After Memorial Service till Return home
On March 02, 2011- continued
After memorial service in Betio island was over, we went to the local souvenir shop in Kiribati.
I bought something similar to luncheon mat made of plant with having the country name on. As a matter of fact, it is not made in Tarawa, but in other island, I, however, just would like to bring back some souvenir made in Tarawa. My grandfather , possibly may makeup something with local materials, while thinking so.
For the dinner time on this day, we had a wonderful surprising present from the Otintaai Hotel, that is to say, "Te Waa Mai Kiribati" native traditional dance team was pleased to demonstrate their traditional dance for us, which Member of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare did not have such plan of.
Twenties members in total, from primary school pupils to high school students, traditional magnificent dance they did dance, and its rallying shout during interval was powerful enough indeed. Its dance as consisted of the spontaneous singing voice, dance similar to Sumo-style leg stomps, and dance by lovely young girl dancers, and spectacular enough for us to enjoy watching.
After dancing is over, we were invited to stage to dance together, and Mr. Y, Group Leader, Mrs. Y, and K joined in dancing, and each final pose was separate in each person, but it would be allowed to be just entertainment agreeable. We exchanged just a greeting with hotel staffs, but no further conversation was made at all, and so we really had very pleasant time with native traditional dance team members.
We saw them off by truck fully filled with many members on carrier. I just made some conversation with a little girl, who asked me "Why didn’t you dance ? I would teach how to dance, though." Then I replied " Please teach me how to dance when coming back again." I have no ideas when coming back again, but I wish I could come back again to this island. I really thought so from the bottom of my heart. She gave me a nod with her smile, and I asked her name, then she answered "Sky" with pointing to night sky with finger. Innumerable stars in the Sky. Nothing but such description. Plenty of Stars, Stars, and Stars…….. I could clearly see with my own naked eyes even very , very tiny stars I could never see in Japan. These Stars remained unchanged 65 years ago. My grandfather, no doubt, watched the same Stars as I was watching. How did he feel while watching Stars ? And What thought did he convey to stars ? For two days during my stay in Kiribati, I gave my whole time to keep on looking up stars without sleep over night.
March 03, 2011
At last the day to leave Kiribati has come.
It is not satisfactory for me to stay only two nights and three days at all. If possible, one more day to be back to Betio island is needed. Even if I think so, it can not be achieved due to the restriction of Group tour.
We got up at 04:00 Am and left at 06:00 to catch up with the Air Pacific leaving at 08:00 AM bound for Nadi.
It took about 10 minutes to get to airport from the Hotel. We waited for boarding outside after finishing the baggage claim during the immigration service. There are so many people who come and see jet plane or see off at the airport, as I thought the same thing when I landed two days ago. Very early in the morning, there are so many native people coming around the airport. Children ,climbing up the fence , are watching runway, and inside airport building almost free for everyone. Although baggage inspection is so severe to be checked carefully, there was almost no fence around the runway., and it just became playground for kids. I saw even some people walking on nearby. Such can not be found in Japan, but such scene fits this country.
10 minutes behind schedule, out flight left , and my seat of return flight was also on window side, so I had my forehead sticking to the window glass to watch this land as long as possible. It did not take longer than 10 minutes that the Island disappeared out of my sight. We landed at Nandi after 3hours aboard. We left here only two days ago, but I felt that we left very long time ago. Afterward we had lunch and after dropping by the souvenir shop, we went to the Mercure Hotel we stayed the other day at.
On the way, Mrs. Y, participating in this memorial service with her sisters Mrs. S, was suddenly in bad health condition, and cancelled lunch to check in hotel first. In addition to the special mission of memorial service for her father, due to the such mental tension and temperature difference between Japan and Tarawa, or overseas travel by flight, etc, physically and mentally, very tough for old aged lady, Mrs. M, as assistant leader, also attended their sisters to go to the Hotel as well, we felt relief and went to restaurants to have lunch.
At that time, we had, for the first time, heavy sudden shower during this trip. While it was clear fine and towards the mountain area, it started to be getting dark, all of a sudden, it started to heavily rain down slantwise. I have heard such sudden shower , but I hardly imagined, and was very surprised to have had good experience. During this trip, it was all days very fine weather. As I am, to be quite frank with you, a woman who never comes or goes out without being met by wet weather, I felt very uneasy and nervous of the tropical weather suddenly changing. It was very valuable experience for me to enjoy such tropical squall shower.
After stopping by the souvenir shop on our way to hotel, we checked in the hotel. This time, my room is faced with swimming pool in the yard on 1st floor, where Japanese tourists were playing. There is almost nothing left here as war relic , just 3 hours away by flight, fierce hell battle fight held though. Nothing but peaceful and shiny scene was found there. It was very wonderful thing, but in my mind, I felt somewhat discomfort a little in my mind. Do not forget about the tragedy that happened so far in our history ! This what I thought when I made up my mind in participating in this trip. As a matter of fact, it is not what we forgot, but from the first beginning, we did NOT know it. There is Nothing more sad than forgetting. I am not qualified to talk about haughtily, because even I was just such a person as who neither knew anything , nor would like to know the tragedy of war about half year ago. I, however, feel it necessary once we had an opportunity to know, that we need to convey the fact so many people lived on and lost lives during the War, and we should take action to do so, which is our mission of our generation, I thinks so.
March 04, 2011
The day to return back home. I got up at 06:30AM and left hotel at 08:30AM, and took Korean Airline leaving Nandi t 10:55 AM for Incheon Airport first, and then in transit to Narita airport as final destination.
When I just went out of my hotel room to have breakfast, it was just at time of dawn. Across the hotel yard as quickly as possible, I finally succeeded in watching the very beautiful moment of Sunrise, with thanking for the new day coming.
