Kiribati customs

The Republic of Kiribati is a Pacific island country with a total of 33 small islands. The Lane Islands to which it belongs are the only place in the world that uses the UTC+14 time zone, which makes Kiribati the earliest country in the world to start the day. Sea water may inundate the country as global warming causes sea levels to rise. It is worth mentioning that Kiribati is the only country in the world that crosses the Equator and crosses the intersection of the International Date Line.

There is a widespread and misinformed view that Kiribati is the only country in the world that spans the four hemispheres: east, west, north, south and north. This is completely wrong. As we all know, the dividing line between the eastern and western hemispheres in the Pacific Ocean is 160°E, and to the east of this line is the Western Hemisphere. However, Banaba Island, the westernmost island of Kiribati, is located at a longitude of 171°E and does not enter the Eastern Hemisphere. Therefore, Kiribati is a complete Western Hemisphere country.

Kiribati residents are not only hard-working, but also very brave. Many people are good at fishing and even better at sailing. No matter how rough the waves are, they will recognize the course and find the target they are going to. Kiribati's traditional thatched houses look low, but their roofs are high and people's activities inside are not affected. This kind of house can block out the strong sunlight and the fierce impact of heavy rain. The main food of Kiribati people is taro, coconuts, and some tropical fruits such as mangoes, bananas and betel nuts. People like to eat fish, but not very fond of eating vegetables.

Men, women and children in Kiribati never call each other by name, and the same is true in the family. In society, people are called by their names on any occasion, at any time, and at any time. But in diplomatic settings, they abide by internationally accepted titles. The main festivals in Kiribati are New Year's Day, National Day, Easter, Ascension Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, etc.

Kiribati tourist resort has exquisite and unique tropical cabins that can provide a comfortable home for those "warriors" who travel long distances. During World War II, U.S. and Japanese troops also fought on Kiribati's main islands, so if interested, visitors can visit old combat sites or view the 8-foot-long coastal defense guns and sturdy concrete bunkers.

Kiribati's official tourism website also once reminded: When the sea is at low tide, if tourists observe carefully, they can see the remains of ships and some rusty handicrafts left behind from the past.

The folk dance is really wonderful! Only when you are immersed in it can you experience the brilliance of this art that impacts your body and mind. In fact, there is only dance and no music broadcast on TV. Even if there is music, there is no such "stereo" effect. There was music (shouts) with multiple parts composed of rough, thick, and wild (screams), and occasionally accompanied by concerto made with wooden boards and wooden boxes as instruments. The impact on the body and mind was no less than a solemn symphony. And here it also shows a playfulness that is hard to find elsewhere.

Here, the general feeling is that the people are simple and friendly. Although the food is not very good, it can be passed with just one bite. However, the water supply is often the most difficult. There was no water at all for two nights out of three days. We had to sleep with the stench of sweat we had been running all day. The next morning, we leaned against the wall with a grateful wish, and cursed that we would never come in the next life, nourishing the water pipes above. The dripping water came down sometimes big and sometimes small, and it would break again. It carried a fishy smell of water, making it seem like we were taking a shower.