2011 - NZ To SF - Day 25

Day 25: (7 June 2011 (-1 in time zone)):
- Jeff leave in morning for his sailing trip (worried about being seasick). Whether still windy, but a bit warmer & more sun (until afternoon).
- No internet: Queen's birthday. Found breakfast in store: $1 buns & $1 papaya.
- Move out of room. Wait for North American couple back from walk, prepare, etc.
- With couple & Polish guy, walk to Pacific Resort to swim across to island. Very strong current, some fish on bottom. Lots of people due to lagoon cruises. Couple say empty yesterday (Sunday).
- Explore island a bit. Nice views of main island & ocean. Colour changes in channel beautiful.
- Lie in sun for a bit. Dragged over tables. Told to drag back when cruise arrive.
- Snorkel.
- Walk on difficult stones. Find coconut to break. Coconut taste buttery.
- Told not to sit at table close to coconut breaking demo. Guy try to watch.
- Told to pick up "rubbish" (coconut pieces / filament) on beach. "Don't like being yelled at on my paradise island."
- Snorkel back. More fish in channel.
- Shower, wash clothes. Sit around. Kitesurfers to watch.
- Polish go for walk. Try find viewpoint.
- Germans go to other side, look for less wind & more sun.
- Go with Mark from NZ, look for chips. Found at Pacific Resort.
- Eventually, find dinner - everything closed but expensive restaurants. Buy tinned Wattie's pasta with sausage & beer from Mr. Woo. Stalky, short, tattoo. Friendly. Talk in Chinese. From SH, Raro 13 yrs, want move back. Say island people very nice but stupid, marry cousins. Ridiculous 200K deposit for visitors from China. Work for 10/hr, was 7 in supermarket. Only 5 or 6 Chinese on island, including his family of 4. Few Chinese visitors.
- Drink, talk. People go to bed one by one. Talk to British couple also leaving.
- Nap 1hr in lounge, lights off, lie down on padded benches. Mosquitos keep awake.
- The strange bus lady. Pacific Blue then Air NZ flights at airport. Nap (try) & wait.
- $55 departure tax. Sticker with simple child-like pictures.
- Old guy serenade as we board. "Back to the cold." "Don't look so sad" song.
- Seat reclined only a bit. Mostly sleepless night. Turbulence.
- Apparently Aggie Grey's & a stretch of beaches on south coast are all closed for filming of Survivor.

Photos available at: http://mandarinmanmarktravelbriefs.blogspot.com/