Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cocos from the Air

The airport is on West Island, population of 200 and here on the way by Ferry to Home Island, population of 400.

Had a fantastic day on these motor canoes.  Clear waters and great for snorkelling 

The Visitor centre on West Island.

Here is the Post office on West Island and a sign to commerate the first stamps issued in 1965.

Near the runway as my Virgin Australia plane lands. 

Delighted I visited here. Tourists are not encouraged here. Cocos Keeling is really used for strategic reasons by Australia due to its runway. 

None of the facilities are timed to suit tourists. So only one restaurant open and one shop that was closed for two days. 

The post office was only open for a few hours and lucky to be able to post mail. A long story for future .....  

Christmas Island - Australia

Virgin Australia flies 2/3 times per week from Perth to Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. 

Christmas Island famous for its Crabs. This is a Robber Crab

Beaches and lots of Bird life

Christmas Island visitor centre.  This is Karenn

Above photos of the Post Office. Full selection of stamps both from Australia and Christmas Island.  The post office gives out either unless you specify Christmas Island stamps. Very busy when I was here.

This is the Settlement and is the main area on the Island.  Population of the island is 1500 approx

Perth Australia

The GPO in Perth. 

However the Post Office today is a very small part compared to what it once was

I was surprised and delighted to see this sign outside my hotel.  When I was first here in 1990 , I recall a Irish sign outside my hotel when I got up for breakfast. I thought it was jet lag seeing this in Australia of all places.  By pure chance I stayed at the same hotel this time. 

A view of Perth from Kings Park

British Indian Ocean Territory 2005

Indian Ocean-British Indian Ocean Territory  This is a map to show you the islands in this group. On this trip the first island to visit was Danger Island. Also visited was Eagle,Three Brothers, Salomon and Peros Banhos. On Peros and Salomon both islands had the buildings and graves of the people who once lived there. The people were removed in 1976. This is a very sad story and if interested I suggest you Google it . I visited here from 17 April to 5 May 2005. Nearly 10 years ago. 

British Indian Ocean Territory if currently off limits to visitors ( excluding yachts who make their own way usually from Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Islands in the Indian Ocean. I was lucky to be part of a Scientific mission to see who the Islands were after the Tsunami of December 2004. 

Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory also known as BIOT.

This is how the some of the low lying atolls look like as we arrive by boat. The water was nice and warm and usually very calm. Though this area has some of the highest rainfall in the world. 

To get to each island we had to leave our "mother ship" and get on a Zodiac . Usually we could not get right to edge of the land due to coral .So as seen in the second photo we had to swim the last part in , usually holding waterproof bags with our cameras. Sure was fun !!! 

There was 16 on the trip in total. Here some of us on the ship. The " Indian Ocean Explorer" . The captain was great as was the fresh food prepared every day. Unfortunately the ship was captured by Somali pirates in the area of the Seychelles around 2008 and was burned. The Captain did survive but has not gone back to sea since as far as I know. 

The first photo from the top shows the old plantation Managers house. This is on Peros Banhos . On one of these Islands we found horses which was pretty amazing. On Peros Banhos the old Church and the cross at the harbour still stands tall. Finally some messages written in blood by the last people to leave or taken from the island. Today they still fight for justice to return to these Islands. I hope one day to visit if they are returned to the people of the Chagos Islands. BIOT is a made up name . 

While visiting these Islands I was lucky to be able to dive and see how pristine these waters are. This was not by camera but were manly taken by the scientist on the trip. I will never forget the vibrant colours and life around the sea bed. I understand that some of the underwater photos were subsequently used for the design of postage stamps issued by BIOT. 

I wont forget this in a hurry. Sea cucumbers a major delicacy in Japan. As we were on a official trip approved by the British Government we were due to meet the Marine immigration officials from BIOT. However on the day prior to meeting them , on a remote Island , I found these sea cucumbers laying out to dry. As such I with others then discovered fisherman living on this remote island catching these . They when exported are quite expensive. However, as we then had to report the fisherman for being on the islands, the marine officials had to change course to get here and take the fishermen back to Diego Garcia to be removed from the Islands. So no passport stamp for any of us on this trip!!

Here I am at the entry point to Peros Banhos. Right at the harbour not far from the church. 

Some photos relaxing on the islands. On one of the days I was "in Charge "  so a mark of respect I was given a foot mat and a was allowed to listed to the BBC world service . 

One of my favourite pastimes was to watch the Hermit crabs come and go. Amazing and when you went near them they would stop walking and bury themselves in the sand. They are all carrying sea shells that help to protect them. 

On my way home the Captain had found out it was my birthday . So I woke up to see this notice on the message board , just before Breakfast. A very memorable day . Unfortunatly there is only a Post office in Diego Garcia so I had to send my postcards there for processing as you can see on this blog. However a trip that I was very fortunate to take part in and one I will never forget. Since then I have become a friend of the Chagos and also on Facebook to help these people go back to there home. Hopefully it will happen sooner rather then later...... 

Cologne Germany

Europe-Germany-Cologne I visit this city every January for work. So it never looks like this postcard. However it still has a lot to offer. I especially like the green bridge that you see here on the picture. 

I had taken the trouble to find out what Post Office in the city had special stamps. The one I choose in fact had only this issue available as well as the regular Flowers issue. 

Galway- Ireland and Blog update

Europe-Ireland-Galway  Galway city, without doubt the cultural capital of the West of Ireland. Galway boasts some of the finest shops, pubs and restaurants to be found. One of my favourite cities in Ireland. I spend a nice weekend here in November. 

The card shows a commemorative stamp featuring Thomas Davis. Unusually this stamp was available from the main Post Office in Galway . Normally special stamps are mostly only available from the Philatelic counter in the Dublin GPO. Also this is my last postcard in my current sets. So a bit sad putting this up , but also delighted I could share all these cards with you all.
Apart from a possible card from Germany , my next set of cards will be from the trip due to start February 16. That is all sorted now and looking forward to that. Lots of postcards due from that trip.
On the trip- Perth, Australia, Christmas Island , Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Kelantan,Terengganu, Perak, Pahang, Penang,Perlis and Kedah. I have been to Malaysia many times but never posted cards in these states.

In the meantime this blog will start to go back to some of the countries I have been to share some more stories , photos and in many cases photos of Post Offices.  

County Down - Northern Ireland , Donegal -Ireland

Europe-Northern Ireland-Mount Stewart  This is a potential World Heritage Site. Mount Stewart House and Gardens is a very beautiful location to visit. Got a tour of the house where many of the Royal Family have stayed in the past.  

A regular Northern Ireland Definitive issue. 

Europe-Ireland-Donegal The most Northerly of the provinces of Ireland. A really beautiful county and I dont go here very often as it is up the top of the Island. Great beaches, if only we got the weather to appreciate them . 

This fashion stamp was from a booklet .