While we were waiting for others to go ashore White-tailed Tropic Birds, White Terns and Common Noddies were flying around us.
At the start, a guide talked to us (probably
about what we should and shouldn't do in
the nature reserve) but I couldn't understand
what he said because he spoke French. While
he was speaking suddenly I began to understand
what he was saying as he changed his language
from French to English before I realized.
Then as he continued talking, I found that
I couldn't follow because he spoke in French
again. He might have been saying the same
things in French and English but as he was
perfectly bilingual there weren't any pauses
between the two languages. As well his English
had a French accent so it was difficult for
me to notice when he changed from one language
to the other. It also took a little time
before I realized I could understand what
he was sayingAfter the introductions, we were divided into two groups, one of which was guided in French and the other in English. An overwhelming majority took the French tour. Another Japanese couple, a lady who spoke fluent English, a French-speaking couple and a family were the only ones with us on the English-speaking tour. From their shaky English when they asked a question, I guessed that the French-speaking couple was with us only because the French group had too many people in it and the French couple could understand a little English.
Several minutes after the French group started
and before our group was about to start,
it suddenly began to pour. We waited for
a while to take shelter from the downpour
in a bower, which we also shared with a Madagascar
Fody and its fledglings. The dull brown fledglings
were shaking their wings and following their
bright red father above us in the roof of
the bower.After 20 minutes it didn't stop raining and our guide set out on the tour saying that anyone who wanted to go should follow him. Some followed but we couldn't decide whether to go or not. After a few minutes we decided to follow him, so we put on our rainwear and joined the tour.