My Favourite Spot on Aitutaki

My love for banyan trees definitely stemmed from that day Raffaele took me to meet the family of children that lived by that giant banyan tree in Efate 🇻🇺not far from our hostel.
Those children's loveliness and their joy instilled in me a sense of realness and bliss that changed me, an experience and afternoon I will never forget.


The love for the banyan was reenforced that same year, having seen these trees everywhere around Bali, with black and white checkered cloths wrapped around the base of the trunk.
The trees are revered as gods in Bali.
With the religion of Water, nature triumphs all and teaches us all things about the divinity of life itself.
And of course the Banyan trees would be worshipped as rightful maestros of the land.

Growing up in South China, there were also giant , absolutely massive banyan trees here and there, their aerial roots stretch so far the tree looked like a wall.
In Yang Shuo, there is one so old so huge it is a famous tourist destination.

I loved the one we hung out at in Vanuatu the most, that Banyan tree community can hide inside the trunk and the expansive network of roots of the banyan, when the cyclone hits.
The tree acts as safehouse.
You can live and cook inside the tree while hiding away from the storm.

The boy who was only 14 years old then and had the biggest most genuine smile , built a tree house at the top of the banyan.
He offered us to climb up the ladder to get there.
I went up with my gopro,
and was amazed by the work of this 14y.o.
Then 10 years younger than me, but much More capable of taking care of others.
I hope that little community of families are doing well ... 
They really captured my heart.
And every time I encounter a banyan, 
I think of them. 💚