Fanning Island Dancer
'Interesting People At Work', Photo No. 2. (See previous post for explanation and Photo No. 1 of this series of photos). Fanning Island, (also known as Tabuaeran), is part of the Republic of Kiribati, (pronounced Keer-a-bus), and is one of the most remote places on earth. It is a very tiny atoll with an absolutely stunning lagoon. To my knowledge there is still no power grid, no indoor plumbing, no restaurants, or services of any kind. It is home to somewhere around 2500 islanders who are shy and friendly, who still live off the land and ocean, and take shelter in shacks made of coconut fronds and pandanus leaves. This dancer was part of a group that welcomed visitors to their island. (A very different kind of welcome than we received in Hawaii.) Visitors would give the islanders money to tip for the welcome, but until relatively recently, they didn't know what to do with the money they were given.
