2020 Travel the World - Week 21

I started a Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.

This week's country is...

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands is an island country located the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It shares maritime borders with Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu.

Geologically, the Solomon Islands are part of the volcanic arc extending from New Ireland in Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu.

The Solomon Islands are made up of 6 major islands and over 900 smaller islands, around half of which still remain uninhabited. 

The Islands are what they define as laid back, welcoming, and surprisingly untouched.

The Solomon Islands receive less than 30,000 visitors each year making it one of the least visited tourist destinations in the world.

The Solomon Islands’ coastline totals an impressive 3,300 miles in length. The majority is beautiful, sandy beaches, tropical trees and crystal clear waters filled with pristine coral reefs.

One of the islands in the group of Solomon Islands is named after the former U.S. president, John. F. Kennedy. Kennedy Island was given its name after an incident involving the then serving lieutenant naval officer. His crew at the time swam onto the island after their ship had been rammed and wrecked by a Japanese vessel during World War II.

The climate is tropical oceanic—that is, hot and humid but relieved by cool winds and abundant, year-round rainfall.

Much of the land in Solomon Island is heavily forested and boasts mountainous topography.

The highest peak in the country is Mount Popomanaseu, a volcanic mountain that sits 7,661 feet above sea level.



Solomon Islands’ economy is based on agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Indigenous mammals are small and include opossums, bats and mice. There are crocodiles in the mangrove swamps and sea turtles nest on the shores from November to February. There are more than 150 species of birds including many species of parrot and incubator bird.

Most of the people live in small rural villages. They engage mainly in subsistence gardening, pig raising, and fishing

Much of traditional culture endures. Crafts are promoted by the Solomon Islands National Museum, established in 1969 in Honiara, and dances and music are regularly performed.

With its pristine reef, warm waters, seabeds littered with World War II wreckage, and lagoons with mantras, sea turtles, whales , as well as a variety of smaller sea critters, Solomon Island is ideal for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.

Communal, familial and clan ties remain very strong in Solomon Islands. Most people consider themselves to be part of an immediate family of 200 and can trace back their ancestors at least ten generation. 

The Island’s official language is English. However, only 1-2% of the population are able to speak this language fluently. That’s because the Solomon Islands are home to 74 local languages.

I decided to let this Solomon Islands fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Some of the earliest and most regular foreign visitors to the islands were whaling vessels from Britain, the United States and Australia. They came for food, wood and water late in the 18th century and, later, took aboard islanders to serve as crewmen on their ships.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: High Hopes Spoutin' Off and Great Impressions Whale of a Good Time stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque White 120#, Recollections Black, and SU Sahara Sand CS and Paper Studio Marble Turquoise and Sand Photo DP

Embellishments: Flip Flops Brad and Ribbon from unknown vendors