Tonga: East Coast of 'Eua 28 - Lokupo Beach

Theolfa, on October 20, said:

Excellent shot Ian, great detail of the foreground shade with dappled sunlight and bare branches of the tree framing the contrasting far distant sea and shore. Should be zoomed to enjoy it properly. Theolfa

Ian Stehbens, on October 23, said:

And it really is idyllic place, too, Theolfa. You would love it!

Ian

©IR Stehbens, on October 24, said:

EXPLORING THE RUGGED EAST COAST OF 'EUA

Part 28

We weren't very far around the headland when Lisiate, suddenly turned into the fringing forest. The shore ahead was still navigable. The dappled light seemed to dance as we passed from beach to forest.

Having ducked beneath the first low coastal branhces, almost immediately we were into a rainforest with a high canopy and little undergrowth.

"Lisiate has seen some coconuts," I thought. Time for a drink. But then I noticed he was searching for a clue in the bush. He knew it was time to head inland again to conclude our second day.

And he knew that there once was an old Tongan plantation not far from the coast here and we would be able to pick up a long abandoned vehicle track that would make the afternoon retreat like a 'walk in the park'.

Once into the shadowed forest, the understorey was of tree-ferns (cycads that ni-Vanuatu use in reconciliation ceremonies) and I was reminded that my being in Tonga was as a peacebuilder, for there had been recent conflict involving loss of life and destructive violence. Tonga's Day of Shame is referred to as 16/11. 16 November 2006. As I stopped for a moment beneath a cycad, I prayed for Tonga, and for clarity and humility for my next steps.

Soon we emerged into the open clearing overgrown by 2M grasses, but the old vehicle track was discernable and it led us past a whole grove of coconuts loaded with fruit.

Kepueli delighted in scaling the right tree and tossed down our 4 coconuts. Before he was down, Ofa had adeptly cut one open for me, and a litre of cool sweet drink filled my belly. The slashed lid becomes a perfect spoon with which to scrape out the young flesh to complete our 'afternoon tea'.

We were headed north now and the cliffed escarpment of the upper limestone was most prominent to the south but retreated inland and was less dominant to the north.

M.Kranenborg-Torn, on October 24, said:

Great shot. Greetings from Greetje

Ian Stehbens, on October 26, said:

It was a joy, Greetje to reach the coast at sea level for the first time. We had been on the clifftops and on the top of the escarpment, but this was the first moment of seeing the sea and beach.

Regards,

Ian

《阿鵬》B@ngk☺k, on October 26, said:

Exotic but beautiful coast!

So sad to learn of political conflict in Tonga.

w☺rap☺ng《阿鵬》

Marilyn Whiteley, on October 26, said:

As a strong introvert, I appreciate peeking out from this sheltered vantage point! Beautiful composition, Ian!

Marilyn

Ian Stehbens, on October 28, said:

Hello w☺rap☺ng and Marilyn,

Thank you for your comments that appreciate this special wilderness and the composition.

Marilyn, we have conversed on a range of topics that relate to our approaches to photography, to the images or to the location, but relating our images to temperament differences is a fresh new topic for me. I know immediately what you mean here. My introverted wife would have been very ready to settle here and watch the world beyond too - but while the team was with the extravert, he was ready to explore another beach and conquer another mountain but after we had played in the pools, caught our crabs and partied on barbecued crabs!

So there must be many tangential conversations that could follow: 'temperament and composition' is just one of many possibilities.

Ian

Ge Ko, on October 31, said:

A wonderful perspective.

It is thought to recognize the naturalness of this island!

Nice greetings,

Ge Ko

Ian Stehbens, on November 1, said:

Thankyou, GeKo. It is a garden of Eden.

In friendship,

Ian