Cocos (Keeling) IslandsMapJune 20–21, 2014 The Cocos (Keeling) Islands had a bit of tough luck. They were originally named the Cocos Islands, but a Cocos Island already existed off the coast of Costa Rica. So the name of this territory is always written with the last name of its discoverer in brackets: (Keeling). Or simply (K).  A Cocos (Keeling) license plate.  A Cocos (Keeling) vehicle registration sticker.  A Cocos (Keeling) road sign.  A Cocos (Keeling) payphone booth.  The Cocos (Keeling) Islands’ altitude is three meters above sea level.  So the shoreline has to be fortified.  Time holds no sway over the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The airport still has a prehistoric Pioneer jukebox.  The Cocos (Keeling) Islands consist of numerous atoll fragments, but there are two main islands. They’re both bathed by the waters of the same (Indian) ocean, just as the two urinals at the Cocos (Keeling) airport are bathed by water from the same tank. The two islands are located next to one another, but there are some differences between them.  One island is called West. This is the main island. The fire hydrants there come in singles and are protected by two big freestanding white posts.  The other island is called Home. The fire hydrants there are doubles and protected by two small white posts connected by a metal ruler.  WestHeaven on earth.  Crabs scuttle across that same earth.  Some of the crabs live in shells instead of scuttling.  The island has no restaurants in the usual sense of the word. There are eateries and bars where you need to book ahead. Since the island’s population is very small, you have to indicate your desire to patronize an establishment by writing your name on its chalkboard by lunchtime the same day.  There are cars here. The local police are currently targeting those who don’t buckle up.  There are bus stops here, because there’s a bus route.  A roadside post.  The town’s guardrails are made of logs.  The post office.  An organized dump. Everything is marked, but the signposts will become part of the dump themselves with time.  A bench and a view of the sea on West.  HomeA bench and a view of the sea on Home.  The way of life, transportation and appearance of the territory’s second island are drastically different.  This island is Muslim. There are practically no cars here, everyone gets around on golf carts or ATVs with canopies, and the women wear headscarves.  A mosque is being built.  Everyone lives in tidy cookie-cutter homes with multicolored trash cans out front.  An old lamppost.  A street sign.  Seeing the whole island takes 20 minutes.  The general store.  Time to continue onwards.  |
