tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39266148407681850912024-02-19T15:41:16.139-08:00Fiji!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-45949365546502878662008-07-08T13:31:00.002-07:002008-07-08T13:50:21.243-07:00Bonefish!!! Aitutaki!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdtuThkGZB4cHQvDBVwQoMZ0BCdObDMRtDIEY5L5VqJs1AGyuAuVxH6IMfEPpDKokevN-BWCVjuopCWarPQ24twRjiNkI6z1bBvmos5M0f6aVqcdD7uDHqSUF4uDIXajGslGZH7bO0YPa/s1600-h/Bernard_Bonefish_Aututaki.LOWREZ.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220743827941705730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdtuThkGZB4cHQvDBVwQoMZ0BCdObDMRtDIEY5L5VqJs1AGyuAuVxH6IMfEPpDKokevN-BWCVjuopCWarPQ24twRjiNkI6z1bBvmos5M0f6aVqcdD7uDHqSUF4uDIXajGslGZH7bO0YPa/s400/Bernard_Bonefish_Aututaki.LOWREZ.JPG" border="0" /></a>30 inch bonefish in Aitutaki. This is probably the holy grail of fly-fishing. I’m ecstatic beyond description…<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some more pics and a decription of my Cook Island trip below... </span><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-53164200829048141322008-07-08T13:31:00.001-07:002008-07-08T13:51:48.136-07:00Cook Islands!The adventure started with the work I had in the Cooks. Absolutely gorgeous, I love it. Think tropical Hermanus with Maoris! Great food, great people, super scenery. Place has an incredible art scene and vibe. Just had a awesome time. Of course I dived, shopped, hiked, snorkeled, cocktailed, sunset-ed, dined, danced, slept, worked. Oh, most of this was of course funded for the job – thank you to the European Union! [And financially NOT how things look like in Fiji!]. But in all fairness - got a lot of work done and things went really well. Had an “Island Night” on my birthday eve. So danced with Polynesian girls in those hula skirts and coconut bra’s – and INCREDIBLE drumming. Quite a show. Had 2 good dives – not as great as Fiji but saw sharks, and 2 eagle rays, awesome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-28484896623888399072008-07-08T13:30:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:31:32.060-07:00Rarotonga, Cook Islands<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-sna5ZRq7A5b9UJX3S9jvK8ETOvEh01EaiZ7tWBTu6AsKmBibTyELGae5GMtR-HkWRNkybuNY62yv-WH9k8buGh6BBsr_UhVSGjFokF2nXFAYRGanXejDojjm5CsMM94_7flNqszargX/s1600-h/Avarua_Rarotonga2_1_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220743513122174578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-sna5ZRq7A5b9UJX3S9jvK8ETOvEh01EaiZ7tWBTu6AsKmBibTyELGae5GMtR-HkWRNkybuNY62yv-WH9k8buGh6BBsr_UhVSGjFokF2nXFAYRGanXejDojjm5CsMM94_7flNqszargX/s400/Avarua_Rarotonga2_1_1.JPG" border="0" /></a> Avarua, Capital of Rarotonga, the main island in the Cooks. Scooters are everywhere!<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-41517457670826554682008-07-08T13:28:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:29:30.038-07:00Rarotonga, Cook Islands<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2b4OqF7NqsmiRhuqhtWPeIEcmJpXW8HzNgXLnmjxLkHmETD2BmyHrMdiuexfC_gEmozQJ9vNEdlDNzGZi2cuFtsD-D9tjswjV2NDCJEjHgBbc9GMkXOnrQgZRkungQR9RwFazHGIa1eG/s1600-h/CooksIs_tree1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220742974124276178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2b4OqF7NqsmiRhuqhtWPeIEcmJpXW8HzNgXLnmjxLkHmETD2BmyHrMdiuexfC_gEmozQJ9vNEdlDNzGZi2cuFtsD-D9tjswjV2NDCJEjHgBbc9GMkXOnrQgZRkungQR9RwFazHGIa1eG/s400/CooksIs_tree1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our workshop venue looked over this beach, literally just down the stairs. Its usually a wedding venue. Its actually ridicules working in a place like this, too gorgeous.