The Solomon Islands Photo Gallery by melissa armstrong at pbase.com

The Solomon Islands

The photos in this gallery were taken over several years, both before and after being lost at sea in 2002. After the "big swim" I traveled aboard Marine Research vessel Flamingo Bay (owned and run by Captain Tomlinson, who was the person I was lost with). We delivered the many donations we collected in Australia by different groups: school supplies, vital medical equipment, clothing and more to the remote villages of the Solomon Islands. Getting to know the people was wonderful - most especially the children, whose smiles are contagious. After spending a number of years exploring, filming and photographing in the country, I decided to take some time off on dry land. Thank you for visiting this gallery and I hope you enjoy the photos of this very special place. Sincerely, Melissa

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guest		24-Sep-2018 12:21
hi melisah and david I know what its like to be lost in the ocean. when tidal wave hit Solomon island in 1992 at viru harbor we lost two lives and I was one of the survivers after 22 hours. I can still remember the song, amazing grace your favorite song. thanks your best friend graham varane.

guest		24-Sep-2018 12:15
hi melisah and david, I know what its like to be lost in the ocean, when tidal wave in 1992 hit Solomon island at viru harbor we lost 2 lives and I was one of the survivers after 22 hours at sea. your best friend graham varane. thanks for sharing the shots of your visit here at solo.

Jim Anderson		30-Jun-2016 10:41
Hope You are well. Do You still Dive, Miss?

Sylvia Laimo		18-Mar-2016 00:08
Wow beautiful photos.Hope one day I'll be there. God bless you Mel.

zeljko		07-Oct-2014 00:28
melissa you're a hero

JanineBell		29-Sep-2014 02:00
These photos are amazing. I too am in love with the place. We have been there 6 times and cant see us stopping any time soon. We travel to Munda in New Geogia and distribute container loads of school supplies and medical equipment. We (Rotary group from Mackay Qld) started servicing 1 school - we are now up to 17 schools - and rising. We have made life long friends and absolutely love the people and the scenery. Your photos capture the feeling of the place so well.

Photo.Keely		08-Aug-2014 09:19
Great gallery! Well done! V.

Guest		16-Jul-2014 11:09
beautiful portraits!

Guest		16-Jul-2014 11:08
I'm from solomon islands. Awesome pics.. melissa

Neil Prosser		04-Jul-2014 00:23
Your voice and composure captivated me on "I Shouldn't Be Alive - Dive Into Danger", so I'm not going to comment on the gallery, I'm going to comment on you. You are beautiful Melissa!

Guest		24-Jan-2014 10:33
wow beautifulL love the pics.....i was born n b raised in PNG but i do have the looks of SI

Alain Conte		02-Dec-2013 15:48
These pictures are full of humanity. It's well done. V Take a look at my galleries at www.pbase.com/alinco

Shaheim		09-Oct-2013 23:32
Love the pictures, I just found out about these islands would love visit one day

Guest		28-Jan-2013 07:31
Another person here who watched your incredible story, so amazing :) Love the photos

Neal Shields		24-Jan-2013 19:34
I have done a lot of diving in the Solomons and saw part of the "I shouldn't be alive" program. Did you have any signaling devices? The Bilikiki issues safety sausages to all of its passengers. I never go in the water without a whistle, strobe, safety sausage, signal mirror and a flashlight. From the program it seems that you had nothing at all. P.S. are you aware you can use your mask as a signal mirror. It surprises me that you dove with that same person again.

melissa armstrong		03-Dec-2012 08:00
Thank you all for taking the time to look at my photos- and writing something!

xavier		28-Aug-2012 14:54
Hi Melissa. i am from france and i just want to salut you. No long speach. Just a word. LOVE.

xavier		28-Aug-2012 14:54
Hi Melissa. i am from france and i just want to salut you. No long speach. Just a word. LOVE.

Guest		02-Apr-2012 12:30
Just stunning those gorgeous images and what a survival story!

