Full title of this article: Wobbly mattresses and other things to keep you busy on your first day of the school holidays. Main protagonists of the story:the aforementioned wobbly mattresses (two),a broom,a door,a curtain,a wall,little boys (three),an unimpressed dog,(a photographer). It’s the first day of “les vacances”on the island of Lifou. Well, strictly speaking, schoolContinue reading “Wobbly mattresses”
Category Archives: People
Christmas in the lagoon
We have already established two important facts with regard to Christmas 2019 in New Caledonia: Firstly, yes, they do know it’s Christmas. And secondly, I had the huge privilege to spend a wonderful Christmas Eve among complete strangers (now friends). But that’s not even the whole story! More miracles were to happen. Ever since myContinue reading “Christmas in the lagoon”
Friends old and new (part 1)
One evening, a few days before Christmas, I happened to wander around Noumea’s Place des Cocotiers. I had met with Kane (my fellow traveller) and another guy called Jérémy to eat a falafel (slow and expensive, but delicious). Afterwards Kane was searching for some yoga friends in the crowded square, and I kind of followedContinue reading “Friends old and new (part 1)”
Sydney 1 – Auckland 0
The good news first: Auckland has construction workers, yay! The biggest deficit I experienced in New Caledonia during those five weeks of my stay there was the almost complete absence of women and men in security gear operating heavy machinery in the streets. Or controlling the traffic. And you know how I have a softContinue reading “Sydney 1 – Auckland 0”
Do they know it´s Christmas?
They sure do! There is simply no escape from Christmas. Not that that had been my intention when I set off to far-off destinations six weeks ago. Of course I was prepared to see Christmas celebrated in the south Pacific too. But the sheer scale of it certainly exceeds my expectations… First some impressions fromContinue reading “Do they know it´s Christmas?”
Particular parrots
In Germany, not many people will know the meaning of the words ‘endemism’ or ‘endemic species’. Well, not unless they’re biologists or at least interested in natural history. I guess the same applies to the rest of Europe as well. An endemic species is one which only occurs in a particular restricted area, e.g. anContinue reading “Particular parrots”
What´s in a name?
I have a new name now. Call me ouah-ouah. Last week, as you know, I spent a couple of days on Lifou island. I stayed with Ferdinand and his family (they merit an article of their own, yet to be written; so please be patient). They speak a wonderful mixture of Drehu (their local vernacularContinue reading “What´s in a name?”
Nolly´s birthday
Last Saturday (last week, i.e. before my trip to Lifou island) I was invited to a birthday party. My friend Larissa, whom I got to know back in June 2014 and with whom I’ve kept contact ever since, organised a party for her son Nolly’s fifth birthday. All the family and many friends from theContinue reading “Nolly´s birthday”
Fellow travellers
At some point I introduced the category ‘Meet the locals’ to my blog, to which already several posts here belong. In addition to that, perhaps I should also create ‘Meet other tourists’. That’s the topic of this little article anyway. Because, you see, New Caledonia may not be a very touristy place. And I mayContinue reading “Fellow travellers”
Part the waters. Or take the Betico 2
I wanted to travel to Lifou to spend some time on that island. There are basically two ways to get there from Grande Terre (if we leave aside for a second the biblical option), one being the airplane, the other the large catamaran „Betico 2“. I chose to take the latter. The disadvantages are theContinue reading “Part the waters. Or take the Betico 2”
Joseph and the coconut
Several things are not quite accurate about the title of this article. “Joseph” is fine, and so is the word “coconut”. But it should read either „Joseph and the coconuts“, or „Sebastian and his coconut“, or perhaps even „Joseph, the vanilla garden, and the coconut tree“. I don’t know why, but for some reason IContinue reading “Joseph and the coconut”
AAAA
You might know that AA stands for the Automobile Association of Great Britain, the UK’s largest motoring organisation. And then there’s AAA, of course, the American Automobile Association, a federation of motor clubs throughout North America. But AAAA? I admit that, until very recently, I also hadn’t the faintest idea that this could possibly beContinue reading “AAAA”
Ariane
It was a privilege and an honour to get to know Ariane over the past few days. And now, equally, it is my pleasure to introduce her to you, my global audience. But who is she? Well, Ariane works at Refuge de Farino, where I spent the last five days, and this is how weContinue reading “Ariane”
Pleased to meet you, SCO
You will now learn how I spent the first 48 hours on Grande Terre, New Caledonia’s main island. At La Tontouta airport I tried in vain to buy a SIM card. It was a few minutes past 5 pm on a Friday – week-end! Almost everything was closed, even the restrooms. Fortunately not the carContinue reading “Pleased to meet you, SCO”
This isn’t about uniforms!
A have a confession to make. But please promise not to tell anyone. It is something I experienced in Sydney, and I have to say, I really miss it already over here in New Caledonia. You all remember Village People, the band, right? I guess everyone can sing or hum along to ‘YMCA’, even ifContinue reading “This isn’t about uniforms!”
My Pacific Travel Blog 