Balder and Joost, both live in Amsterdam when they're not travelling the world. While they know each other for years, it was still a big challenge to travel together. Preparation of the Tokelau Voyage started months ahead by choosing the right schedule, and the right time to go. They prepared and packed and planned to visit an island resembling Fantasy Island or Bounty Island? (no link to the chocolate bar). The diary starts in Apia, capital of the country of Western Samoa.

Part 8: Down the Pacific - Calm waters.

Our last trip with the boat is back to Apia(Samoa). A trip of nearly 30 hours from the atoll of Fakaofo back. The way over took us 42 hours. This is because the atoll Atafu (the atoll we first visited) is the furthest away from Apia, also the sea currents have their influence on the time of travel.

The captain of the ship assured us this was going to be a piece of cake compared to our trip from Nukunonu to Fakaofo. The weather forecast was good and also the current was to our advantage. On the way we had a beautiful sunset, a nice dinner and at night a short real heavy rainfall. Sailing in the calm pacific waters isn't that bad.

A few passengers tried their luck with line fishing from the boat, but no fish was caught. If one word is coming back repeatedly in Tokelau it is fishing. Every opportunity is taken by anyone to catch a fish, no time is wasted and even if a fish is caught nothing is wasted.

Finally after 28 hours we had land in sight, it took us another 2 hours before getting ashore in Apia (Samoa) In one way we were glad to be back, on the other hand it made us a bit sad. When you arrive on one of the atolls of Tokelau for the first time, you get a little scared of the size being so small. If you leave you get the feeling that you're going to miss this place. The small world of Tokelau is really survivable and that makes living in some ways uncomplicated.