I am a person who loves to discover the less, known places on earth and such places have always fascinated me that are beyond the limits of one’s imagination, where Wi, Fi signals get weaker but human interaction becomes stronger. In this case, my heart brought me to a place that very few travelers have ever been, Kiribati, a small island country located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

I used to associate Japan with the “Land of the Rising Sun” before this trip. Have you thought that Kiribati, in fact, gets the first sunrise on Earth? Just that fact made me want to know more. So after several weeks of preparation and quite a few hours of connecting flights, I was finally able to follow the sun to where the new day really starts.

The Journey Begins

The whole thing was a one, of, a, kind journey that only one of the weekly flights that go to Kiribati operated was taken off from Nadi International Airport in Fiji. The trip already felt like an extraordinary adventure because of its infrequency.

As I got on the little plane, I was surrounded by aid workers, a few locals, and some fellow wanderers. I felt a wonderful mixture of excitement and apprehension. The engines’ soft humming seemed to say: You’re about to enter the place where time is starting.

Later on, when the pilot gave us the information about our landing in Kiritimati (Christmas Island), I looked through the small window and the sight that presented itself was a strip of turquoise lagoons, unspoiled beaches, and coral rings glistening. It was like seeing a dream being realized instantly.

Arrival at Kiribati

Once the plane was landed on the ground, the warmth of the ocean air and the aroma of the saltwater surrounded me. The small airport was humble, just like the rest of the island, but the smiles were bright and true.

I can recall an old man who gave me a very warm welcome with a “Mauri!” (hello). That one simple word immediately made any feeling of distance disappear. Although I was separated from my home by thousands of miles, I could feel as though I was at home.

Life here is a little different and it takes its time, slow, rhythmic, almost meditative. There are no rush and noise, only the waves and wind in harmony.

Connecting with the Locals

One of the most touching and memorable parts during my stay was the people I met there. They had nothing but the sea around them, the very thing giving them life and at the same time, the source of their problems yet they lived contentedly.

One evening, I was invited to a small community gathering. We were under the stars, eating the fish we had just caught, cooked over the fire, children playing and laughing, and the elders telling stories about their ancestors. Their happiness was contagious, it was not the kind that you normally see on the screens, but it was the one that comes from their inner side.

It made me realize how much we take comfort and convenience for granted. Here in Kiribati, connection isn’t digital, it’s human.

The Natural Wonders

The whole of Kiritimati is as it was in the beginning, raw, attractive and not yet touched by humans. The coral reefs are very colorful and full of life, an underwater kaleidoscope. I enjoyed my snorkeling for hours among the different kinds of fishes and the coral reefs that were so colorful and looked like something from a dream.

What about the beaches? How about an endless stretch of white sands, caressed by waves that sparkle golden at sunrise? This was the very first light of the world, I felt.

The Battle Against Rising Waters

Nonetheless, in the middle of all this grandeur, there is a hidden sorrow. Kiribati is waging a silent battle against the rising sea levels and the extent of their fear was evident in the way that many locals talked about the day when their land would become submerged.

The realization of this fact affected me a lot, this paradise, very clean and full of life, will only be capable of residing in our memories someday. The government has gone as far as purchasing land in Fiji as a place of refuge for the generations to come. It gives you a chill down your spine, a reminder that climate change is not a problem far away but it is happening here and now.

A Culinary Revelation

The food in Kiribati is very simple but full of life. The locals mainly rely on the sea and canned goods that come in by boat as they have limited resources. Once, I was making dinner with the family which was grilled tuna seasoned only with salt and love.

That dinner was one of the most genuine dining experiences of my life that took place under a palm hut while the sea was lapping nearby. There was no fancy plating and no luxury, just the pure flavor that was accompanied by gratitude.

Things to Know Before You Go

✈️ Flights: There is only one flight that runs weekly from Fiji to Kiritimati. Plan your trip wisely.

🌐 Connectivity: The internet is not very available and that is what makes it beautiful. Disconnect to reconnect.

🌊 Respect the Land: The ecosystem in Kiribati is delicate. Always practice proper waste disposal and follow the local customs.

🕰️ Embrace Island Time: Things do not work out in time here. Rather than struggling, go along with it.

Conclusion

When I had a look at the big Pacific from Kiritimati as my plane was going up, it was like a blue infinity with a lot of small islands dotted on it. I felt a strange mix of gratitude and melancholy. The visit to Kiribati had altered me.

It was not only about going to the most remote place on earth but also about the re, discovery of the virtues of simplicity, humility, and the very essence of being human.

In case you ever want to get off the noise track and see the life at its purest state, do not take the usual tourist trails but go to the sunrise where it first comes out, far east not far west.

Not just a destination is Kiribati but a revelation.