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Island Wanderings

This page is a random collection of images that took my fancy...

 

0193   The ultimate in commuting. No fossil fuels, emissions, or traffic jams.

 

 

8742   Like father, like son. Other kids learn to bike, kids here learn to 'board.

 

 

8681   Saturday Morning is the local farmer's market.

 

 

8694   A major piece of driftwood. I'd hate to run into this with a fiberglass-hulled boat...

 

 

8828   We pass a home with a garden wall on which is arrayed a collection of bottles. Where they came from is not apparent. The variety suggests that this may be the jetsam from passing cruise ships and that ended up on the local beaches.

 

 

8714   Placid water and a quiet beach...

 

 

8715   An idyllic place to have one's house - as long as there is no tsunami.

 

 

8733   On the road to the east end of the island, the first half of the journey is on a two-lane road with a stripe down the middle, and plenty of room for oncoming traffic. But about halfway, there is a little shop where you can pick up some sandwiches and a cold drink. This is the last place with supplies before the road becomes a single lane for many miles and eventually turns into a short dirt track leading to the water's edge at the end of the island.

 

 

0013   The road hugs the southern coast - looking north we see the central moutains. Up there somewhere is the tropical rainforest.

 

 

0028   Every now and then, the road gives access to yet another beach.

 

 

0030   Occasionaly the road goes along the top of cliffs, and ocean views are limited to brief glimpses down below.

 

 

8751   At other points we get a view over fields high above the coastline.

 

 

0036   The end of the island is in sight, but the road is still high on the cliffs. To get to the beach, the single-lane road will have to wind its way down somehow.

 

 

8744   A one-lane road with blind curves...

 

 

8759   Even more blind curves and a single lane - hope there is no oncoming traffic approaching round ther bend. (And if there is, let's hope we can both stop in time)

 

 

8776  Spotted by the side of the road. The jungle is reclaiming (recycling?) a vehicle that came to grief here once.

 

 

8778   Eventually the single-lane hard-top road ends and turns into a dirt track, A sign proclaims this fact in case there is any doubt. We explore further on foot.

 

 

8781   A few yards further is the lagoon at the end of the island.

 

 

8785   Apart from a single surfer, the place appears to be deserted. The water here is like a mirror.

 

 

8792   A few hundred yards away from the sheltered lagoon, the ocean is just rough enough to cause little breakers on the beach.

 

On another road - the road to the North. This leads to a high point above a cliff.

When the leper colony was first established, the King decided to place it in as unaccessible place as possible. He chose an area that was guarded by steep 2000ft cliffs on the land side, and by the ocean on the other. If you drive to the north, you end up at a park with access to the cliff tops - and on a clear day you can see down to the village of Kalaupapa - now a preserved historic park where the last few resident patients are guaranteed a place to live if they wish. At its height, it had a population of over 1000, but today there are just a few elderly residents left.

 

8862   Looking down from 2000 ft above. These are the tallest sea cliffs in the world, consisting primarly of lava, and effectively preventing escape from the colony.

 

 

0080   Using a long tele-lens, a closer look at what would appear to be a lovely place to live. But in fact a hell for patients who were declared to be legally dead and exiled here for life.

 

 

0085   At least two churches are apparent in this small community.

 

 

0089   A warm blue ocean, beaches, meadows, woodlands, what could be nicer...

 

 

0102   Seen at the edge of a parking lot, this is a "Common Myna", one of several species of Myna found around the world.

 

 

0138   An unknown bird type seen along the road

 

 

0149   As evening approaches, we hang out under some palm trees on the coast, hoping for a spectacular sunset

 

 

0167   Alas, this was not the time for a glowing pink sunset.

 

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