An amazing last few days - weird but amazing
19deg.18.315S 176deg.24.359W 15:10L
Early afternoon, somewhere east of the Lau Group in Fiji. We are sailing south of the island group to avoid having to pass through it during night. Yesterday we saw the birth of an island, most likely we were the first humans to see the new creation. We have some pictures, but they will have to wait until we have a chance to upload them. So you might have heard about the sailor superstition that you should "never leave on a Friday". Well, we did and the sea turned to stone, it is hard to get a stronger sign than that. It sounds like a bad joke, but just wait until you see the pictures. Floating stones none the less. When you pick them up, it is easy to see that they are really just volcanic ash that compressed into pumice stone. This experience mixed with a close encounter of three whales makes you understand that the ocean is full of surprises. We had a great time in Neiafu and Tonga, and this might be the place where I come back and leave the boat one day. There is a lot of great entrepreneurial young people around trying to make a go at this place. Good bars like Mermaid and Tonga Bob's, and fine restaurants like the Dancing Rooster. This together with an amazing area, the Vava'u group of islands, makes this an easy place to enjoy. Like all the other islands it is the small things that makes it so human; like when you wake up at 0530 on a Friday morning to the song from the village church or the young children in school reciting something loudly in a very simple schoolhouse.
So, we are on the way again. This time toward Fiji, where we hope to do some good diving before H�kan leaves and Jenny Blake comes to join Maiken for the last passage to Australia. We plan to entry the country in Suva, and then make our way down to Kandavu before heading to the western side of Fiji.
Take care,
Fredrik,
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posted by Fredrik at 11:05 PM
18 Comments:
"Fatti non foste per vivere come bruti ma per seguir virtute e conoscenza" [Dante, Inferno, Canto XVI]
... you are on the right path...
Hakan! I think I am not going to be the only one to miss your company and sense of humour.
Good luck for the last bit!
Martina
You guys should definately take the naming rights to the island
Support from Voyvodina!
You guys made CNN! Awesome!
What are you going to name it? you should name it!
Cheers!
Keith
Houston,tx
I would be so excited if the island was named Maiken. ;)
Malo e lelei. Greetings.
Wow, guys you are the first human being on record to witness the birth of an Island. As a tongan, I hope the Tonga Government will name the island after the Maiken as a gesture of good will. It is a miracle that you happened to be at the right place at right time. The pictures are amazing. I would have love to see a close up shot however i think safety is paramount and shouldn't be compromised. Well done to you all the crew of Maiken, happy sailing and god bless.
Malo Mateni,
Auckland NZ.
veit du ka? D hær va kjæmpe fine bilda! No skriv æ på trøndersk, men d høres ut såm at dåkker har nå norske navn, jaja. Uansett skulla bare si at æ ska fortæll om herre hær på samfunnsfag fåredrage mitt, dær æ ska snakk om vulkana ;)
Håpe dåkker skjønne herre hær, hvis ikke, ok. =P Men fær på seiling t Norge snart ;) D e et vidunderlig land ;)
how did it feel to see creation happening right before your eyes ? did any one think of God at the time?
I think the crew sound far too inteligent to be thinking of God as they witnessed the birth of an island!
Name it??? They should CLAIM it!!!
..."too intelligent to think about God"? That makes no sense.
If you believe in "Intellgent Design" I guess you'd think of god. It's much easier than actually thinking about what you're seeing. What doesn't make sense is not thinking about what is actually happening in front of your eyes and just chalking everything up to god. That's what little kids do.
Lucky, lucky you.The earth burst a pimple and you were their to see it. Definately name it, and seriously look into claiming it.
Mazel Tov.
I THINK U SHUD NAME IT .. U WHERE THE FIRST TO SEE IT . THAT MEANS IT IS YOUR ILAND RIGHT. I THINK SO . GOOD LUCK. GOD MUST HAVE WOUNTED U TO SEE THAT HAS ANY MAN EVER SEEN ENYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE DO U KNOW...
i cannot believe this event did not make news in australia instead of iraq war i would rather hear about creation instead of distruction
I think this was an experience to bring us closer to God. He was showing us just how great He is and that He Lives! Shame on you Geoff. I think though the crew of the Maiken should be given the honour of naming the island. Beautiful pictures guys! Sorry you didn't have a cam corder.
Sebastian
You guys must have really been siked to have seen an actual volcanoe rise out of the water.Because if I were you guys I would be really thrilled. this is Josh LInky from Ashland,Wisconsin
How big were the waves? I see no waves in the pictures.
Anyone test the water temps? They must have been elevated even at that distance. Would love to read more about this.
Epic.
I thought it was cool to feel lightening charge the whole atmosphere when I was up about 1000 feet vertical on a limestone karst in Krabi, Thailand. Then I read this... wow, how many people get to witness the infancy stages of an island being spawned?
Absolutely hilarious comment by the person that said the crew seemed too intelligent to be thinking about God at the time... I'm STILL laughing about it and I read that 2 minutes ago... Great stuff... Thanks for the photos!
Vern (aimforawesome.com)
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