Polynesian Adventure, Day 4

 Sunday, March 3rd:  Sunny and warm, and calm so far.

All yesterday, we played in and out of the water, snorkeling a bit and viewing lots of coral fish - white spotted puffer, yellow tang, unicorn fish, orange-spined tang, convict tang, fantail file fish, blue parrot fish,  moorish idol fish, picasso trigger fish,  yellow tail wrassel, long-nose butterfly, humbug docylus, sea cucumbers (two types), and maybe more.  The lagoon is flat and shallow all the way out to the dredged-ship channel that passes in front of the shore.  The channel is the route used by local tour boats to get to the two motu (or sand) islands.  There are restaurants and snack bars on the islands, grills, and lots of alcohol.

BS and SS swam to the islands (BS twice), while the elders supervised LS napping.  PT dragged a kayak and did a quick paddle along the shore.  The house provides two kayaks, 1 single and 1 double.  We will use them to visit the islands later (more on that later).

Last night, after happy hour (Brent made rum cocktails), we had dinner at the O2 Coco Restaurant and Bar.  The place was jumping with live music.  The food was good, the service friendly, and the tables were full by the time we left. 

The sunshine is intense and sunblock is neccesary for us white folks, even with clouds.  Also, reef-safe sunblock is a necessity.

 Photo by SS - SS and LS.

It is now a little later after lunch.  This morning, SS and BS swam, EP, ET and PT kayaked, with LS riding in the double kayak with EP and me, over to the two islands, stopping at the nearest one, and then deciding to go into the inlet between the islands, and ultimately landing on the second island.  SS and BS had a rather hard swim going upstream against a current flowing through the inlet.  The kayaks were stable but without much lateral tracking - EP comment was "I have had better steering in a bathtub."  LS was a very good passenger and sat quietly between my legs.  CP remained at the house with lots of swimming and snorkeling.

Photo by SS - The two-person kayak.

Photo by SS - LS ready to go.

Photo by CP - Loading up.

Photo by CP - Departure.

Our return trip was a bit easier since we went with the current.  BS said his and SS swim back was mostly just floating and riding the current.  They saw large sting rays and manta rays on the way home.

We are now enjoying a siesta after an active morning and lunch.