Day Twenty – Tuesday, October 20th

Mystery Island – Anelghowhat – Anatom Vanuatu (pronounced van-WAH-too)

It's 7:18 a.m. and there’s a knock on the door. Room service is here with our breakfast so I’ve snuggled in to watch just a little of the Blue Jays and Texas AL Divisional Championship from who knows where in the SPacific. Well 20 days into our trip we’ve arrived at Mystery Island in the South Pacific. It’s Melanesian name is Inyeung Island, but it’s been referred to as Mystery Island since World Ware II, when the US army built a grass airstrip here to serve as a refuelling station. Our tender tickets are for 09:00 a.m. so I’ve got a little quality baseball time before it’s time to leave.

Legend has it that in the 1850’s Australian "blackbirders" kidnapped men from the nearby islands and brought them here before sending them to work by force in Queensland sugar cane fields. Located off the southern tip of Tanna, Vanuatu, is a true Southern paradise. For days many of the more seasoned travellers to this area have said that this will be one of the more picturesque spots on our cruise. This will be a tendered port as the island is completely uninhabited with no electricity, no water, internet or phone service, but there is plenty of crystal clear water off the unspoiled beaches and plenty of relaxation on this 1-square kilometre island. There will be nothing to do but swim, snorkel, walk and sit on the beach.

To date we’ve traveled 6,218 nautical miles from Vancouver. The coral reefs surrounding this island are home to thousands of parrot fish, moon wrasse, sea slugs and more, - so snorkeling is a going to be the call for the day. I brought all my snorkelling gear, so I’m good to go. Walking around the island takes about 45 minutes, but it’s still possible to find your own quiet beach for private relaxation considering that most of the passengers here on the ship use walkers to get around.