Trip to Leeward Isles - South China Sea

The Leeward Isles , a magic, uninhabited little Archipelago in the S. China Sea;
......Captain Blake’s favourite island group in all the Tropic Seas:

Leeward Isles, seen from the SE, with Ocean Beach and Landfall Is. in foreground, Brooke’s Blue Lagoon behind,
and Accessible Lagoon beyond that. The peak at top right is Watchtower Pinnacle, where we do our abseiling.

Seen from the West, Mangrove Barrier Islands foreground and left, Emerald Lagoon and Watchtower left backgound

“Accessible Lagoon”, our Schooner “Four Friends” anchors in an enclosed lagoon surrounded by gem-like islets,

.....4F viewed from the “Eyrie’, an Eagle’s Nest high on a bluff.

...where our only neighbours are visiting Sea-Gypsies in tiny dug-out canoes

The entire archipelago is surrounded by coral reefs, where our kids snorkel

and explore in their kayaks (view from Acccessible Lagoon, with Brooke’s Blue Lagoon in the background.)

Accessible Lagoon, FOUR FRIENDS at anchor, & from left: Isle des Pecheurs, Landfall I & Brooke’s Blue Lagoon., Pam’s I, Sombrero I, Mangrove Barrier Is. At extreme ….

View from Watchtower Pinnacle over the east coast and over Emerald Lagoon

Abseiling:  beginners start on the nursery slope

Then, with enough confidence, they abseil down from Watchtower Pinnacle (below), with Instructor/photographer on parallel rope.

With plenty of experience, they swing down an overhanging cliff on their own (Philip, aged 10 ). This in the Similan Islands of Thailand.

 

And the view from a rope hanging from a cliff can be awe-inspiring. Emerald Lagoon, with Turtle Reach behind.