FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN ARCHIPELAGO OF CHAGOS - Part 2

FORTY YEARS AFTER...

As Diego Garcia is a no-go zone more than 12 nautical miles away, only the remains of the Solomon Islands and Peros Banhos atolls are still visible. But in the tropics, the rain forest is recovering its rights at a surprising speed. From the collapsed roof, it will be herbs, lianas, whole trees that will forge a passage through the concrete slabs of each house, covering them almost all.

On the island of Baddam, the former four-cell prison is now littered with lianas and guarded by some coconut crabs, a protected species on the archipelago. The church has lost its roof and has kept only one of its stained glass windows promised to fall soon.

Only the old school has kept its roof and therefore a floor still virgin vegetation. Elsewhere, the ruins seem to be several centuries old. A stele dated 2006 testifies to the regular passage of some Chagossians who came to pay a regular tribute to their old Earth. The good behavior of the cemetery is also a testimony of their regular arrival. This passage is like every time supervised by the British army, wishing above all to avoid that the archipelago fills itself again with its residents. Nowadays, a new forced eviction would be the worst effect...

3rd Part and end, coming next week.

All texts and photography are copyrighted at ©Marc ALLARIA - www.photo-sousmarine.com

!steemitworldmap -5.333695 lat 72.249527 long description d3scr