<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-88179609435067111342008-07-08T13:26:00.002-07:002008-07-08T13:45:28.339-07:00Rarotonga, Cook Islands<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCf57uTYviLVjhB4kE_WTDhvaz_Ln_V17_IgoOslnEJ3vhR0XOEPy8qYG_aK3UZmkvuYCHomJ52sszsfNg2FeSI2Xki7vzeEeA5nnUtYQXMysfDjhrZHD4vx2wp6vdu0XqV2Rw4njOryt/s1600-h/lunch1_1_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220742710518965442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCf57uTYviLVjhB4kE_WTDhvaz_Ln_V17_IgoOslnEJ3vhR0XOEPy8qYG_aK3UZmkvuYCHomJ52sszsfNg2FeSI2Xki7vzeEeA5nnUtYQXMysfDjhrZHD4vx2wp6vdu0XqV2Rw4njOryt/s400/lunch1_1_1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Lunch with friends and WWF colleagues Diane and Jyotishma.<br />(Johanni, I predictably had the crème brule!).<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-36295743945349968922008-07-08T13:26:00.001-07:002008-07-08T13:26:40.072-07:00Orchid<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxFM8NXcM_25bQR2NMLUkui6SDCeNG5QQB3_CdsdJnCI33SKEyDXUBFru2Lgs75iPNUmNSrLTlG1ONUhyphenhyphen7YdnwKQt8LqJiGu3Fl5oj2i4WLxjE1NaVfPRbL9zuoMOtEmf8ehCmdJoQnXo/s1600-h/orchid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220742312736130690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxFM8NXcM_25bQR2NMLUkui6SDCeNG5QQB3_CdsdJnCI33SKEyDXUBFru2Lgs75iPNUmNSrLTlG1ONUhyphenhyphen7YdnwKQt8LqJiGu3Fl5oj2i4WLxjE1NaVfPRbL9zuoMOtEmf8ehCmdJoQnXo/s400/orchid.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-90766457699498389052008-07-08T13:25:00.001-07:002008-07-08T13:45:51.414-07:00Orchid farm - I Iike the pic.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKu-jOe_ucZ8dDjUMoHEwe5EGTOXY-nguF6mSvKlztxiFR8gC4n45k142IdWrGR4Gbv9hW98l4-99flFHmv0oSy20WyCWY502Hy11Vc7381u4gGtpPzDz8yxiBrJFIpeqaj7gIapzrJ2f/s1600-h/orchid+farm+autu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220742155324419554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKu-jOe_ucZ8dDjUMoHEwe5EGTOXY-nguF6mSvKlztxiFR8gC4n45k142IdWrGR4Gbv9hW98l4-99flFHmv0oSy20WyCWY502Hy11Vc7381u4gGtpPzDz8yxiBrJFIpeqaj7gIapzrJ2f/s400/orchid+farm+autu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-5042614605633176582008-07-08T13:24:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:25:04.412-07:00Aitutaki!!This is, without hyperbole, one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Rated by some as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The watercolour is just indescribable – ranging from gin-clear to shades of turquoise, to the deepest beautiful dark blues. It’s a HUGE (45km across) tropical atoll/lagoon, dotted with about 15 islands, and incredibly has not been decimated by tourism (but of course their everywhere). About a 40min flight North from Rarotonga, I last minute tagged this trip on for some leave. Flyfishing here rates as one of the highlights of my life. Ill keep the description short, will update the guys on it in detail (email me)! I went out with a guide Butch Leone, who lives there. What a legend – he moved here from the US ten odd years ago, and a surfing and flyfish nut. First day, Butch was really disappointed – but I had caught more fish than in my entire saltwater flyfishing career. 2nd day fished on my own, “only” caught 2 (small) kings and lost a couple, but a great day out. Sat on a deserted tropical island having a lunch of baked beans (you can wade the flats between some islands). Next day, fished with Butch again, lost a nice king – bastards are really dirty fighters; which is why we love them. Well, in the late afternoon I hooked into that bone (fishing of a skiff, while getting poled along by Butch, sightfishing for kings and bonefish – which incidentally, is possibly the most fun you can have with your pants on, hell, probably with them off!!). Well after a 30min fight, and having him run me about 6-7 times into the backing, I got him. Quick pics (thanks for the pics Butch!) and of course a release. Butch was more happy then me – wants me to post him the pic in a frame to hang in the local bar! What a day…Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-28708755828384612402008-07-08T13:23:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:24:32.516-07:00Aitutaki!