Mark, Simmi, and Ronny at dinner.
Funafuti, Tuvalu
17 June 2023
We were walking back to our hotel after a swim in the ocean when we happened upon a busy pool hall. Mark asked one of the men there what was going on. Ronny explained it was a tournament for boys with one younger and one older boy per team. The winners had just been crowned, and won two tubs of breakfast crackers! Ronny and Mark got to chatting. Ronny, who is originally from Vanuatu but now a dual-citizen, invited us to share a bowl of kava with him. Unfortunately we couldn’t that night. Our hotel only turned the water on for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. We were desperate for showers after swimming and quickly running out of time! So instead Ronny invited us over for dinner the next night.
Ronny shuttled us to the house on the back of his motorbike, since we didn’t know where he lived. In Tuvalu only two people are allowed on a motorbike at a time so we took turns. It was a wonderful experience and quite the dinner! Linda cooked, and Simmi also joined. There was spaghetti with vegetables, dal, rice, and eggs in taro leaves. They even surprised us with ice cream cones for dessert! We had a great conversation and watched some rugby with the group.
A couple days later Ronny also hooked us up with the kava. We joined him and a group of his friends from Fiji. It was my first time trying kava. They showed us the traditional way to do it.
Thanks Ronny and friends for really enhancing our visit to Tuvalu! Hope to see you again.
17 June 2023
We were walking back to our hotel after a swim in the ocean when we happened upon a busy pool hall. Mark asked one of the men there what was going on. Ronny explained it was a tournament for boys with one younger and one older boy per team. The winners had just been crowned, and won two tubs of breakfast crackers! Ronny and Mark got to chatting. Ronny, who is originally from Vanuatu but now a dual-citizen, invited us to share a bowl of kava with him. Unfortunately we couldn’t that night. Our hotel only turned the water on for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. We were desperate for showers after swimming and quickly running out of time! So instead Ronny invited us over for dinner the next night.
Ronny shuttled us to the house on the back of his motorbike, since we didn’t know where he lived. In Tuvalu only two people are allowed on a motorbike at a time so we took turns. It was a wonderful experience and quite the dinner! Linda cooked, and Simmi also joined. There was spaghetti with vegetables, dal, rice, and eggs in taro leaves. They even surprised us with ice cream cones for dessert! We had a great conversation and watched some rugby with the group.
A couple days later Ronny also hooked us up with the kava. We joined him and a group of his friends from Fiji. It was my first time trying kava. They showed us the traditional way to do it.
Thanks Ronny and friends for really enhancing our visit to Tuvalu! Hope to see you again.
Sightseeing with Marie and Ben. Photo provided by Huiling Ho.
Guam, USA
December 2019
I was walking by myself on a long, lonely road when Marie and Ben pulled up to offer me a ride. During the short drive back to town, they asked about my trip and then warmly offered to show me around before I left Guam. The next day, these kind souls came into the city to pick me up and drove me to various scenic spots around the island. They also brought me along to a local party, introduced me to their family and friends, and it was there that I had the opportunity to try delicious homemade Chamorro cuisine. To cap off a wonderful day, they dropped me off at the airport for my flight armed with delicious treats and a small gift.
I was incredibly fortunate to experience true Guam hospitality and my time with them was certainly the highlight of my entire stay in Guam.
-Huiling Ho
December 2019
I was walking by myself on a long, lonely road when Marie and Ben pulled up to offer me a ride. During the short drive back to town, they asked about my trip and then warmly offered to show me around before I left Guam. The next day, these kind souls came into the city to pick me up and drove me to various scenic spots around the island. They also brought me along to a local party, introduced me to their family and friends, and it was there that I had the opportunity to try delicious homemade Chamorro cuisine. To cap off a wonderful day, they dropped me off at the airport for my flight armed with delicious treats and a small gift.
I was incredibly fortunate to experience true Guam hospitality and my time with them was certainly the highlight of my entire stay in Guam.
-Huiling Ho
Pagat Point. Photo by Elizabeth McCarthy.
Yigo, Guam, USA
7 June 2019
We had just parked in the Pagat Cave Trailhead lot when another group returned to their car after a hike. They were very friendly, and asked if we had insect repellent because there were a lot of mosquitoes near the cave. We realized that we accidentally left ours in our room. They gave us their bottle. Not just to use once, but they insisted that we keep the whole bottle!
7 June 2019
We had just parked in the Pagat Cave Trailhead lot when another group returned to their car after a hike. They were very friendly, and asked if we had insect repellent because there were a lot of mosquitoes near the cave. We realized that we accidentally left ours in our room. They gave us their bottle. Not just to use once, but they insisted that we keep the whole bottle!
The beginning of the hike. Photo by Mark Gallardo.
Maui County, Hawaii, USA
30 November 2016
We were on a multi-day hike in Haleakalā National Park when an unexpected storm rolled in. We waited in our tent for it to pass, but eventually we had to leave. We hiked for two days in heavy winds and rain. When, on the third day, we finally got to the road we still needed to walk back to our car, which was miles away along a very windy, cliff-edged road without margins skirting the volcanic crater rim. It was still raining. The only car we saw on the road stopped for us, and drove us to our car even though we were soaked. It was a native Hawaiian man and his wife, who had been living for years in North Carolina, but were in the park despite the bad weather to scatter his mother’s ashes in this sacred place.
30 November 2016
We were on a multi-day hike in Haleakalā National Park when an unexpected storm rolled in. We waited in our tent for it to pass, but eventually we had to leave. We hiked for two days in heavy winds and rain. When, on the third day, we finally got to the road we still needed to walk back to our car, which was miles away along a very windy, cliff-edged road without margins skirting the volcanic crater rim. It was still raining. The only car we saw on the road stopped for us, and drove us to our car even though we were soaked. It was a native Hawaiian man and his wife, who had been living for years in North Carolina, but were in the park despite the bad weather to scatter his mother’s ashes in this sacred place.
With the flowers. Photo by Mark Gallardo.
Enga Province, Papua New Guinea
23 June 2013
We were in Anji Village, heading out on a guided hike to a waterfall. As we walked through the village children ran out to join us, and help guide us, on two different hikes. On the way back the children started picking flowers and giving them to me. By the time we got to the village I could barely hold them all!
23 June 2013
We were in Anji Village, heading out on a guided hike to a waterfall. As we walked through the village children ran out to join us, and help guide us, on two different hikes. On the way back the children started picking flowers and giving them to me. By the time we got to the village I could barely hold them all!
Western grey kangaroos spotted on one of my daily walks. Photo by Elizabeth McCarthy.
Lesmurdie, WA, Australia
February and March 2011
I was volunteering at a wildlife hospital near Perth, and staying at a place about half a mile down the road. I would walk to and from the hospital each day. Almost daily at least one person driving by would offer me a ride. I actually very much enjoyed the walk, because I would look for wildlife along the way. I didn’t take them up on the rides, but appreciated it nonetheless.
-Elizabeth
February and March 2011
I was volunteering at a wildlife hospital near Perth, and staying at a place about half a mile down the road. I would walk to and from the hospital each day. Almost daily at least one person driving by would offer me a ride. I actually very much enjoyed the walk, because I would look for wildlife along the way. I didn’t take them up on the rides, but appreciated it nonetheless.
-Elizabeth
