Mystery Island

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 25 Oct 2015 23:57
Our Visit to Mystery Island
 
 
 
 
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Half a mile to the right of Beez is Mystery Island, off we went to explore in Baby Beez.
 
 
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Standing on the dock used by the cruise ship tenders we had a spectacular Pacific Moment.
 
 
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The information board told us: Mystery Island is a beautiful uninhabited coral and sand island covered in sub-tropical vegetation surrounded by a fringing reef of outstanding natural value. The Ni-Vanuatu people from the nearby Island of Aneityum have declared the coral reef surrounding Mystery Island a Marine Protected Area to conserve the Island’s unique and wonderful marine life for future generations.
 
 
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We bimbled up and down the well kept paths.
 
 
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We ‘popped out’ on the other side and were treated to a Robinson Crusoe Moment.
 
 
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Fancy calling this ‘home’.
 
 
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We saw the trappings on the cruise ship visitors. We found out that for the local ladies to run a stall here they pay five Australian dollars in ‘rent’ money. They do well and hence their village benefits from the season. The next is due in on Wednesday. I’d like to see it come in and then leave for the northern anchorage. Fine by me. We saw signs for glass-bottomed boat trips, cave visits, snorkelling, hair braiding, Passport stamps, walking tours and a whole host of things to do on this little oasis.
 
 
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The downside to the visiting throngs. On Tuesday a work party will be over from the village to give everything the ‘once over’, spick and span for Wednesday.
 
 
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Of course we did........
 
 
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.........and had a lot of fun doing it.
 
 
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Bear poses with the whalepot and bone.
 
 
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Every bush we walked past was covered in webs – time to indulge in some spider watching.
 
 
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Nice to know all the spiders here are friendly.
 
 
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Almost balletic.
 
 
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We walked up the runway, looked at the terminal and through the window. The next flight in is due on Tuesday at midday, hardly Heathrow........
 
 
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From the corner of the runway we could see Beez Neez through the bushes.
 
 
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Walking back toward the jetty.
 
 
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Her Majesty is well loved by the people of Vanuatu and Prince Phillip is indeed worshipped by a village on Tanna.
 
 
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We bimbled back to Baby Beez to collect our snorkel kits, walked a bit further and found a hut at a very jaunty angle. Inside was an army of hermit crabs who now call the building home.
 
 
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Once in, we swam through some really hot bits, some quite cold and the rest was a nice temperature. On the bottom, in the area we snorkelled were massive, flat rocks with the ‘usual suspects’ for company..........
 
 
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.........and some ‘not so usual’............
 
 
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........ and a photo-bomber. These chaps have not been fed so they don’t try and climb in your face mask with you. We had a wonderful time and all too soon it was time to go. The island we both agreed is simply stunning.
 
 
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ALL IN ALL MARVELLOUS TO ENJOY ON OUR OWN
                    VERY PRETTY AND GOOD FOR A LAUGH