New Caledonia.

Noumea.: NEW CALEDONIA.:

 This is an absolutely beautiful card and had to get it as a souvenir from my visit here ...this was my souvenir card to post home.(New Years Eve )..as I always do..The card shows the "Le Grand Recif" .isn't it amazing..
Posted Noumea .: 31 December 2014 :

Vanuatu

THE LOCAL MARKETS PORT VILLA   VANUATU

PORT VILLA: VANUATU:
Whenever I am in any town or city in the tropics the markets are a must.. The fruits are all there, and with tropical fruits there is always such a wide selection...a great healthy meal , and usually very inexpensive. Here In Port Villa the markets were full of the locals buying their fresh fruits and vegetables, of special interest to me was watching the local de- husking the coconuts,  always if possible I get my fresh coconut milk..straight from the coconut is just wonderful...for me one of the best drinks on the planet.. Vanuatu is a coconut Island with literally hundreds of thousands of Coconut trees.. as the main industry used to be copra...until that was overtaken by tourism..but the trees are still here..

Australia.

 A  FAMOUS LANDMARK IN SYDNEY HARBOUR ..FORT DENISON

THE HARBOUR FERRIES START EARLY THEIR MORNING JOURNEYS

Sydney.: AUSTRALIA.:

It was around 5 AM when the ship passed through the Headlands that are the entrance to this grand harbour. South and North Heads stand majestically on guard as sentinels over this great Harbours entrance, and what a beautiful sight it always is,  to look upon this grand spectacle just as the sun is awakening..Although it was very early the decks were full of the passengers wanting their early morning view of this great Harbour with its many coves ,inlets and islands. The ship slowly makes its way up the Harbour towards the City of Sydney as the sun is just poking his nose over the fence and providing a lovely morning for this homecoming.There are few lights to be seen unlike the large cacophany of lights that light the night time city skyline...most of Sydney was still asleep.
    Many passengers jostling for a good vantage point for the chance for that wanted photo with many  being taken as we pass by the many  attractions that make this such a popular destination with world travelers ,being one of the finest Harbours in the world..we pass Fort Denison ,.The Opera House with its majestic sails..and as the City proper and the busy ferry wharves of Circular Quay are on our left as we slowly glide under the Sydney Harbour Bridge with what appears to be very little clearance for the huge ships funnel and communication and navigational domes.

WE SQUEEZE UNDER THE HARBOUR BRIDGE WITH LITTLE CLEARANCE

 The morning although early, is quite warm, and as the sun rises higher over the horizon it appears that it is going to be a lovely Sydney day .We head for our berth at White bay and we prepare to disembark after what was a very enjoyable two week trip through the South Pacific Islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu..

Vanuatu.

Mystery Island.: VANUATU.:

This Mystery island is what it is called ,  a truly amazing Island in what seemed the middle of nowhere...My first view of this Island from the boat was one of amazement, a small island with a mostly circular reef with breaking white water around its perimeter  ( known as a "Makatea" )with the  most lovely blue lagoon and the clearest of turquoise blue water...just like it was in a Travel Brochure, Card shows the small jetty that was accessable for the ships tender to drop off the people who wished to go ashore here,...Many of the people who visited were diving and snorkeling and swimming in its lovely clear water ..with an abundance of tropical fish even turtles..The day was lovely with lovely blue sky with tufts of cotton wool clouds.with a temperature of 32 degrees C.

New Caledonia.

Back soon..                AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE BEAUTIFUL ISLE OF PINES

Isle of Pines.: NEW CALEDONIA.

New Caledonia.

THE HAPPY SMILES OF LOVELY CHILDREN IN THE ISLANDS.

                                                Isles of Pines :       NEW CALEDONIA.

The Isles of Pines was for me the best island stop on this whole trip.The island was such a change from the Vanuatu group of islands. This community here was just so well organised..The land is owned and allocated by local Cheiftan rule and is all native land ..and foreigners cannot own it...although the administration is French. The people that I came in contact with were very friendly and helpful  although I understand the tourist dollar is sort after there is no pressure to buy anything..My trip around the Island was of great interest stopping at various sites..The Old Prison ,The Church ,some various beaches..all very photogenic..The day like all was very hot with the temperature being around 33 degrees. I love this type of climate and the only downside was the daily rain showers  always when i was on the beach..I liked also the markets here were the best as well with many more variation in the items for sale.. All in all a great Island to visit..



                                                

Local outrigger canoe by someones home.

A really peaceful small Island in such clear turquoise waters.

Some of the many handmade bracelets

Locals welcoming visitors ashore..

New Caledonia.

WHAT A WONDERFUL ENTRANCE TO THIS HOUSE..

A TRADITIONAL KANAK WOODEN CARVED POLE

A NICE PHOTO OF THE ISLANDS' PINE TREES.

 

the Isle of Pines for me was the nicest island stop of all. This lovely small community on this Island is really how one would picture living in the islands. The French do a great job here as the Island seems to be well looked after with its great roads compared to most islands I've seen . This Island had the most wonderful beaches and was also really wonderful for swimming and snorkeling with its amazingly clear turquoise waters. Although they are different this reminds me of the special island pines grown on Norfolk Island not far away to the South west of this group of Islands. A very popular pine tree and are exported world wide. They are famous for their presence on a lot of Australian beaches.

ONE OF THE MANY CARVED FACES ON THE ISLAND.

  Here also our group got togeather for a very interesting trip around the Island looking at the many different sights to be seen of great interest was the old Gaol with the figures  "1881" above the door in the walls entrance, it was not hard to conjure up thoughts of the brutality that would have emenated through the corridors of the prison with thoughts of Isle du Diable  (Devils Island ) off the coast of Guyana in South America...another French prison. A walk through the prisons grounds and decaying structure showed the cells that were there and their sizes were quite small.                                                                                                              

New Caledonia.

