The Practical Traveller: Even news travels slowly in Kiribati



Chris Guillebeau, 34, is the author of The Art of Non-Conformity and The $100 Startup. He in on a five-year mission to visit every country in the world and is on number 189.

When it comes to faraway lands, there's the remote and, then, there's unheard of. To reach the small islands known collectively as Kiribati, I first had to make Australia, then fly to Fiji, board a 4am flight to Tarawa, the capital city - though to call it a city would be a stretch.

I was excited about my three days in Kiribati because it was the 189th country I've visited. After this, I'll have just four countries left to go in my quest to visit every country on Earth. A previous trip to Fiji took me to Samoa and Tonga, but I didn't realise I could only get to Kiribati from Fiji, so I had to backtrack.

This trip came with a layover at a decent hotel, a short drive from the airport. Kiribati presented a lower standard of travel, but one that felt more authentic.

Exploring Tarawa didn't take long. I used the only transport on the island: a series of minivans that picked up and dropped off passengers all along the main road for US$1 (Dh3.67) per ride, and you could hop off wherever you like.

Along the way, I met a young student who was going to Japan to study. We'd be on the same flight back to Fiji a few days later and she had never left the island before. "Does Japan have big buildings?" she asked. I told her yes, she could expect more buildings in Tokyo than in Tarawa. "Are there more cars in Japan?" she asked. I said yes, I was certain that nearly everything was greatly scaled between one of the most densely populated cities in the world and one of the most remote islands deep in the Pacific.

Someone else tapped me on the shoulder in one of the minivans. "I heard the man who invented the iPhone died. Is that true?" Steve Jobs had died more than a year ago, but apparently it takes time for news to reach this part of the world.

Despite the credit card logos on the guest house's website, the manager told me they only accept cash. "We've never taken any other payment. Someone in Australia made that website and they thought it would look good to have a picture of a credit card on it." Thankfully, I had enough cash to settle my bill.

There's only one way off the island - the twice-weekly flight to Fiji. Departure day arrived, but Air Pacific wasn't ready. At the tiny airfield, after a two-hour delay we were told that due to a maintenance issue, our departure was going to be delayed.

I moved back to the guest house and sat on the solitary chair in the windowless room. Food options were limited on the island and I hadn't eaten much in the past three days. On my second morning, the guest-house staff sent up a box of cornflakes and UHT milk. I supplemented this with a tin of peanuts and a jar of instant coffee from a stall down the road. Then, I took a nap.

A few hours later, I was informed that the plane was en route. I packed up, hopped in the back of a sedan with the young woman who was eager and nervous about her adventure away from the island.

The plane was eight hours late, but that hardly mattered. I was heading home, planning to continue my journey again next month, and my new friend was setting off to see the world beyond her small island for the first time. All was well.

Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

Usain Bolt's World Championships record

2007 Osaka

200m Silver

4x100m relay Silver

 

2009 Berlin

100m Gold

200m Gold

4x100m relay Gold

 

2011 Daegu

100m Disqualified in final for false start

200m Gold

4x100m relay Gold

 

2013 Moscow

100m Gold

200m Gold

4x100m relay Gold

 

2015 Beijing

100m Gold

200m Gold

4x100m relay Gold

 

Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain

Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L  / 100km

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Stree

Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Points Classification

1. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 63

2. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 38

3. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 25

4. Sonny Colbrelli (Italy / Bahrain) 24

5. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Dimension Data) 22

6. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / Cannondale) 21

7. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20

8. Thomas Boudat (France / Direct Energie) 20

9. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17

10. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 17