellas out in the middle of the lagoon, and you’ve got a lifestyle out in the middle of the Pacific that ain’t too bad at all.

AND IN BREAKING NEWS….WE’LL BE UPLOADING OUR 2 MINUTE TRAILER OF THE SHOW TODAY AT DISPATCH-SERIES.COM. WATCH THIS SPACE GUYS, IT IS BLOODY AMAZING!!

Peace!

Paul Sonntag.