New Caledonia

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Trip start
February 15, 2023
skip's retirement travel New Caledonia
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- Day 2
- Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 9:16 AM
- Altitude: 12 m
- New Caledonia Port Plaisance -22.296667, 166.43833322°17’48” S 166°26’18” E
Noumea
February 16, 2023 in New Caledonia
New Caledonia is an overseas territory of France consisting of dozens of islands that has an unusual status. While it is still part of France, they have their own citizenship, and have had a series of independence referenda that have consistently returned a no vote. That process is said to be continuing.
Noumea is the capital of New Caledonia and is the largest French speaking city in the Pacific. It is located on Grand Terre, the largest island in the archipelago.
The 1st 4 pictures are at the northern end of the city. The 1st 2 are in Baie du Citrons. In the distance in the 1st picture is a peninsula. The 2nd picture is taken from there. There are sailboats out in the bay. The 3rd picture is Anse Vata which is located on the other side of that same peninsula. These beaches are typical here. The 4th picture is also overlooking Anse Vata. This gives a sense of the overall island.
The 5th and 6th are local monuments. The 5th is for local culture, and the 6th is for the presence of the US Navy during world war 2.
This is an initial look at Noumea. I'll be back here for a few days later in the week.Read more
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skip's retirement travel New Caledonia
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- Day 6
- Monday, February 20, 2023 at 3:48 PM
- 🌬 25 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- New Caledonia Port de Kuto -22.659906, 167.44362622°39’36” S 167°26’37” E
L'Île des Pins
February 20, 2023 in New Caledonia ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
The Isle of Pines is another of the islands in the New Caledonia archipelago. It is located southeast of Noumea (see another post).
The 1st picture is taken from the plane on the approach to the small airport. Much of the island's coast is similar, and most of the island is wooded.
The next 3 pictures are at the Hotel Kou Bugny where I stayed. The 2nd picture is of part of the buildings; the 3rd looks along the beach here; and the 4th looks out across Kuto Bay where the hotel is located. To the left you can make out the pier where the ferry and small ships dock. The Kou Bugny is a good place to stay.
Across a narrow peninsula from Kuto Bay is Kanuméra Bay in the 5th picture. The coral rock island to the left is a sacred island to the native people here.
The 6th picture is a small road intersection with a number of local carvings. I saw several similar sites in my limited tour. There are a few in the picture of the hotel, too.
The 7th picture is just a road through the local vegetation. It is typical of the south part of the island where I stayed.
The 8th and 9th pictures are of an interesting feature. This is the piscine naturelle or natural swimming pool. The pool is salt water cut off from the ocean by a barrier of coral rock. The 8th picture looks across the pool. The area toward the other side that is more colored is where the water is deepest. This is an area of crystal clear water with lots of fish and coral. I stood and watched schools of fish swim around me. At one point I got nipped on the leg, probably because I got too close to a nest. The place is spectacular.
The 9th picture is nearby. It is a shallow area that connects back to the ocean. It has a current like a river that I'm guessing relates to tidal action.Read more
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skip's retirement travel New Caledonia
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- Day 10
- Friday, February 24, 2023 at 10:46 AM
- 🌧 27 °C
- Altitude: 11 m
- New Caledonia Plage Mille -22.256667, 166.48166722°15’24” S 166°28’54” E
Tjibaou Cultural Centre
February 24, 2023 in New Caledonia ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
The Tjibaou Centre opened in 1998 as a place to lift up the culture of the indigenous Kanak people of New Caledonia. It is named for Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a leader of the movement for an independent New Caledonia. He was assassinated in 1989.
The centre is probably best known for the conical cases or pavilions that are based on the design of important traditional huts of the Kanak people. There are 10 of them, all of different sizes. The 1st picture captures several of them. Also, the 9th picture is inside one of them.
The next 3 pictures were taken along a meandering path that illustrates the local creation myth. The 3nd picture is rock art describing the beginning of life. The path continues with many local plant species and a series of signs and sculptures that continue the story on describe the vegetation. Pictures 3 and 4 are examples of both.
The next 4 pictures are in the ceremonial area that shows the typical buildings around a central meeting or ceremonial area of Kanak villages. The 5th picture looks through the gate to the central area. You can see part of the coral rock wall. The 6th picture looks across the square ceremonial area to the tall chiefs hut, typical of the more southern villages. The 7th picture is a hut from the more northern parts of the country. The 8th picture is inside the southern chiefs hut. The inside of the northern hut is similar, just not as high.
The last 2 pictures are in the well done museum on site. In some of the cases, as in the 9th picture, there are exhibits of local art. The 9th picture is of contemporary sculptures in traditional styles by artists of different Kanak tribes. The 10th picture shows examples of various textiles and patterns associated with a number of tribes.
In addition, there are environmental exhibitions, music, craft demonstrations and more. I was impressed.Read more
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Trip end
February 27, 2023

Noumea

L'Île des Pins

Tjibaou Cultural Centre