ILLEGAL ALIEN IN COCOS KEELING
03 September 2011 | On the way to Mauritius
david
About 500 miles west of Christmas Island - two atolls, North Keeling and South Keeling, comprising 27 low coral islands, the ubiquitous coconut trees lining the white sandy beaches, laden with 'cocos', a heavenly spot by all accounts, a certain Captain William Keeling and his first sighting of this spot in 1609 - I have indeed arrived at... Cocos Keeling.
A rough night out there, waves and wind all coming from about 4 directions. This is an aspect of the Indian Ocean that one must accept...discomfort caused predominantly by the southern ocean swell reaching far up into the Indian Ocean causing what might be best described as 'confusion'. Additionally, the night was lengthened as I was trying to slow down, slooow doown, such that I would arrive in daylight.
Not altogether an easy entrance as one must enter a large lagoon and then immediately turn hard to port to enter the inner sanctum...the anchorage. 'Bommies' as the australians fondly call them,(coral heads) abound - hit one and the exquisite nature of the place would diminish considerably. But, no meeting with 'bommies' were to be had. Im now anchored in undiminished idyllic 'south pacific' beauty in the midst of the Indian Ocean.
Met with the Australian official who made concerted efforts to be angry, remind me I was not wanted here, am illegal, will be arrested in 28 days if still here, why had I not done this and not done that?, must leave as soon as possible, and if not careful, will be deported 500 miles back to Christmas Island and its famous 'detention center'. But once said, once agreed, and clear who was in charge...all returned to normal with good ole aussie humour.
And so here I am, an illegal alien in Cocos Keeling
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