Christmas Island is one place where nature colludes with the elements to create magic. Neither Sue nor I had beheld before such a variety of birds in all the colors imaginable under the sun. We saw a mind-boggling range of imperial pigeons, silver bosuns, emerald doves and thrushes that we found ourselves breathless and agape at the same time.
Flying in from Perth we stayed at this lovely place called the Captain’s Last Resort which is one of the best lake spa resort. Staring down from the balcony we saw schools of exotic fish in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
Sue’s alarm clock woke me up early the next morning. She was still asleep when I went out into the balcony to soak in the refreshing morning air. Not a soul was in sight, but the birds were up and about chirping overhead in the trees. I saw a seagull flying out into the ocean and disappearing. I resolved to visit one of the many beaches on this island with Sue. In the little kitchenette I prepared a hot cup of lemon tea for myself. Sue had woken up in the meantime and was making enquiries about renting a four-wheeled drive at the Christmas Island Tourism Association.
An hour later we drove down to the remotest part of the island- Dolly Beach. Its sandy softness and thick rainforest were a sheer visual extravagance. Swaying coconut palms and live marine turtles made our day. The area also has a fresh water spring, which makes it a favorite with picnickers. On our way back we came across a tour group from Sydney enthusiastically diving into the azure ocean waters.
Christmas Island is not a shopper’s haven; reason enough for its limpid beauty. Opposite the Christmas Island Visitor Centre we came across this small grocery shop where we bought bread and tea leaves. We also espied a supermarket opposite but we didn’t go in.
That evening we had coffee as we listened to the waves of the Indian Ocean lapping at the shores of the Flying Fish Cove. It was the closest to heaven as we could get.
No comments:
Post a Comment