VISIT TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND - 9 FEBRUARY 2010

Christmas Island (also known as Kirimati) situated 65 km from the Equator, is the largest coral atoll in the Pacific. Discovered by Captain James Cook in 1777, occupied by the Allies during WW2, it was the site of the first British H-Bomb in 1957. Today it has 4 villages and a population of 1800. On approaching the island by tender boat you see coral beaches, fishing boats and palm trees. Once landed at the port of London cargo jetty the passengers look for a high street and shops. They find a few pre-fabricated buildings, a road with no traffic apart from the odd motorbike and a smattering of curious locals who have come to sing and dance for us and to sell a few shell trinkets and fresh coconut drinks. Disused refrigeration units house sacks of flour. We find a library with a few shelves of English books apparently donated by passing ships. There's a Church, a school and a bar. The highlight of our visit was to sit and chat to some local teenage boys who spoke little or no English but who delighted us by fetching us a coconut straight from the tree, chopping it in half with a machete type knife and presenting us with fresh coconut juice.