Today is the day for snorkelling!

Tuesday 19^th June, 2012.  Lifou.

Locals were stamping passports for $2AU. Market stalls selling the usual things and food and drink were set up where we landed.

Today is the day for snorkelling! With all our snorkelling needs packed into our P&O issued beach bag ( with purchase of boarding photo) we set off to find the road to the church on the cliff top we could see from the ship. The way to the good snorkelling spot was off to the right from the church carpark. After taking a wrong turn and having to retrace our steps we were soon on the right path. Note to self: Walk up the hill from the tour meeting point to a T intersection, THEN turn left! Funny how there are so many little black clouds in our daily lives. We asked a fellow passenger heading the other way if he had been to the church and he replied with a snarl that he wasn’t going there because someone told him it was 6 km! 

Jinek Bay

We found our way to Jinek Bay and what a lovely spot it was. A grassy and sometimes rocky slope running down to the cliff edged bay with plenty of shade and the obligatory locals with drink and snack stalls. The tide was going out so it’s just as well we got there when we did as by the afternoon you would have had to go a fair way out to find water deep enough to snorkel in. Access to the tiny beach which would be covered at high tide, was by a wonky looking ladder made from tree limbs. It was actually much stronger than it looked judging by the bodies it had already supported! 
 

sturdy ladder to access the water

The quality of the snorkelling here definitely reached our expectations, having heard from several people how good it was. I knew I shouldn’t stay in too long without a swim shirt as I’d get burned, but I just couldn’t tear myself away to go and get it. So I got a bit burned.

great location for snorkelling

The Spa on board was offering a heavily discounted massage service on port days, so having made an appointment for 2.45 we had to pack up and get going. I’d love to be able to say it was worth it, but it really wasn’t. I haven’t had all that many massages but this one didn’t rate. Then there was the attempt to sell hideously expensive products which I was told would be very good for me and hinted at all sorts of miracles for my skin. Not impressed at all. A reasonably relaxing hour spoiled by a sales pitch. 

right at the jetty - swim with turtles

 An announcement was made for any passengers of A +ve blood type to go to the Medical Centre to donate blood for a critically ill passenger. By the time Trevor detoured to our cabin to get his Red Cross card, there were 10 or so people already waiting to donate. Gotta love the Aussie way of pitching in in a time of need!  Never did find out the full story.

Lifou was Island Night, and an acrobatic troupe were going to perform up on the top deck, with a semi-circular gantry spanning over the deck. It was the same troupe who had performed a similar act inside the Atrium a few nights previously. The majority of the troupe had graduated from Circus School in Columbia, one woman was Greek and one woman Canadian. The Atrium show had been well worth seeing so a high flying act 4 – 5 metres above deck was a must see. 

Unfortunately, early in the show, one of the troupe fell horizontally from about 2 metres, and his brother (another performer) stabilized his neck but then stood him up and started walking him off stage before any other help arrived. The young guy looked semi-conscious and everyone around us were amazed that proper first aid had not been rendered. It was impossible to enjoy the rest of the show, which was a shame, as it was really good, and Anastasia, the Greek girl, was a real daredevil on the high rope swing. After their act finished the deck party kicked off with lots of music and dancing and continued well after midnight. Kim was with us again and we all had a good time.

Aussie dollar accepted ashore here. Exchange rate not as good as Mare. CPF price was rounded up to the nearest AU then another dollar added. It doesn't hurt to have a bit of local currency.