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSFZvEmJzNFu7E3sDNgQmh3EPdcSZmDzWlSBi0CrxHLI9_QS9nCsNHca0LT7qxFy_J7x-5PJZ2RINlo1DYezwhj89MK_M2WelgA12vhjiV_T3tUMsSP1isW2R9Fh5taG9JO5I7um_czDV/s1600-h/1foot.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220741688419697010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSFZvEmJzNFu7E3sDNgQmh3EPdcSZmDzWlSBi0CrxHLI9_QS9nCsNHca0LT7qxFy_J7x-5PJZ2RINlo1DYezwhj89MK_M2WelgA12vhjiV_T3tUMsSP1isW2R9Fh5taG9JO5I7um_czDV/s400/1foot.JPG" border="0" /></a> 1 Foot Island, Aitutaki. WOW! Look at that watercolour. I unashamedly did not take lots of pics – fished my heart out. This was the most beautiful island of them all!<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-29744149702932602008-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:23:00.640-07:00Aitutaki!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FM5-zztCKCxBh4IUN8P8ubmb5PThA5a9GjeS4a2aLNVeh7zWZMEouhm2awR1cI895COnMofn_b4AqiAR-_9LuGtJUHbhqRzoJt7Ojcaql7Fu7JoCvSHYJ-nk6pdFPzYSs1pc0Tk9fWME/s1600-h/800px-Aitutaki_NWW.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220741231171568562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FM5-zztCKCxBh4IUN8P8ubmb5PThA5a9GjeS4a2aLNVeh7zWZMEouhm2awR1cI895COnMofn_b4AqiAR-_9LuGtJUHbhqRzoJt7Ojcaql7Fu7JoCvSHYJ-nk6pdFPzYSs1pc0Tk9fWME/s400/800px-Aitutaki_NWW.png" border="0" /></a><br />Aitutaki from the air. Google it! I caught the bonefish in the inside of the curved island, Akiami, furthest to the right of the pic. <div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-52037494074418410712008-07-08T13:20:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:42:57.282-07:00More Flyfishing pics!The bonefish here are abnormally big. Really. As Butch puts it: “If you want to catch a bonefish, go to the Caribbean. If you want to catch the fish of your life, fish Aitutaki”.<br /><br />Figure descriptions below:<br />1. Kingfish on! Nice fight but I lost him…<br />2. Bonefish. What a beast!<br />3. That’s me, fighting a snapper on a flat into a deep channel.<br />4. Fighting the bonefish. Where’s my backing gone!? <br />5. Butch standing on the skiff, scanning the flats.<br />6. The skiff.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-80949978581186940632008-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:38:30.255-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw60yTEE17V5dIZMo6dN4Ki0WGNqGYe15kzgMOEc9x6LflQ70oTWfNxm_IEFGOPS4Mvy1Tod3121iadZS5j48f5IbxesglvSm-iv3uAtPvWcyqmXnk12rRcTL235hvwmZXnGXKJGl0_kE-/s1600-h/kingfish+on.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220745352151006050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw60yTEE17V5dIZMo6dN4Ki0WGNqGYe15kzgMOEc9x6LflQ70oTWfNxm_IEFGOPS4Mvy1Tod3121iadZS5j48f5IbxesglvSm-iv3uAtPvWcyqmXnk12rRcTL235hvwmZXnGXKJGl0_kE-/s400/kingfish+on.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyhL2c74PFkumul8GX_FeG2fLfrntr6hZ4s3KM_1-XTYpYD_4NFi9WaCXATWGsvniy8DJYk8YFD_9ve3Am6qUnHjz4nnUuVHl2ePNTGF8dAXO7OORsOvufXimTxvv1IZZrYtyjyBgYAtP/s1600-h/what+a+beast.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220739109741991810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyhL2c74PFkumul8GX_FeG2fLfrntr6hZ4s3KM_1-XTYpYD_4NFi9WaCXATWGsvniy8DJYk8YFD_9ve3Am6qUnHjz4nnUuVHl2ePNTGF8dAXO7OORsOvufXimTxvv1IZZrYtyjyBgYAtP/s400/what+a+beast.