Tonga: East Coast of 'Eua 27 - Lokupo Beach

bdeh, on October 20, said:

Wow, taken at the right time Ian. Super. Greetings Berend

Amelia Royan, on October 21, said:

Fierce and furious Ian, with perfect timing! I hope your camera was well protected, as well as, of course, your dear self :))

Greetings, Amelia

jymsn123, on October 22, said:

Great shot.

One step forward, you would fall to the cliff.

Cheers, Jeff

Ian Stehbens, on October 23, said:

Greetings Jeff, Amelia and Berend,

There was so much to photograph during this journey for the wildness of the place and the intensity of the processes made everything so graphic. I'm pleased that you have enjoyed this.

I love to position myself in order to produce interesting images but I use wisdom and experience rather than risk and daring as my safeguards. Thank you for your concern, Jeff

Warmest regards,

Ian

Ian Stehbens, on October 24, said:

EXPLORING THE RUGGED EAST COAST OF 'EUA

Part 27

Barbecued crabs for lunch on an isolated tropical beach, then a nap sheltered from the strong on-shore breeze and the from direct overhead tropical sun makes it seem like the fonua is in harmony as the Creator intended, especially when you are in the company of generous and respectful friends.

But the reality is different.

On 'Eua's rugged east coast, the whole creation is groaning: evident here, are sea-level changes, tectonic uplift, freely transmitted wave energy crossing deep oceanic trenches to explode against a cliffed coastline, limestone caves with tilted columns, plum puddings made of volcanic boulders in a coralline matrix, recent lavas, and even an undersea volcano a little to the NW that erupted to create a new island this year, and then more recently there have been earthquakes and a disastrous tsunami in the north of the Kingdom of Tonga.

And the barbecued crabs had all been eaten, and on return to camp I had to wake the contented. Kepu and I found some hard biscuits and a can of imported oily sardines for our lunch. Perhaps we weren't quite as harmonious as I thought. I learnt that when we stop, we eat. If we move off in another 'canoe' to do our wondering, all contracts and expectations are automatically cancelled. That's the Tongan principle. I was learning, yet again.

As the afternoon brought deep shadows onto the eastern cliffs, the turquoise of the sea began to become a little more inky. The big swell continued to burst upon the headlands, but the refracted broken waves stirred by the strong wind were very choppy like a stampede of white horses across the pampas. They reared with flowing mane as they crossed the fringing reef.

Another photoshoot - another period of 'receiving' this seascape followed. Then our thirst, made a beckoning silhouette of the lone coconut beyond the northern headland.

Lisiate leading, we headed north, along the rugged east coast of 'Eua. My last glance across the Lokupo landscape was upward for Maui's Thumb protruded upward from the spur above. And I knew even Maui approved of our visit. We had followed in his footsteps.

gezginruh, on October 24, said:

Ceartinly,taken at the right time! Thanks Ian. Greetings. GGR

Ian Stehbens, on October 25, said:

Dear Füsun,

The surf was "like a stampede of white horses across the pampas", Füsun. I am glad to share this with you.

Warmest greetings,

Ian

gezginruh, on October 25, said:

Yes dear Ian," like a stampede of white horses across the pampas"

... and a little but also a great tree continuance to be in there...

every scene has some witnesses...

We shouldn't forget our silent witnesses when we are in between the grumpy waves...

Warmest greetings..

Füsun

Richard Ryer, on October 25, said:

Greetings Ian, Imagine that, you waited for the perfect moment to catch a splash on the black back ground. Wow. And the small tree. The photo just draws you in. I love the sea shore.

Cheers,

Rich

Ian Stehbens, on October 26, said:

Dear Füsun and Rich,

Both of you are great appreciators of images, so I am delighted, no, more than that, honoured that you value this moment and this setting.

The lone coconut tree, the blue water, the unleashed energy, the descending evening all make this a dynamic image for me too.

Warmest regards and thanks,

Ian