13:17.309 S  175:10.179 W

15/08/08 11:00

Yesterday Demetri went for a dive and we moved the boat to an island in the lee of the outer reef.  The water was very beautiful and the beach a tropical paradise with the roar of the surf on the other side of the dense undergrowth.

Today we have had to come up another 6 miles to the main town to check out as the Gendarme wanted to see all of us.  In the event I probably could have gone alone as the one on duty didn’t seem to be too bothered.  There is a major local holiday here today with a major ceremony happening.  When we went ashore to check out it was teeming so we didn’t take cameras.  There are at least 50 large pigs on display arranged either side of a sitting group of people...  They look precooked and as though they have been inflated, the pigs that is. Maybe there is one pig for each major family.  A huge live pig was presented in a procession along with other tribute to the local chief. He wasn’t very happy being plunked down between some of his less fortunate brothers. We don’t really understand what is going on and felt sorry for them as it was bucketing down while we watched.   They found open umbrellas offensive and we were instructed to close them.  Predictably by the time we got back to the boat, the sun appeared. Steve and Demetri have gone back to try to take some photos.    I will attach a selection.

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