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohK3kHj4GO4IDnbUIExR704qOV3QePHEvYd1TqqU9eyVb8kQ_dOyEiFLxXgmS0fC59Ris-sUw9n3wCZzCBXug1I2I4jjec2iViinj6v_06WJp_ECibTW2YhOBNFmHnftCmayHPkNPV9xA/s1600-h/snapper+on.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220739120261128978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohK3kHj4GO4IDnbUIExR704qOV3QePHEvYd1TqqU9eyVb8kQ_dOyEiFLxXgmS0fC59Ris-sUw9n3wCZzCBXug1I2I4jjec2iViinj6v_06WJp_ECibTW2YhOBNFmHnftCmayHPkNPV9xA/s400/snapper+on.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJ_1t8t_AnGjhUwBnQEd9I9TfkasVE4NgFh3OgQ29sAjS3jvcgVfv91gQOmA5GHvDYvk_Xh0p74dtnXQImc_7MBx9-VxjVpm0TjJ_ALnaIeOqWNbA7tLF5Td3IyNk6xIPgowTPpiZHYVE/s1600-h/`bone+fisght+where+is+my+backing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220739123431142290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJ_1t8t_AnGjhUwBnQEd9I9TfkasVE4NgFh3OgQ29sAjS3jvcgVfv91gQOmA5GHvDYvk_Xh0p74dtnXQImc_7MBx9-VxjVpm0TjJ_ALnaIeOqWNbA7tLF5Td3IyNk6xIPgowTPpiZHYVE/s400/%60bone+fisght+where+is+my+backing.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfWlEi7N9TjVRsqXifMxHl-XVzoiSFbBjAwO7kJ0kfX5VE3OZ2E06OF5dJaPpgfwgVAebQRDU0rR8sRKCouN3-qZ9WexWHmXvA9cfhATR4M44sGIVYBJCZMQE2B3cuXGUZEKSxCZnUEPp/s1600-h/boat.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220739129803148194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfWlEi7N9TjVRsqXifMxHl-XVzoiSFbBjAwO7kJ0kfX5VE3OZ2E06OF5dJaPpgfwgVAebQRDU0rR8sRKCouN3-qZ9WexWHmXvA9cfhATR4M44sGIVYBJCZMQE2B3cuXGUZEKSxCZnUEPp/s400/boat.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHphQJuMlxfk3hK7_5O5O8v1Vz_ab7Een-dSPefn3WP2DJ4_YKsVdGUwwJfTp12gIHGNwctIuhqGyOK8tr4xn-U-id1Tn5kVvYFN3CfBg8QP-5OGYWDQ52UwrtIzPd8kBwovpPlRyOWhr-/s1600-h/butch.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220739131421392098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHphQJuMlxfk3hK7_5O5O8v1Vz_ab7Een-dSPefn3WP2DJ4_YKsVdGUwwJfTp12gIHGNwctIuhqGyOK8tr4xn-U-id1Tn5kVvYFN3CfBg8QP-5OGYWDQ52UwrtIzPd8kBwovpPlRyOWhr-/s400/butch.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-34971827211010090982008-06-08T14:45:00.000-07:002008-06-08T14:56:39.164-07:00Shark Dive (7 June)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ccDfZSKc4UOUDQburB8EXmi1bJZrq37IXODEllo34PrLMWjqshgLDjVi3NNlreoAXlBRIKBeyzuWvWZwo8kugCL6Nxwul55iLLtfcfa-KB9lhMkJUb2URbBdwmByNTCfLu84cpa2KPrN/s1600-h/fiji-shark-diving-DPerrine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209630461336384146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ccDfZSKc4UOUDQburB8EXmi1bJZrq37IXODEllo34PrLMWjqshgLDjVi3NNlreoAXlBRIKBeyzuWvWZwo8kugCL6Nxwul55iLLtfcfa-KB9lhMkJUb2URbBdwmByNTCfLu84cpa2KPrN/s400/fiji-shark-diving-DPerrine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>I did a shark dive, without the cage… INSANE!!! </div><div><br />Divers take you down to about 25m, and you stand with your back to some coral, and hold on to a rope (for protection?!). the guides go into the “arena” (about 5m in front if you) and open up a bucket with some chum and things just get wild. There is a HUGE swirling mass of fish – biggest kingfish Ive seen, hundreds of remoras, huge snappers, hundreds of smaller reef fish. I even got to see a huge Napolean Wrasse – if you dive, you’ll know thats SPECTACULAR. Then the nurse sharks arrive, and gently take the fish out of the guys hands! All the time there where two silvertips swirling around, checking us out… They take divers in two’s into this the baitball, right in the mass of fish, and I got to stroke a 3m nurse shark, top to tail! WHOOHW! And then later out of the murky waters, BANG! a bullshark hits the bait and rips into it. Right in front of me. its simply crazy! (South Africans call them Zambezi sharks – quite notorious). I was scared in the boat, but never in the water with the sharks. A child like fascination just takes over and youre full of adrenalin… Pic above is from the web, same place - but with a tiger! Pity I couldnt see a tigershark, there is apparently a real hog that hangs around...