Island Life, Mele Island, Vanuatu

Once the urchins had completed their schoolwork, and Erik had completed his cycling, we all ventured over to Mele Bay for shopping at the market. 

The urchins needed some souvenirs, (even though they had picked up plenty of shells).  The market sold sarongs, bags, bracelets, massages, necklaces, dresses and sunglasses. 

Several of the stall holders gave the children bracelets, as a thank you for the school supplies.  I managed to get some sarongs with turtles on them, as a reminder of the turtle santactuary.

Once back on Mele Island, the plant life caught my attention, with the brightly coloured leaves of the tropical plants.

I have seen these as house plants in New Zealand, but the colours were vibrant on the island.

There is an ancient Banyan tree near the restaurant.

Mama grows these flowers, but they are not as purple, her ones are yellow and white.

Finally, I took one more walk around the island, time for farewell.  Tomorrow we fly home.

The bananas are nearly ready.  There were quite a few hands on this banana treee.

Thank you for a wonderful warm relaxing break Vanuatu.  I will be going back to the real world tomorrow.

Looking towards Port Vila

Fish, Fish and more Fish (and some coral)

Breakfast of breadfruit, watermelon, and toast.  As it was low tide, I wanted to take advantage of the shallower water and snorkel the edge of the drop off, past the second pontoon. I was in the warm water before 8:30am. 

Anemonefish, and mushroom coral

Moorish Idol

Teardrop butterfly

So many fish, schools of them, just swimming with me.  A magical feeling. 

 The blue eyes of the lemonpeel is one of my favourite things to spot on the coral reef.

 Blueline Surgeon can be as large as 40 cm.  I really enjoy watching how the colours move in the water.

I don't know the name of the blue fish, but is is very bright blue.

 Some of the fish were very shy, and I had to patient to watch them come out from under the coral

A sixbar wrasse enjoyed my company, and allowed me to touch him a few times, he kept darting in front of the camera.  Perhaps he is a fish “superstar”. 

A family of Moorish Idol made me smile.  Such a wonderful feeling, just me and all the fish.

An hour in the water, so many different fish, I saw all the wrasses, parrotfish, damsels, Anemonefish, a school of trumpet fish, varieties of butterflies, Rabbitfish, squirrelfish, Surgeon, and Angels. 

 The colours of the coral were magnificent. The pinks and reds amazing.

I have only seen these a few times, Regal Angels.  I just floated and watch them eat the coral.

 In the deeper water, near the dropoff, schools of fish were waiting.

Yellowtailed Fusiliers

 Masked Banner fish and Longnosed butterfly swam with me too.  A family of Moorish Idol made me smile.  Such a wonderful feeling, just me and all the fish.

Chocolate Dip Damsel

More blue fish amongst the coral.  Fabulous textures and shapes

 I enjoy how friendly the fish are, they are used to humans not chasing them.

The blue spots of this Wrasse reminded me of the stars at night, very luminescence.

 Butterfly fish and Parrot fish swim together.  The click click of them eating the coral is the only sound I heard.

 These tiny Bluegreen Damsels were the first tropical fish I ever saw, many years ago off Malolo Island, Fiji.  I love their colour.

 The fish fins reminds me of the birds wings.  Tighe said it looks like they are flying in the water.

Another spotted Wrasse

Saw some weird and wonderful sponges / anemones / corals.  The colours underwater are fascinating.  If you don’t snorkel, you are missing out on an amazing world.    

Christmas tree worm on coral

The only noise is the fish eating the coral.  Many times I just float, allowing the current, the ebb and flow, move me with the fish.

Trumpet fish

Finally I got cold, and had to swim back to the real world.

Erik went for a ride on his bike, and  I watched the butterflies around the pool, while the urchins swam.  The butterflies are never still long enough for me to photograph them.