The ironman of travel Yoshimasa Ikeuchi

Ouvea Island

Black skin looks great on a colorful church.
All the Islanders treat us with the warmth of an old neighbor.　

An Island called the "jewel of the sea".

Time goes by without doing anything,
blending into the quiet and laid-back air of the Island.

The plane (50-seater) deviates from the course of the
typhoon and departs for Ouvea Airport as scheduled.

The color of the sea of Ouvea seen from the sky was
the second most impressive in the world. 　
What's the best?" "Kiribati's Christmas Island".

It is hotter than Noumea because it is located at
the northern end of New Caledonia and is close to the equator.

The powdery white sand is fine and white enough to be painted on the face.
The color of the sea changes from moment to moment
in response to the sunlight.
It is exactly "the Island closest to heaven".

It is an Island suitable for God to descend.

Sky, sea and white sand.There is nothing else.

There is no hotel activity. There are no yachts or canoes.
Sea and sky to the horizon.

"Can we fish?" "NO", there are no hotel-owned boats.

The Ouvea style is just to spend time
leisurely with nature.
　
Neither farming nor fishing.

A day passing by without doing anything.

It's an Island of heaven given by God,
but my age is getting closer to heaven.

We, the poor, cannot help doing anything.
I went to the Island at once.

What is not in the guidebook is the monument during
the War of Independence on Ouvea Island.
(1988)

The Island is governed by three leaders.

Although he lost the battle with the French government,
his way of life is not bad.

There is no way to know that today's peace has caused 19
casualties.

The history of the Island hurts me when
I see the memorial tower on the north roadside.

The following year, in 1989,
even the leader of the War of Independence,
"Tjibaou," was executed.

Only this Island is beyond the law of the French government.

It seems that the Island's own law governs it.

It is a daily occurrence that airplanes do not fly. There are also occasional strikes.

Until 10 years ago, it was Ouvea Island and Muri Island, but it was finally connected by a concrete bridge.

The sandy beaches of Lekin Bay seen from the Muri Bridge are endlessly white beaches and the sparkling blue sea.

The sandy beach that the newlyweds longed for talked about the future and was drawn with a finger on the white sand ♡ mark.

We feel happy just looking at it.

A single paved road that runs through the Island continues from north to south.

Dress up on Sundays and the Islanders gather at the church.

Arrive at Uvea Airport  Air Caledonia

Ouvea Airport luggage comes out from the left side.

Powdery white sand.

Children playing with rolling sand.

Sand that does not collapse even when placed on the head.

An Island kid swimming on the beach under the Muri Bridge.

Islander's house

Village restaurant

Kotetsu indulging in reading on the hotel terrace

19 memorial tower

Victim's memorial board

Ouvea Island and Muri Island, which were connected 10 years ago

The best beach on Ouvea Island

The color changes depending on the light

The contrast between the colors of the white sand and the sea sighs

Kotetsu (right) taking a commemorative photo with the church on Sunday

A colorful church on Muri Island surrounded by South Sea cedar

Inside the church

Church on Muri Island

A child swimming in a torrent

Parents and children catching fish with cast nets