18 May 2011:

After a long wait and hitchhiking back with a pilot and stewardess of an inter-island flight company, we arrived at the airport a bit too early. This was my fault, as I was afraid we won't be able to find a car to take us in time. I sat and wrote for a while. The yellow paper is my plane ticket.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

One last view of the cliffs on the way back. Definitely memorable, as I haven't see anything else like it.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Video of the dynamic changes and water flows of this area. Sound kind of sucks due to wind.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A bright blue starfish in the clear, shallow waters. The water here flows pretty fast too, especially after a large wave breaks at the edge of this area.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Close up of a piece of coral.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

The shallow lagoon area. Walking through here was like walking through an aquarium, although I felt kind of bad for trampling some coral.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Walking along cliff wall, we reached a partially-enclosed area that leads to a very shallow lagoon in font of the breaking waves. There were people catching colourful fish to sell to aquariums here, using the small pools of water between the spiky formations on the ground to store their catch.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Walking along the bottom of the cliffs towards the ocean. You can see a line of white wave breaks in the distance.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

We were debating whether to jump down form the cliffs to visit the ocean or not, but luckily, we found a ladder!

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A small "oasis" area on the cliffs, in front of the cave with the shrine.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A small cave used as a shrine. The caves where the hostages were held in 1988 is close by.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A view of some cool formations in the shallow tidal area by the cliffs. In the distance is the bridge to Mouli.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Thought this place was impressive enough to deserve another view of it! There were some cool stalactites, stalagmites, and columns in the cave/cliff.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A view down the cliffs towards the ocean.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A look back at the oasis portal. the cave was covered with a lot of fine black powder, is this some kind of mold or mildew?

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

After climbing up a few ledges through a surprisingly dense "forest," we arrived on the cave/ledge.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Turns out the way to get up onto the caves is through this tiny oasis-like patch of palm trees and bushes. Like a hidden portal to another world!

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

We managed to find someone, who told us that we are allowed to approach the caves, and now to get there. From what I remember, the caves are formed because the entire land mass is tilting, causing one side of the island to sink, while raising the other. As can be seen in the photo, there are at least three distinct "layers" of erosion patterns on the cliffs.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

A gendarmerie van picked us up while hitchhiking and dropped us off at the road leading to the caves. Jérôme told me later that they warned him against the youth here, as they are pretty sensitive about sacredness and the separatist movement. The end of the road was blocked by a felled tree, for whatever reason.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

This is the main gendarmerie we saw on the island. Perhaps the gendarmerie that was attacked in the 1988 hostage incident.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

Looking out into the lagoon again. Decided to take a trip to Lekiny caves before the flight back, so went to the main road to look for food and a ride.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html

18 May 2011:

More interviews during breakfast. The camera crew were disappointed by the bad weather, but they are trying to make the best of it.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/04/2011-nz-to-sf-day-5.html