<br /><br />I guess a lot can be said about the ethics of sharkfeeding, its been debated to pieces, but I simply was in awe and had a fantastic time. All things considered, I support it. It was mind-blowing…</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-84018896033544346762008-06-08T14:43:00.000-07:002008-06-08T14:45:11.981-07:00Turtle Ball!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndRJeiaksKROJMpYoXfAizeNAXUxhyoMPYq9ju0kIreYqdXSo7MByuFpkGCVnEq5oVrVeJe5zpb-Bvl5x4LymoG2VlZbnXsZ9cAqLOVrrtsLM-lv4TR3IZEEkJjqQ-e5TiFtN2XTIQR3e/s1600-h/Turtle+logoSignature+logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209629747678116034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndRJeiaksKROJMpYoXfAizeNAXUxhyoMPYq9ju0kIreYqdXSo7MByuFpkGCVnEq5oVrVeJe5zpb-Bvl5x4LymoG2VlZbnXsZ9cAqLOVrrtsLM-lv4TR3IZEEkJjqQ-e5TiFtN2XTIQR3e/s400/Turtle+logoSignature+logo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We (the WWF) hosted a Turtle Benefit Ball to aid Turtle conservation in the region. The Turtle is a VERY big cultural icon here, and the ball was attended by Mr. Rambuka (the first coup leader, he’s very well respected by many Fijians – Kinda like having Nelson or Tutu at the ball!). So I borrowed clothes from 4 different people, and we partied like crazy!! It was a FANTASTIC evening, good food, music, decor, girls in gowns…</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-14956911076892594592008-06-02T20:37:00.003-07:002008-06-02T20:45:36.989-07:00I haven’t been posting for a while but here goes:I did some nice trips, see pics and info below. Other than that just been behind the computer working (yes that’s what I actually do here), and been really ill for some time. I went to an Indian wedding, which was AWESOME! Boring white dress and cake pales into insignificance against the way these guys do it. It’s a nonstop party for three days! Coming up: I’m going to the Cook Island for 3 weeks in mid june, and will take some leave to travel there. And yes I’ve already hooked up with dive operators and a flyfishing guide to take me bone fishing on the flats!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-11467404618492881652008-06-02T20:37:00.001-07:002008-06-02T20:37:22.030-07:00Sovi Basin HikeI went hiking with the outdoor “Rucksack Club” in this is a rather remote stretch of primary rainforest, maybe 10000 hectares in size. Nobody gets up here, we where the first (and probably only) tourist group this year. Its one of the only remaining stretches of lowland rainforest in Polynesia. You first have to do a “sevusevu” (ceremony) at the village to get guides and permission. This involves a VERY traditionally ceremony drinking Kava (local narcotic drink – I love it!), and a lot of talking and sitting! Awesome! We hiked up the river, crossing it several times over 2 days. Hiked upriver some more, then took a single bamboo shoot ride down it! You squeeze it between your legs, jump into the rapid and off you go! This was a bit hairy, and I have the bruises to prove it. At night the guides made us some rourou (traditional veg) inside the bamboo on the fire and we spent the nights, drinking kava with them and chatting about rugby. Next day the guides built us a “bilibili” or bamboo raft, and we floated back to the village. It was simply spectacular, one of the coolest things ive done here!