Lunch Time, Northern Efate

Emao Island

The urchins were getting hungry, it was about 1ish, so Beachcomber was our next stop, near Quoin Hill, and the disused American WW2 airstrip.

These are remnants of the USA that they built out of coral and dirt, so the pilots could see the USA from the air.

There were mounds of coral. My guess is that the debris from Cyclone Pam was put into these mounds, so that the grass could be used for the cattle and goats.

There are HOT springs at Beachcomber; the roof is still very damaged.  Hot chips for the urchins, toasted sandwich for me, steak sandwich for him.  We were the only customers.  The EFTPOS didn’t work, as the generator was unreliable.  

 Anneke  declared the indoor hot pool, TOO hot, but swam in the outdoor pool.  

Tighe and Quinn explored the area, and the debris from Pam is still evident in the area.  Twisted corrugated iron, pushed over trees, and wreaked homes are all visible.  Some of the people are living in tents.

Debris from Cyclone Pam

Quoin Hill in background

Tighe, Quinn and I picked up shells on the coral beach.  Lots of variety, and sizes.  Tighe found some huge shells.  (There were no shells at Hideaway Island, the hermit crabs use them).

From the shore, Tighe spotted a TitanTrigger fish (75cm) eating the coral.  We watched him for a while.

Titan Triggerfish (source www.fishesofaustralia.net.au)

Farewell Blues

Another cooked breakfast, and fresh pineapple and pawpaw.  Back to NZ today, go by Ferry to the mainland, then fly back to Auckland.  It will be late when we get home to Rotorua.

Beachcomber, Treasure, and Fiji mainland

 The ferry will take us back to the mainland, but we will visit the other Islands on our way.  A great way to spend 2 hours, the blues of the water were spectacular.  There are lots of resorts dotted all around the Mamanuca Islands.  We stopped at several of them to pick up and drop off passengers.  Mana, Tadrai, Castaway, Malolo, and Likuliku.

Entrance to Mana

Mana

Castaway

There were several resorts dotted around Malololailai.  I just loved the colour of the water.

Plantation

Malolo

 Denarau was hot, dusty, and busy.  It was a relief to get onto the air conditioned bus, and look out the window at everyday life on the Fijian mainland. Quinn was fascinated by the yachts in the harbour.

Our ferry

Our flight back to NZ was delayed, by an hour. We drank smoothies FJ$32 for 3, and waited.  The PA said “apologies for the delay, the flight was delayed for (a long wait while he searched for the right word) Personal Reasons!”  Not sure what that meant, but it was a good excuse.  Later on board we discovered the previous flight to Auckland had a medical emergency on board, so that delayed the flight.

Quinn enjoying a "small" snack while waiting

Tighe watched Godzilla, and Quinn watched TV.  I napped.  Arrived back in Auckland after sunset.  Managed to get home before midnight.