Almost paradise!We're knocking on heaven's door.Almost paradise!How could we ask for more? I swear that I can see forever in your eyes.Paradise!(From the song by Mike Reno & Ann Wilson) This song played in my head when we arrived at the nature paradise---Chagos Archipelago.
We had confirmed that after passing the equator on a southerly heading, the temperature did decrease little by little at night and it was wintertime in the South Indian Ocean. Captain Hiro said "It will be against the wind if we sail directly to Mauritius.It won't be a pleasant sailing. It is better to head more south to Chagos archipelago.We can get trade wind after Chagos." Where is Chagos archipelago?I couldn't see it on "my" world map."You could see it on the sailing map. The archipelago is isolated and at the very center of the Indian Ocean.It is 1930 kilometers north-east to Mauritius.Those islands are part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.I don't know much about this archipelago though.It will take about 3 to 4 days from Addu atoll to Chagos islands. "said Captain."Three or four days?God!I hope I won't get seasick.Chagos!It sounds very exotic!Huiling!Ganbatteyo!"I said to myself.
穿越赤道後,我們進入了南半球的冬天,隨著船的南行,夜晚的溫度漸漸有些許涼意。過了馬爾地夫最後一個環狀珊瑚礁---Addu atoll,我們的航行計劃有一些改變。"若我們一路直接航向模里西斯(Mauritius),風向逆風不說,恐怕也是趟不舒服的航行。再繼續往南行,我們會抵達一個叫查戈斯的群島(Chagos Archipelago)。根據氣象預報,過了查戈斯群島,一路上就是吹東風直到模里西斯。"前田船長說。查戈斯群島?我聽都沒聽過!在我的世界地圖上,找不到查戈斯群島,只有專業航海圖上才找得到它的位置。"這個群島是英國在印度洋上的領地,幾乎就位於整個印度洋中央,它就位於模里西斯東北方1530公里處,我們雖然對這個群島所知不多,但它就像馬爾地夫一樣是一座座的珊瑚環礁,到那裡浮潛,海底景色鐵定不輸馬爾地夫!根據八重山號Yaima現在的航速,一小時以6海里(knot)計算,大概只要三到四天,我們就可以抵達查戈斯Chagos囉!"啊~~~三到四天!內心祈禱自己可以撐到查戈斯,這個名字充滿異國風味的群島,但超過2天的航行,我總是暈船ㄋㄟ!
(照片取自網路)
On the way to Chagos,I got heavy seasick.One night when I was on night shift,there was no moon on the sky.The countless shinning stars spread all over the inky sky.I sat on the deck ,stared at the horizon and listened to the sound of waves.There was no ship on the sea ,only Yaima and me.I suddenly found that there were tears on my face.I missed people I loved very much.The further away they were,the closer to the heart were all those feelings that I tried to repress and forget.It reminded me what I read in "Eleven Minutes"."If we're in exile, we want to store away every tiny memory of our roots.If we're far from the person we love, everyone we pass in the street reminds us them." 
Due to the seasick and my period,my will became very weak.The next day,when we were having dinner,I decided to tell Captain Hiro my weak decision. "Captain,I am so sorry that I get seasick.You and Yuuki are fine.Yaima is in good speed.Only I am in the bad condition.I don't want to be your burden."I said to Captain and Yuuki."Rinko chan,it's okay to have seasick.Your ears are more delicate than us.You just need some time to adjust your body."said Captain."Yes!Rinko chan,sometimes I get seasick,too.It's not a big deal!"said Yuuki."I will never be a good sailor couse I get seasick easily.I don't want to be your burden.Captain,if I keep having seasick,maybe I should fly back from Chagos...Captain,...is there any airport in Chagos?"I said with tears in my eyes.You know,when people are in bad condition,they have weak wills.Captain looked at me and said "Rinko chan,I am sorry to tell you that Chagos Archipelago is uninhabited.Only British navies are stationed there.There is no airport.Only ships can reach there.I am afraid that you have to go to Mauritius with us!Cheer up,Ranko chan!Ganbatte!" Oh,no~~~ what I could do was to grit my teeth and keep going.Every pain I suffered was worthwhile when we got Solomon islands of Chagos,an archipelago of coral atoll islands located just far from anywhere and with no resident population other than the US military base on Diego Garcia in the south. It was amazingly beautiful just like paradise!I am happy there is no airport in Chagos!
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