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-7267280710127500302008-06-02T20:35:00.001-07:002008-06-02T20:36:18.712-07:00Sovi Basin: "Bilibili" the bamboo rafts we used on the return<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEQhII4ly9Nz-6v2uIs5hl3Gk8omfM8-x-rg3c_7aHO00VeOU2z5SuvpFotyHWHS46d5549A7Drvge2zPC2AcKO1D1nyzShgvaAhm8pio7I3x_CbdxNY27kN1Y2MlYDKt94ySprT9uNVJ/s1600-h/bilbil.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207493786785830146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEQhII4ly9Nz-6v2uIs5hl3Gk8omfM8-x-rg3c_7aHO00VeOU2z5SuvpFotyHWHS46d5549A7Drvge2zPC2AcKO1D1nyzShgvaAhm8pio7I3x_CbdxNY27kN1Y2MlYDKt94ySprT9uNVJ/s400/bilbil.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-57368900686640358142008-06-02T20:34:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:35:12.761-07:00Sovi Basin: A river crossing. It somtimes got a bit hard!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaBF3NSwF4xUHVnZEad-YlQa0GsqmvHmKLU5pinfoKhRqatdSC9fp-27oK76Nmhr-VKSAY8j0IBZaG_zFCfeYT0cAu_6uP2HABYGt2DRd3SF0VWDQr9bhZsZ09VBUMuzhqY3BWmpAa__T/s1600-h/crossing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207493606397203698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaBF3NSwF4xUHVnZEad-YlQa0GsqmvHmKLU5pinfoKhRqatdSC9fp-27oK76Nmhr-VKSAY8j0IBZaG_zFCfeYT0cAu_6uP2HABYGt2DRd3SF0VWDQr9bhZsZ09VBUMuzhqY3BWmpAa__T/s400/crossing.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-36087278911219944882008-06-02T20:33:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:34:29.099-07:00Sovi Basin: A river crossing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2gvL4y04sg52RLwhvJpZ35zAluKqURQ2gqrzqQlBHGSfb4zFLT5-cMzvfQhuBIEYXtiO3MoYS4BC-PPdBM9Ng24SwOo2sPDc_yUzfv8Je7wfzUc7ihGJXM2h4L4YGx8vjGogi2ZY-GRX/s1600-h/distatn+crossing.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207493310044460258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2gvL4y04sg52RLwhvJpZ35zAluKqURQ2gqrzqQlBHGSfb4zFLT5-cMzvfQhuBIEYXtiO3MoYS4BC-PPdBM9Ng24SwOo2sPDc_yUzfv8Je7wfzUc7ihGJXM2h4L4YGx8vjGogi2ZY-GRX/s400/distatn+crossing.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Big trees huh? Their invasives from Africa!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-15686614372191438442008-06-02T20:32:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:33:20.643-07:00Sovi Basin: We hiked up this gorge...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY2lGXxlTQBkF9U7cagCfpZpglmEWpZRkcaaJZG2wEKci8y3BFLptQgOepPjZCkXcU24S7vhMvBbC7f91CVnYhtbSsrDpVhsFMrbqYtgrzcbus3o2V10qc0N7BMnxHnaB4q326zrt0NX1/s1600-h/gorge.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207493095296095442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY2lGXxlTQBkF9U7cagCfpZpglmEWpZRkcaaJZG2wEKci8y3BFLptQgOepPjZCkXcU24S7vhMvBbC7f91CVnYhtbSsrDpVhsFMrbqYtgrzcbus3o2V10qc0N7BMnxHnaB4q326zrt0NX1/s400/gorge.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-64853211006950636532008-06-02T20:28:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:32:27.211-07:00Sovi Basin: Hand on Kava<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1jzu1sR8fcbxoE-pchzqEgbXEdxSExFE6J_IqvF7JAFhiiaNNbwrIES5a0K2Ado5tGMfMuqq8qHS3H0R6TB1U-kUzcOXlzbkvHT4p8raYiMGuE5KzyKa8rOAqKKhRE1LhSSNP9XQgMrs/s1600-h/hand.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207492700159104194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1jzu1sR8fcbxoE-pchzqEgbXEdxSExFE6J_IqvF7JAFhiiaNNbwrIES5a0K2Ado5tGMfMuqq8qHS3H0R6TB1U-kUzcOXlzbkvHT4p8raYiMGuE5KzyKa8rOAqKKhRE1LhSSNP9XQgMrs/s400/hand.JPG" border="0" /></a> The SevuSevu is a gift, which we presented to the village. Here the leaders hand is on some Kave, while he is reciting something (a welcome? a prayer? I dunno - it was in Fijian!)