2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Alright, one last photo of the lagoon before moving on. I am throughly over-blued at this point.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Snorkelling. It was very easy to attract fish with bread... and the skeleton of another fish.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

This is what a hermit crab looks like without its shell. Apparently it's pretty easy to take them out of their shell if you tilt them on their back.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Delicious lunch. I love Polynesian food - the fish, taro, breadfruit, kumara, etc - it's all so delicious!

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

More "palm trees overhanging beaches" photos.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The adjacent island was quite close - I was tempted to swim over. I had a thing about swimming between islands for a couple of years - I though the concept was very cool.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

For a fee, you can get your passport stamped here, but I thought that was silly. So I mailed a postcard instead, which has the very touristy One Foot Island stamp on it, but at least it's a ligit use of a stamp.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Once some of the tourists cleared out, the locals began playing guitar. Thought it created a great atmosphere. The large fancy tourist vaka is visible in the video.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The post office/bar on the island. As expected, due to the fame of the island, it is quite busy with tourists, although still much less than less remote places.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Approaching One Foot Island (Tapuaeta'i), frequently ranked amongst the most beautiful places or best tropical island in the world.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

More underwater features clearly visible due to the water's clarity. Note: the colours were actually that brilliant, if not more so. I wouldn't immediately believe it either if I didn't see it in person.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another view of tropical islands, the turquoise water, and puffy clouds.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The captain's kid, helping to "secure" the anchor.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Beautiful view of the sand slipping into the depths. Although I though the water clarity was astounding, our guide apologized for the water bring murkier than usual due to the unusually large waves churning up the sand.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Nice view of the tropical foliage and clouds.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Palm trees overhanging the beach? Check.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Snails by the water.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another picture of me and my contrasting red shirt.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Look at how clear the water is! the rocks under the water are clearly visible.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011:

Another view of the tropical islets.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of the waves breaking at the edge of the lagoon. I wasn't sure if I should feel protected or vulnerable.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Baby tropicbird hiding by a palm frond. Although the camera didn't focus on the bird, I kind of like how the photo turned out.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Tropicbirds making sounds. For some reason, the one calling reminds me of one of the villans from the Korean series Dae Jang Geum.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

More tropicbirds nesting or resting.

Rough notes:

http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another view of the tropicbird.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Tropicbird in the middle of our snack area. There are hermit crabs around too (at least one in the picture).

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 211 (-1 in time zone):

Hermit crabs and tropical islands.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011:

My shirt came off for snorkelling, and I'm still drying off. Although the sun felt great, although I was afraid of being sunburnt, since it's still early in my trip, and I haven't adjusted to the sun yet.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Typical tropical island scene.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The was apparently a storm offshore, causing large than usual waves. These waves sometimes got through the reef barrier, causing some waves to reach the protected islets when a particularly large wave breaks.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View view of the tropical plants on the island, and some large clouds brewing in the distance.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011:

One of the tropicbirds nesting in the tropical foliage.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

A island where we stopped to have a snack and to see the tropicbird nesting sites.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Wow, you can get a surprisingly good view of the coral from the boat. From the boat, I also saw a turtle and a stingray jump out of the water and flap its wings to "fly" through the air.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Thought my red shirt contrasted with the blues quite well.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011:

Our boat.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

More islets. If you look closely, you can see the edge of the lagoon where large waves are breaking.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011:

There were plenty of sand bars in addition to the islets. It was really cool seeing the sandy banks fall to the floor of the lagoon through the clear waters.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

It's amazing thinking about this tink speck of calm in middle of the rough ocean. Aitutaki consists of about 50km² of lagoon and 18km² of land. The ring of islets and reefs form a barrier where the large ocean waves break on, creating a calm interior lagoon not unlike an oasis in the desert.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Aitutaki is a triangular ring of islands, both volcanic and coral in nature. The large island is where the people live, and the small motus are mostly unpopulated.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Those dark shadows in the water are colonies of coral rising up from the white sandy bottom.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Everywhere looked just like how you'd imagine a tropical paradise to look like.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html

2 June 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Went for a lagoon cruise, which is the must-see thing to do in Aitutaki. Holy crap there were so many shades of blue that day. I felt "over-blued" by the end of the day.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-20.html