I awake and hear the loud squawk of birds. I feel like I am in a bird cage but all I see is the mosquito net above. Looking out the balcony, I see bright colored parrots and macaws; greens, blues and yellows…the sun is out bright to see. They are feeding and resting on the branches of a coconut tree. The morning music is bright. We meet granny and all she says is, “They must meet the chief, first thing before doing anything!”
“Yes!” in full agreement, it is time to meet the Chief. It’s a winding ride down muddy and white sandy creek beds, dotted with wooden shack to arrive at his house. A man appears dressed in shorts, blue t-shirt and slippers, no traditional dress and a broad smile with a deck of white teeth. At ease, very laid back, with his smile, he tells us to sign in because, “The last guest didn’t leave alive.” We laugh and he pulls out his diary and explains he doesn’t have his login book and just sign our name. The next words out of his mouth were, “You all have the keys to the village.”