Branzie		20-Jan-2012 05:45
Than GOD i'm only watching your wonderful creation and thank you Millissa for putting my island people at the World map.

mobility_scooter		11-May-2011 08:07
beautiful people these photos are full of love

david		04-Oct-2010 22:32
I said "say a prayer" and I don't know why I said that? Maybe he with whom you were reminded of was he who saved your life! Wonderful story of courage..an absolutely beautiful spirit you have Melissa. David, NC

Marc		04-Aug-2010 07:36
You and David are real strong human beings. I saw the Wouldn't be alive episode over here in the Netherlands. It was amazing how strong you where. When I did a quick search on the internet, I also saw these really amazing pictures (I'm (also) a professional photographer and I'm really impressed. All the best from Marc , Netherlands

John Watkin		21-Jun-2010 04:28
I've done a bit of long distance swimming in the sea and can appreciate a little of what it must be like to be lost, exhaused and sick at sea, its a wonderful story, the music was brilliant as well, does any one know what that piano music was called?

Guest		16-Jun-2010 13:43
Melissa, fab gallery ! I'm looking for travel inspiration, and you may just have me heading for the Salomons :) Keep the great shots coming ! Lars www.pbase.com/0000larsmolin

Guest		16-Jun-2010 13:43
Melissa, fab gallery ! I'm looking for travel inspiration, and you may just have me heading for the Salomons :) Keep the great shots coming ! Lars www.pbase.com/0000larsmolin

Alex Cheung		30-May-2010 14:26
Brilliant gallery!!! -V-

Abhishek Vaid		28-May-2010 14:46
..Hello Melissa I just watched your survival time on Discovery "I shouldn't be alive". I really appreciate your courage and guts you showed. Generous applause for you. Thanks for sharing all your Moments. Good wishes for you.

Harman		17-May-2010 08:00
Hi Mellisa, just watched your programme on discovery channel today about your tough time in sea at solomon islands...i appreciate the courage show n ur partner showed during that tough time...Lots of love to you

cloudy girl		12-Apr-2010 02:04
hey melissa i am also canadian and i just watched your television reenactment of your totally amazing survival........i cried for you and thought that your courage was incredible........jude vancouver island, writing from kapa'a kauai

Guest		11-Apr-2010 23:26
I just watched the I shouldnt be alive Tv Segment! Wish you well in life! You are so Lucky you survivied

Guest		06-Apr-2010 18:10
hello melissa im dan in oregon. can you email me? i would like to talk to you about you experiences. not just the shark waters but your photos also. danthetvman123@gmail.com thank you

Estefania		18-Mar-2010 23:02
Melissa, I saw your story on television and cried. You are true heroes and these stories show us how much we are lucky to be alive. Much health and life for you two.

Guest		03-Feb-2010 21:51
i agree with all great story, beautiful portraits! v

Guest		02-Dec-2009 16:08
Hi Melissa, I watched the I'm Alive episode featuring you and your friend. You and your friend had a lot of blessing with you to be able to survive. I admire your courage and perserverence in the ordeal you encountered. God bless you both and hope you both have great futures. Mark Wilson

otman		14-Aug-2009 02:48
so that experience shows to us how life is important to live it each day ,each minute & each second .. thank you .

Guest		14-Aug-2009 02:28
Hi Melissa I just watched your story on MBC Action. It is very sad what you had to go through but it was amazing to see it was a happy ending and that you were back safe! God Bless Nick - Dubai

Ghazzaf Youssef		10-Aug-2009 12:58
Hey Melissa , i'm Youssef From Morocco i just watched your story in " i shouldn't be alive " really it was unbelievable , thanks for this gallery ,

Laura Linda		24-Jul-2009 05:56
I like your pictures. When are you coming back to the Solomons again?? We missed you..

Axel Sears		09-Jul-2009 03:10
What an astounding story you have. I hope all is well these days.

George Takei		21-May-2009 04:48
Oh my!

