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.

Isle of Pines : New Caledonia.

 Thank you for this card from NC Rachel I know that you enjoyed the Isle of Pines..Thank you it is my first card from there..when I was there I didn't get any cards ..silly me.This is .a really great view.