Local Karnak  wood carving Art

A scene out of Adventures in Paradise.

enjoying the day and the location..

Well it's New Years Eve.. I am not feeling really well and am having an early night.
bummmmer.
not to worry tomorrow is a new day..and a new place to enjoy this great part of the world. This is a card that I sent home as a souvenir.

Vanuatu

A SUMMER RAIN SHOWER CAME OVER WHEN I PHOTOGRAPHED THE BOAT ANCHORED OFF LUGANVILLE.

 THE HEAT OF THE DAY SAYS, "BOARDIES AND TEE SHIRT" ALL YOU NEED.

 Luganville. VANUATU.:

 Today we have arrived .It's early morning and we are at anchor off the City of Luganville which is the capital city of Santos Island.  Espiritu Santos is a really lovely Island with many jaw dropping beaches and today is a another really great day as I get to go to on a great trip out of the capital to The Raiwi river .A group of us share a van for the day this enables us to go to the many places that we have heard are good to visit here on Southern Santos.. This is definatly the Island of Palm trees, they are in the thousands on their plantations. and as" Copra" used to be the biggest export these trees are still in abundance.now the major bread winner is tourism. The day is hot and humid with temperature around 34 degrees...but it's not the temperature, it is the humidity that you feel most.

GREAT LOOKING FISHING SPOT ALSO FOR A QUICK SWIM

 The best thing about the tropical regions is the fact that the hot summers weather allows you to wear the minimum of clothes the majority of the time. for me everyday its just "boardies" (Board shorts) and T shirts. Here, I will get a new T shirt for my collection as I truly live in them. I share a van with friends and we arrive at the river after a good look around, .some of us get in the first dugout canoe and we are paddelled up this most peaceful river , it is possible to see the bottom of the river all the time no matter the depth,  fish are in abundance and we arrive at a lovely little lagoon ..the water is so blue...There are a couple of ropes to swing from for some fun in the lagoon. This is truly a magic setting..as we are the only ones here at the this time it is just a great fun experience..the water although a fast moving current is not as cold as I thought that it would be.. I return to Luganville ..look through the markets and have some refreshments. A wonderful day in paradise.

WHAT AN IDYLIC SCENE THIS IS !!

DANE ENJOYING A SWING OUT OVER THE LAGOON.

OUR TRANSPORT TO THE LAGOON...THE CAPTAIN OF OUR OUTRIGGER CANOE...SEE THIS AMAZING WATER.

Vanuatu.

I really like these dugout outrigger canoes.

 Espiritu Santo (Santos ) VANUATU
 Champagne Bay.

 I loved this beach  called Champagne Bay..such a beautiful location.

I awake to find we are off another island...another day another island.!! This time it is the beautiful Espiritu Santos..After a very early breakfast, I disembark by tender and come ashore on this absolutely lovely beach with the clearest blue green water...and I know I keep on saying it, but you have to see it to believe it..This is a great beach just to chill...grab some "stray rays" and just lay on the beach or swim and snorkel..The water is a mix of warm current and cold current...strange one minute it is just so warm and next minute you get a hit of cold current...amazingly refreshing.
 I really love this beach the best so far and am
really enjoying things until an everyday rainstorm
decides to change the scenery. The rain is warm, as is the day, usually around 32 to 34 degrees.
Ideal for swimming and having a few cold cocktails.amazing that people live like this every day..There are lobsters for sale ready to eat on the beach..it doesn't get any better than this..

These dugout outrigger canoes are just the most practical form of local transport in these Islands..

Vanuatu..

The "Pilot boat" shows us the way to our berth.

Hard tedious work "Husking Coconuts." produce market....Port Villa.

No shortage of coconuts..sit under the palm tree in the shade.

local clothing and Arts market.. Port Villa.

 Port Villa. VANUATU

The day is very hot and humid temperature around 32-34 degrees C..as I love to walk around any new place that I visit I soon become really hot and look for cool drink..coconut milk is my favourite..and costs very little.. I go to the Department of Customs and get my passport stamped.. The officer asks how long my boat will be here !!...as he thinks that I have just arrived on my personal sailing yacht and are reporting my arrival.it all seems so casual.Island time takes a little time to get used to...as there is never any hurry for anything...I assure him that I am only in the islands of Vanuatu for another week...and he obligingly stamps my passport.. I find a cool cafe and write some postcards to some of the many friends who have asked for a card from this destination.next thing to do.!!! find the Post Office..

Vanuatu.

Just have to have my coconut milk drink.!!.

 Port Villa.: VANUATU.:
 After sailing all night we arrive in the Port Of Port Villa.. Vanuatu in The New Hebrides.
 As it is a major port The "Port Pilot boat" is to show us to our berth and The boat quickly docks .I.have breakfast and go ashore. This is for me excitement and  I share a "Taxi Van"  with six other people as The major township is some kilometers away from the port..I am quite happy to set out around the town and try a local coffee ..It's good.and look at local markets.
    I go to the local bank and Exchange some dollars for local currency..Now I'm off to the markets which I had passed previously.....Here, there is a large range of vegetables , local produce and tropical fruits...and my first stop is to a woman "Husking " coconuts and she quickly cuts the top off one for me to drink.. I absolutely love coconut milk and drink when ever I get the chance..Typically I spill it all down the front of my shirt...bummer... The market holds many different things and I love to watch the locals do their weekly shopping and tie it up in banana leaves to protect and to carry home.I find it very interesting just watch the locals and the simplicity which is their everyday life.

Packing up the groceries.

Husking coconuts...for sale and ready to eat and drink..

The absolute beauty of living in this part of the world and the colours that are so wonderfully vibrant in the tropics.