A day at Sea

Ahoy Mateys!!!
Welcome aboard the Coongoola!!!

When we were in Vanuatu a couple of weeks ago, our last day there was a National Holiday so we weren't able to schedule any meetings for training as everyone was busy enjoying a day off with their families. So we decided to go for an all day sailing adventure. Our sailboat was this 23 meter sailing ketch (whatever that is) that held 50 passengers. We took off at 8am and returned to our hotel at 5:30 having had a very delightful and relaxing outing.

The sea was so calm and so warm and so clear. We even put on some snorkeling gear and checked out the colorful fish and corals below. The tour provided another dinghy to take divers out to a nearby reef but we just stayed close to the beach where we could walk in and out of the water or just lay on the beach in the soft, warm sand.

Another highlight of the excursion was a stop they made at a "turtle conservation rookery". This is a place where newly hatched turtles are brought and raised for 9 months to a year and then released into the sea when they are old enough to survive on their own. There were probably several hundred turtles of various ages and sizes being cared for. We had fun watching them and holding them and just being up close with nature.

The turtle conservation place was just beside this scuba diving "resort". It is called the Tranquility Island Dive Resort and if it looks quite rustic you have got it right. The accommodations were very austere but I'm sure the "tranquility" word was very accurate as there was not much more than a grass hut and a small generator for any power; forget an internet connection at this resort! But the up side is that the scuba diving here is supposed to be spectacular. Our ship picked up and dropped about about 7 or 8 guests that were staying there and they said it was great. So there you go, something for everyone!

Here is the trail between the "resort" and the turtle sanctuary. Quite a well constructed pathway.

With signs to keep you going where you needed to get...to take advantage of all the facilities...

I think Paul agrees with the "tranquility" part of the name... he'd have been happy to spend hours at this location.

The girl in the white shirt was our tour guide on the ship and through the turtle conservatory. When she first saw our missionary badges, she told us she was also a member of the Church. Always a fun coincidence!

I think this photo could be sold as a postcard for this beautiful country of Vanuatu. This is looking out from the turtle sanctuary to the Coongoola. We had been brought ashore on the small tinghy; just a short 5 minute trip.

I thought this was just an interesting relic that had been left on board to make the ship look more authentic but turns out this is what they still use to steer the ship.

Here is the small, off shore beach in the "sun and moon bay" of the enchanting Moso Island they took us to. We spent 4 or so hours here and they even provided us with a delicious BBQ steak lunch complete with salads, bread and fruit.

In case you weren't familiar with the word dinghy, here is the dinghy. Basically it is just a small boat that toted about 20 passengers at a time from the shores to the ship.

So as the sun set we were relaxed and revived and pleased with our holiday outing.