Long Bach Nguyen		18-Dec-2008 07:32
What an awesome collection of images and your travel...beautiful images of the people in their daily life and wonderful portraits. Good Luck with your book...best wishes for your success in the book. Cheers, Long

michael Dungey		02-Dec-2008 02:49
Wonderful memories brought back to me, I spent almost 3 years at Viru Harbour during the late 60's when I ran a logging camp for Kalena Timber. Thank you for sharing these pictures, I often wonder what happened to Penny Haro who was the oldest son of Pastor Haro at Tetemara Village.

Cindy Flood		24-Nov-2008 14:50
This is a wonderful body of work. You connected so well with your subjects. Congratulations. V

Steve Scott		10-Aug-2008 21:15
I'm watching the Discover Channel piece now - what a terrifying experience. I'm glad it had a happy ending for you. I love your pictures...very nicely done. You really captured the spirit of your subjects. Congratulations on your success! Steve Scott, News Anchor WCBS Newsradio 880 New York, NY

John		06-Aug-2008 18:49
Wow beautiful photos. God Bless you Melissa.

Hilton Houghtonil		03-Nov-2007 17:19
Hi Melissa, What became of the persons responsible for leaving you out in the ocean. I can understand from Discovery's point of view that they had to abort on day one, but it didn;t seem that much was arranged to 'save you on day 2. Continue the great work! Hilton

jordan		28-Sep-2007 07:31
hey Melissa, i just watched your story in 'i shouldn't be alive ' series . i must admit it is very frightening as well as inspiring . hope GOD showers you with his chicest blessings.

Guest		22-Apr-2007 05:39
Interesting rcaial types that you don't see in the USA!

Mesake Waqa (Fiji)		20-Feb-2007 20:13
Very nice pictures of the Solomons. Just a message to the person(s) who posted the pictures, do you have anything on Munda?

Guest		18-Feb-2007 15:19
Wonderful captures of the people.

Agnieszka (Poland)		11-Feb-2007 17:25
I'm waiting for your book... :)

Wally Dion		11-Feb-2007 09:34
Just saw the Discovery show. Left me kinda speechless. Checked out this page. I'm also an artist, (painted portraiture/ comtemporary). Can appriciate your obvious ability to 'relax-gain the trust' of your models. But anyways. Holy man, that story. What a story to tell. What a story to tell.

Susan Raddatz		07-Feb-2007 14:13
Hello Missy! These pictures are fabulous. If your ears are burning its because the Haiser girls, DuBay girls and Raddatz girls have been chatting over email about your scary adventure. If you can contact one of us, we would love to catch up with you and get you in the loop. Hope you are doing well. Take Care - Susan R.

Valerie Haiser		03-Feb-2007 14:08
missy, you leave me speachless, you have gone on to do so much. you are an inspiration!

Nathan Harmon		08-Jan-2007 22:11
Wow, what great photography. You truly captured the people. I know because I was in Noro a couple of years ago on a mission trip. Thanks for sharing.

Nathan Harmob		08-Jan-2007 22:10
Wow, what great photography. You truly captured the people. I know because I was in Noro a couple of years ago on a mission trip. Thanks for sharing.

Grobljar Vanjo		06-Aug-2006 09:10
Nice hollidays

James Kaltobie		04-Aug-2006 05:09
Western province is truly, breathtaking, awesome, spent the best part of my life there and still remember the place. Would like to see places that I did not have the oppotunity to visit. Greetings from the Star Mountains of PNG. Takoolah

Donald Verger		05-Jun-2006 03:41
vote

carol j. phipps		04-May-2006 16:36
Thanks for sharing this gallery. Strong images.

Juliano Lopez		14-Jan-2006 03:07
You have great portraits. I also would like to know more about them. Nice work.

Streetworks Photography		03-Dec-2005 22:30
This is a fantastic gallery -- so full of life -- another place I'd like to visit now

Dan Chusid		01-Dec-2005 02:42
Would be nice to read more of the story under each photo. Nice travel documentary and portrait work.

Guest		13-Oct-2005 23:50
Loved " Sisters" That was my favorite on this page. So pure and sweet....

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