tropical holiday day 9

back to the airport

onto the plane

off the plane

collecting the luggage

later that night

early next morning leaving the hospital -

the holiday is truly over.

tropical holiday day 8

the day starts with great promise - 

we spend the morning shopping

we decide to eat over the water

then the weather looks ominous

 it rains for the first time

I decide against lying on the beach

I walk up a hill to a lookout over the bay

this time it's cannons

I enjoy the setting sun

then realize it will suddenly be dark

it is hard to see on the way down but still quite early

we go to the restaurant

which has a hole in the floor

open to the sea

the meal is perfect

home tomorrow

tropical holiday day 7

last day in the old hotel

celebrated the last day of school with sushi

moved to the new hotel in the tourist zone

separate room for me

with a view

then visited the aquarium

find the fish

afterwards on the beachfront

the island we hope to visit the next day

perfect for lying on the beach

we are told

tropical holiday day 6

another early start,walking a long way

to the zoo

view of the nickel mine

which pollutes but earns a lot of money

up high, can see the hilly island

 where younger daughter

is at school

high points either have cannons

or religious monuments

unfortunately the zoo was only open

 to primary school groups

we kept walking and saw papaya trees

locals barked aggressively

while wagging their tails

we entered a hidden valley

of huts

sleepy locals

and public housing

then we returned to town

for the weekly market and fair

the square was no longer empty

stalls had been erected

local foods were on sale

manioc, wrapped in leaves 

and cooked on coals

later another type of meal

then tired, early to bed again