The bilum tree

Last week I bought myself a beautiful, handmade bag, called a bilum.

I had seen the bags driving through Honiara - the 'shop' is situated under a large flame tree, and all the bags are hanging from it! It is a beautiful, colourful display and I knew I wanted to choose a bag as a reminder of our time here.

The 'bilum tree' as it is known.

Each bag is hand stitched, and can take more than two weeks to make. The idea and designs originally came from PNG, and have been adapted by the ladies who make them here. Bilums are very common in the Solomons, both men and women carry them, and they are used to hold anything from vegetables at the markets to even babies !

There are a few groups of women, who sit and stitch all day long in the shade of the tree, making their bags.

In the end, after a careful inspection of all the bags on offer, I decided on a small, simple black and white design, made from strong cotton thread. I loved some of the more colourful ones, but they were made from thick, heavy wool, which made them too heavy (and the wool was just too hot!)




The heat is starting to get to me. After two months of constant humidity my eczema is running wild and two nights ago I was bitten by what I think (and hope) were sandflies - all over my arms and feet. So now I am being driven crazy by itchiness. I have been taking polaramine for the last two days, but I'm not sure how long I can keep that up without falling asleep everywhere I go!

So to encourage me today, Geoff bought me a little packet of,

wait for it ...

Peanut M&Ms!

I think I'll save them for tomorrow.