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The basketball court and soccer field just up from the pier where we landed our dinghy daily. |
Finally making some time to post a few more of my many pictures from our trip to Fanning Island (part of the chain of the Line Islands, and part of the nation of Kiribati - pronounced 'kiribas'). On our first day there, they had several classes of canoe races - we were amazed at how fast these things sped across the lagoon. All the while the men sailing them were bailing out the water filling in from the cracks...
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Outrigger canoe sailing race -- ready to start! |
Several times we went exploring across the lagoon in our dinghy -- being careful to avoid the super shallow sand flats. The whole lagoon is nearly 9 miles across at the furthest - so we'd make a day of it. But we still didn't get to some corners of the lagoon!
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Picturesque spit on the far side of the lagoon. |
Many days were spent at the surf break on the ocean side of the island. When the surf was up, I became surf photographer, in between playing with the kids that would join me to hang out and watch Timmy surf.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ8h89bW-JJM0un0ix1fQ1-Y8-0ejWBasRCTNlhaMKY9iBVNfAz2Ijlx3BPKjdhivTV0mi-aTaozKQy-paJB0aZwgGiPgDkcyQ7SyYEgl-XQzPDjWLZP3aisKHwLJOpYDj0hOOT8oVuiN/s320/26b+IMG_4546+-+tim+w+board.JPG) |
the *beach* on the ocean side was really just piled up coral & rocks -- getting in & out of the surf was tricky - beware of staph infections if you get cut! |
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The folks who lived in the house at the surf break - the boy, Mata, would bring us coconuts :-) |
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Playing catch & learning to juggle |
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Jungle girl |
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this was one of our favorite girls - she was a tough cookie! |
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We could see the surf break from where we anchored for the second half of our stay on Fanning. We were across the cut, in a protected bay.
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Surf's up! |
We could also see the cruise ship when it anchored outside the cut one day. Nearly a thousand visitors descended on the island - where there were no facilities for them to use, just trinkets to purchase and sightseeing tours by truck around the island.
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Holland America's *Westerdam* ship -- it was BIG! |
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Midnight Blue at anchor in the second spot across the channel. |
We made some good friends - here's bruno showing off his new *cottage* - also known locally as a kiakia. These are the typical houses the locals use for sleeping in, then there is usually an open area for eating and cooking and hanging out.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5QNEcTm8KIoQ0KfwgC5NqHqsA1Fz7yVD8STTS8M12quumB0dZ3ptAJaujEmkwd08CSYRTduQ3DATNeyTq9pRmmolniOZCovdIu-_-11HYUW12F0OVz6SGR-Rinag4vmxDWfFMvmkHn7d/s200/76+bunos+new+fare+agnes.JPG) |
the unfinished version of the new kiakia |
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the finished version - super cute! |
Below is the kia kia (one of Bruno's several guest houses that he rents) we stayed in the night we spent on land was called 'fare Nancy' - I think my sister would have loved it.
Finally, have to put a few more pictures of the friends we made there - they made us feel so welcome, and were so generous with us.
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Maria and her daughter enjoy fresh baked cookies! |
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Paulo (age 5) was always up for playing - we had lots of fun! |
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Tyrone, Bruno, Paulo and Tim get ready to enjoy Tim's birthday pizza! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim69ACpQU4VxymjpMlaNUa2UPLH5ZnE4T6fX9qrkAR5eGt7Dvwy2tQFK32C4CODP55dLpWKAxZeD3ucKMoILsB0ef9VRn8hJ7yNSGl2uk28HmeQ2j0gymO1SA6G4RiqkA0aH4tjwv49m7d/s320/74b.JPG) |
Tabeta, with her new baby Agnes. This is Bruno's wife/Paulo's mom. We visited them nearly every day... |
Well, that's enough for today. Next i'll try to fill you in on the latest on us here in Hawaii!