20:55.39S 167:04.96E

 

DRUEULU VILLAGE

 

We arrived here on Friday 10th October just before sun set, anxiously weaving through the isolated coral heads (hard gauging their depth) to search for a spot with enough swinging room between two yachts . Glad that when the anchor was set and Paul snorkelled around to check around us, that we could stay where we were, as the visibility was gone by then.

The next day, one yacht had left and we were happy with our spot and could stay put for the duration of our time here.

Our new neighbours for a couple of days was the German vessel “Supermolly” with two children on board. We are always amazed by the openness and quick connection with strangers the children living on yachts have. Here we learned from Markus how to decant butane gas from a local bottle to our bottles. It’s always good to try these things out with someone who has done this before.

 

                                               

   

    Lina and Jaron added a new flag to our collection of ship’s flags. This one is for special occasions and “house parties”, long may it fly!

 

 

The bay here is very beautiful and peaceful, with crystal clear water and pleasant snorkelling. We never tire of the tropical landscape with its tall Coconut Palms and white beaches.

 

                           

 

 

In Ouvea we didn’t manage to meet the chief and follow the Kanak custom, as the chief was always out, when we turned up. But here we met Felix, an elder, who told us to visit him if his nephew, the chief was not in. This we did and we are very grateful to Felix (Age 83) for inviting us into his family’s “Case Kanak” / Kanak round-house, the centre of their cultural inheritance. He introduced us to their four principles: Humility, Respect, Love and Community that they endeavour to live by and which is represented in the construction of the round-house. Our conversation and exchange was thought provoking and very insightful.

Each family has a “Case” and each clan has a larger hut, “La Cheferie” (High Chief) which is not open for visitors and we did not photograph out of respect.

 

                                                           

 

 

    There is so much more to explore in the Loyalty Islands and we are aware that we have only scratched the surface. But our time here is coming to an end, as we have to watch the weather systems and prepare to return to Noumea for checking out and leaving the cyclone belt behind, heading South to New Zealand for their summer.