|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Apr 17, 2004 02:00 PM Atafu - Nukunonu - Fakaofo...
Tokelau - former Union Islands consists of only 3 little atolls. The ocean was stormy, but I was still lucky to land on all of them and even to spend the nights ashore. On Nukunonu there is only guesthouse you can use if staying for few days (50 NZD full board and full of ants). Luciano - the owner took me with small boat across the emerald lagoon to the little motus - palm-covered, empty islands... Tokelau... The place is wonderful! Isoloated from the rest of the world, with old customs preserved, nice people and unspoiled nature. No airstrip, no port - every landing was a new adventure! I took a lot of pictures, met many interesting people and... during the last hour of my stay taking a boat trip between small motus I broked down my video camera... - it was sprayed by salt water... But it was still worth...
Now again we have two nights on a deck sailing to Apia. Thanks God the weather is improoving!
|
Apr 14, 2004 02:00 PM Fakaofo on the horizon...
Sailing to Tokelau - one of most unusual destinations... My dream comes true...
Do you expect South Seas story about deep-blue ocean, romantic sunsets and singing sailors...
It was like this on the first day only... There were only two of us - the travellers on board surrounded by smiling, lovely Tokelauans...
During the night we got heave wind and rain -
I was forced to escape from the deck...
After 29 hours of sailing on the second day we saw first atoll of Tokelau - Fakaofo...
On the high waves small boats unloaded passengers jumping over the reef and we sailed onward - to Nukunonu...
|
Apr 12, 2004 02:00 PM Tokelau - ahoy!
It was early morning when I found Tokeleu Office in Apia... The supply boat in sailing tomorrow! Do you have a space for me?
Fortunately the answer was: yes! They made me really happy...
The ship carries up to 60 passengers in one cabin (usually occupied by officials) and on the deck. The deck fare is 286 NZD for round-trip.
It usually takes around 7 days... If you want to stay on Tokelau longer (until the next sailing) you have to apply in advice for visa and book limited accommodation through Apia Office.
I got my ticket in the afternoon and started to look for the suitable mat (seven days on a deck!)
|
Apr 10, 2004 02:00 PM Talofa from Samoa!
Easter on Upolu Island... I found here very nice hosts from Servas organization. Maria-Ines and Marco gave me very interesting introduction to the island of green cloud-caped mountains, waterfalls, emerald lagoons and beach huts. They live close to the nature in the middle of the lush forest - far from the noise of the capital. Yes, I have been to Samoa before but it still excite me: ladies with flowers in their hairs, policemen in lava-lava skirts marching every morning along the boulevard in Apia...
|
Apr 08, 2004 02:00 PM Good Friday on Wallis Island
Yes, on Wednesday our 16-seater arrived to Futuna and I am happy to be closer to the world - on Wallis Island which is much more westernizet then Futuna. Wallis is almost flat and it is like a garden - lush, full of tropical flowers and smiling Polynesians. It has beautiful, turquoise lagoon with many small motus. I will attend Good Friday celebrations here.
Tommorrow - on Saturday I will fly accross the dateline to Samoa via Nadi to spend there the Easter. And then will come the time to try my luck: there is supply boat departing one a month to Tokelau - this is the only way to reach this remote destination hidden on the South Pacific...
I want to try...
Keep your fingers crossed, please!
|
Apr 05, 2004 02:00 PM No flight today!!! Tomorrow - maybe....
Wonderful Futuna Island has only one airstrip. The only connection to the world (means: to Wallis) is operated by 16-seat twinotter plain - the only one in the Air Calin fleet...
We had heavy rain all night and morning and the airstrip looks now like a pond. No flight today (Yes, I was booked for today!)
So far I do not complain - I got an extra day to visit beautiful churches spread out along the coast and to enjoy taro + fresh fish for lunch and dinner again. Yesterday I visited uninhabited Alofi island - just 2 km away - real South Seas paradise...
The only bank is still closed and I remain without local currency. Maybe tomorrow...
|
Apr 03, 2004 02:00 PM The island of two kingdoms - Futuna...
The Pacific! Can you imagine 15-km long tropical island inhabited by friendly Polynesians who are always ready to invite you to visit their fale - traditional oval house with thatched roof and mats on the floor? They all are strong catholics. They smile to everybody... The island is divided into two kingdoms: Alo and Sigave. This is fascinating, montanous Futuna - the part of French Overseas Teritories.... Forget your english!
Bon jour!... Tourism does not exist here. There are two small hotels occupied by French Gvt workers - be prepared to pay at least 85 USD per room. I survived staying c/o Catholics Parish. It gave me opportunity to join colorful celebration of Palm Sunday - under palm trees -The king was also there -wonderful event!
|
Mar 28, 2004 02:00 PM On the Norfolk Island - The Pacific
I said good-bye to the wide and huge Australia and landed on the tiny and green Norfolk Island...
Only 1600 people live here... The island is famous of the Norfolk Pines - tall and pistureque trees - now you can find them in many places around the world but here is their origin. Norfolk is a former British prison island - you can find here monuments from this period. But the highlight of the Norfolk is the landscape - rolling hills, colour cliffs, yellow beaches and... serenity.
I have real rest here after busy Australian days.
It is only 24 degrees and windy so they cannot disload the supply ship waiting in the ocean - they have no port so the small boats are sailing to the ship to get the supply. But so far stores are full - so I'll survive...
|
Mar 26, 2004 07:00 PM This great Great Ocean Road!
After low cost night flight Perth to Melbourne I rented a car and drove the Great Ocean Road - one of the most picturesque roads in our world.
It took me full day to pass through all these coastal viewpoints, old lighthouses, waterfalls and lush forests. Most of the route goes along the picturesque, high coast and the highlight is the group of the rocks called Twelve Apostols - I reached them just before the sunset. It is very tourist place - one of the symbols of Australia. It is worth to be... It is national park area but they do not charge any entry fee there...
I did almost 500 km up and down on this day on difficult roads. I returned in the dark at 8 pm
- but it was worth the effort!
|
Mar 24, 2004 07:00 PM Australian Goldfields...
I visited new and old gold mines in Kalgoorlie - fancy town full of old, ornate buildings from the time of the Gold rush. 8 percent of the world's production of gold still comes from Western Australia. I had a chance to see second open mine in the world - can you imagine the big hole in the ground (3 km by 1,5 and more then 300 m deep? They call it superpit... There is also a kind of live museum where you can pan for gold and go down for the 40-minnutes tour to the old underground mine - well worth 20 AUD charged for the entrance...
There is also another show - the gold pour every day at 11 am - you will have a chance to take a picture with a solid bar of real gold produced on your eyes! What a feeling!
|
Page:
302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312
|
|
|
