Noumea, New Caledonia
February 12, 2007
Today was a very special day for me in that I spent my day thinking about my late and great uncle, Tom Gandy. Tom, you see, was stationed in Noumea during the Second World War. Sadly he died last winter before I knew that I was coming on the trip and would be visiting this special place. It would have been such fun to discuss his adventures here. When I was sharing my plans with my Aunt Theda, her face lit up when she saw Noumea on the itinerary…she and my uncle, married for 62 years! …exchanged letters to and from Noumea….I wish she too could have been here with me.
As I sat in the colorful park filled with families enjoying picnics and fun in the warm tropical breezes, I couldn’t help but wonder if Tom himself had sat on the same bench. Touring around the island and seeing the many luxury high-rises, the chic shops and tony restaurants and the marinas filled with luxury sail boat and yachts I chuckled that his experience was probably vastly different. So clean, so apparently prosperous, Noumea is a bustling French Territory far off the east coast of Australia. The people are friendly and warm. The vegetation is lush and green. It is a lovely spot!
My morning was spent on a glass bottom boat circling a small island, Duck Island just off Anse Vata (Vata beach!) We were greeted by a friendly “captain” named Geffffff….he loved saying his name in his heavy French accent….”I am your capteeenn, Geffffff….vee are going to see the sea fishes today!” As we tossed loaf after loaf of old bread overboard scores of fish….sea fish!....scrambled to eat their fill. Geffffff, his bronzed leathery body clad only in the skimpiest black bathing suit, delighted in the experience as though it were the first time he had ever done this…what a charmer! The enormous coral reefs were teeming with brightly colored tropical fish. There was one particularly plentiful coral that was deep teal in color…the color of the water….and swimming in and around were large schools of tiny fish the exact same color as the coral and the water. Only when the light was just right could you even see this magnificent display….mother nature’s camouflage at its best.
Returning to the ship we were met by a troupe of colorful “native” performers. I will forever remember two small children, no more than two or three years old, their little heads encircled with colorful flowery headdresses doing their best to mimic the moves and cries of their elders….they stole the show! As we set sail for Sydney the rhythmic drums, chants and intoxicating war cries from these grass-skirted and war-painted dancers sent us on our way.
Waving good bye to those talented people, I said a little prayer to my Uncle Tom, knowing that his spirit had spent this fabulous day with me!
February 12, 2007
Today was a very special day for me in that I spent my day thinking about my late and great uncle, Tom Gandy. Tom, you see, was stationed in Noumea during the Second World War. Sadly he died last winter before I knew that I was coming on the trip and would be visiting this special place. It would have been such fun to discuss his adventures here. When I was sharing my plans with my Aunt Theda, her face lit up when she saw Noumea on the itinerary…she and my uncle, married for 62 years! …exchanged letters to and from Noumea….I wish she too could have been here with me.
As I sat in the colorful park filled with families enjoying picnics and fun in the warm tropical breezes, I couldn’t help but wonder if Tom himself had sat on the same bench. Touring around the island and seeing the many luxury high-rises, the chic shops and tony restaurants and the marinas filled with luxury sail boat and yachts I chuckled that his experience was probably vastly different. So clean, so apparently prosperous, Noumea is a bustling French Territory far off the east coast of Australia. The people are friendly and warm. The vegetation is lush and green. It is a lovely spot!
My morning was spent on a glass bottom boat circling a small island, Duck Island just off Anse Vata (Vata beach!) We were greeted by a friendly “captain” named Geffffff….he loved saying his name in his heavy French accent….”I am your capteeenn, Geffffff….vee are going to see the sea fishes today!” As we tossed loaf after loaf of old bread overboard scores of fish….sea fish!....scrambled to eat their fill. Geffffff, his bronzed leathery body clad only in the skimpiest black bathing suit, delighted in the experience as though it were the first time he had ever done this…what a charmer! The enormous coral reefs were teeming with brightly colored tropical fish. There was one particularly plentiful coral that was deep teal in color…the color of the water….and swimming in and around were large schools of tiny fish the exact same color as the coral and the water. Only when the light was just right could you even see this magnificent display….mother nature’s camouflage at its best.
Returning to the ship we were met by a troupe of colorful “native” performers. I will forever remember two small children, no more than two or three years old, their little heads encircled with colorful flowery headdresses doing their best to mimic the moves and cries of their elders….they stole the show! As we set sail for Sydney the rhythmic drums, chants and intoxicating war cries from these grass-skirted and war-painted dancers sent us on our way.
Waving good bye to those talented people, I said a little prayer to my Uncle Tom, knowing that his spirit had spent this fabulous day with me!
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