Kitesoul Magazine #24 International Edition

of fresh produce, goods ordered online, the
mail etc. It’s also then that the shelves of the
two general stores light up with fresh fruits
and veggies which can get a bit scarce by the
end of the two-week period.
Everybody waves to each other whether
traveling by foot, bicycle or car. If you’re too
lazy to carry your surfboard home, it’s perfectly
safe to leave it in the palm forest behind
the dunes at Blinky’s. Bikes don’t need a
lock. Simon is the only policeman. And it was
the greatest feeling to wave to him from the
passenger seat, without wearing a seat-belt.
Instead of a fine, I got a big wave and smile
back. Seat-belts are not compulsory on Lord
Howe and the maximum speed limit on the
entire island is 25 km/h.
Life on the island in general is relaxed and
unhurried. Also, with regards to tourism, the
island is very protective of keeping things at
a rather slow pace. Only 400 tourists are allowed
at any one time. With a maximum of
750 people on the island, facilities are limited
but visitors will find everything they need, including
a few little shops (clothes, arts, and
souvenirs), food and general stores, bakery,
cafes, hairdresser, liquor store, museum, restaurants,
post office, information centre, a
ranger, a small four-bed hospital with a GP,
three churches, public telephones, local radio
station, two banks, and one ATM. A few Wi-
Fi-hotspots have only been established very
recently.
After catching a huge amount of perfect waves
at Blinky’s and a quick lunch, it was time to
venture out into the lagoon on my kite for the
very fist time. Bordered by the world’s most
southern coral reef, the lagoon is home to
over 500 species of fish and 90 species of coral,
with new species still being discovered regularly.
The snorkelling here is absolutely unreal,
and I even befriended a very inquisitive,