<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-32857863398957400842008-06-02T20:27:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:28:49.464-07:00Sovi Basin: "SevuSevu"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDdLcRWU-DWWe6A6BZk7Eu8a8Ys1QcpFckkqUV8g7JKu1rrCcu1KvJYcTcW30KNNpDYAej5LxHUkk1wxHBShI2zIQZei_DHGg2G8YEwVIpnOdxgcswOqK-dqP8_XbFPj593t716wmsYYd/s1600-h/tanua.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207491763856233634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDdLcRWU-DWWe6A6BZk7Eu8a8Ys1QcpFckkqUV8g7JKu1rrCcu1KvJYcTcW30KNNpDYAej5LxHUkk1wxHBShI2zIQZei_DHGg2G8YEwVIpnOdxgcswOqK-dqP8_XbFPj593t716wmsYYd/s400/tanua.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a Tanua - bowl in which the Kava is prepared. It doesnt have much of a kick, but is really, mmm... relaxing!!<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-59462132267542165932008-06-02T20:26:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:27:11.456-07:00TuvaluI spent a week doing some work on this tiny island nation. The place is just incredible, and hard to describe! It’s like the 4th smallest country in the world, and lies halfway between Hawaii and Australia in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Find that on a map! The runway is just about half of the island, you can just make it out on one of the photographs from the plane. An alarm sounds, and people need to clear cars and pigs off the runway, and as the plane lands there are lots of people waving and greeting you. The plane only lands once on Tuesdays and Fridays, so its quite an event! Its really remote (I think its about the most remote place on the planet Ive been so far) so theres very little fresh veg etc. The people are really friendly and welcoming, so its was a joy! I was meant to go fishing at night with some locals, which involves catching flying fish with a net (!!) but unfortunately the trip was cancelled last minute. Pity I couldn’t stay longer… It is at the forefront of the battle against climate change, a slight rise in sea level will inundate the place. One cant imagine such a world exists...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-7315918249200753542008-06-02T20:20:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:44:06.136-07:00Tuvalu: Airport<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t2QvYCC96_UZRGHcggbC-bhx7UhTPHJzoZrte8NJjPMcYTJjLL-D1xuy0LmaUy_hljGTlmXCJPp7Y7VhXBUk7aMgiLIK5ilHFm3T-DB6coFH7d1tZU5sLgWgfWORX1n7z6hCOMYXplD_/s1600-h/aiport.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207491334359504018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t2QvYCC96_UZRGHcggbC-bhx7UhTPHJzoZrte8NJjPMcYTJjLL-D1xuy0LmaUy_hljGTlmXCJPp7Y7VhXBUk7aMgiLIK5ilHFm3T-DB6coFH7d1tZU5sLgWgfWORX1n7z6hCOMYXplD_/s400/aiport.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Blue is the airport, orange a goverment building and my hotel behind it. Im standing on the runway, where the aircraft parks! Its about 50m from my hotel to the airplane!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926614840768185091.post-30744634971630767722008-06-02T20:18:00.001-07:002008-06-02T20:19:00.084-07:00Tuvalu: Child<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCoI45mKY5jAYnK4CJ_2PgQhkPuMQmIO2SGKUmgy_EgtobHc6fn8fwTn3yOwLpe8LcDLlCHRoC6oIlWab2ep8MeCyQcFt_IkYpqGEjpOlJMW_gwUGV1rnXWZ95DFIz-HtHKWkovcuStZR/s1600-h/kid1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207489453163828338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCoI45mKY5jAYnK4CJ_2PgQhkPuMQmIO2SGKUmgy_EgtobHc6fn8fwTn3yOwLpe8LcDLlCHRoC6oIlWab2ep8MeCyQcFt_IkYpqGEjpOlJMW_gwUGV1rnXWZ95DFIz-HtHKWkovcuStZR/s400/kid1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0