A new red-eye flight on route to Johannesburg takes us to Male. The small airport is not as rugged as I remember from 1989, but it is still simple and orgainized. A smart-looking young man called Toby greets us and walks with us to the 4-crew boat which was to take us 45min southwards on the Indian Ocean to our island home for the next 6 days. Toby says the island was hit by a ferocious storm in the previous night and according to our travelling companions, the forecast was for thunderstorms all week. But within 30min on the ocean, my anxiety was dispelled by a good omen. A spirited spinner dolphin (whom I'd like to believe is an old friend) greets us from a distance, making a small display of acrobats in the sunrise. From that moment on, I knew I was home again.
finally arriving at Cocoa Island
morning call by the resident crow
breakfast!
welcome to our "backyard"
our home for six days
bring your own trumpet!
our coast guards were baby black-tipped reef sharks
second floor view of the front of our dhoni #822
happy feet at the deck
let's romp around
our resident trumpet fish
sturdy sandcastle still standing after a stormy night
snapped by triggerfish!
me, myself & I
here's a happy heron
pool view or ocean view for you, madam?
our travelling companions, sok & sam (plus-one)
when the temperature cools down
drink at dusk, at the bar
I wish, I wish, I wish ...
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