August 1, 2007, Wednesday, Day 27
Visited an atoll where the beach is pink, interestingly enough, the surrounding underwater reefs are not pink or any shade of red. So, the creation of these coral beaches must be from old coral that were demolished over the years. Most of the coral, although varied, are limited in colors: brown, tan, beige, and lavender. We continue to snorkel and find new fish we have never seen before. Amazing. John is captivated by the beauty he sees at the depth of a mere 30', so much so that he wants to return home, get re-certified, buy an underwater camera and pursue photographing the life beneath the sea. It is an awesome world.
Visited the Eglise Maria No Tehau (Church), built in 1874 on the atoll, which was well cared for, and elegance and simplicity. Bright orange doors welcome you. Bright and colorful banners hung from the ceiling. And the preacher's podium was made of wood and embedded with shells even the holy water (basin) at the entrance was held in a large clamshell set in the wall. It was Christianity, Polynesian style. For a village of only ten residences, this church could easily hold fifty to one hundred people.
Perhaps, residences of nearby atolls attend the church.
Crew Anya:
Did some great beachcombing today. John found the most beautiful shell: white on the outside, orange on the inside.
I had another dream come true: I lay on my back on one of the bent palm trees on my own private island. Kept having a Dutch song from long ago in my head. For all you Dutch people out there, sing along: " Op een onbewoond eiland!"