I visited Christmas Island for some meetings this week. It is the largest coral atoll in the world –  150 square miles or so and a lagoon about the same size.  It is in a remote area of the Pacific as part of the Northern Line Islands of Kiribati. I basked in the wonderful warmth of welcome from the people of Kiribati as well as the warm tropical breeze.  I had read as much as I could about Christmas Island before I went and in many ways it was as expected  – many coconut trees and houses with tin roofs or grass thatch – a beautiful lagoon and a warm pacific ocean – and a small population of welcoming folk, however I had not expected to fall in love with this special place and its warm and kind people.  I took many photographs  – here are a few to give you a sense of the island.

Welcome at the Airport

The Captain Cook Hotel

Bungalow on the beach

View from my bungalow front door.

Beside my Bungalow

Sunset that first evening

Dawn light the next day

An hour or so later

Looking down the beach in the opposite direction

Taking photos from the car when we drove down the main road on the island

Looking out onto the lagoon

Fishing close to the harbor

Fishing Boat

The Port in London, Christmas Island.

Fisherman on the Lagoon

London from further off shore

Taking pictures on the way back to the hotel

ATM machine

School visit – much wonderful singing and dancing

School assembly hall

View of a corner of the lagoon often used for swimming and boating

Sunset