We went for an ocean safari this morning with the intention of snorkelling with whale sharks. It’s whale shark season in Tofo and they’re supposedly in abundance at the moment. After two hours on the boat during which Lisa got horribly sunburned and I got horribly sea sick, we saw a turtle and a whale shark that disappeared before we could get close.
We spent the afternoon exploring the town and photographing while the light was good (a brief half hour between two tropical thunderstorms) but we’re beginning to get a sense of the laidback pace of Tofo. Nothing here happens in a hurry, which is perfect if you’re on a beach holiday, but not great if you’re working.
We’re getting to know the locals here, and it’s been really interesting getting to know a place with some insider’s perspective. The expat community of Tofo is pretty large, considering it’s a tiny seaside village. There are people here from all over the world – surfers, divers, lodge owners, chefs and hippies in seach of beach paradise. I keep thinking of Alex Garland’s book (and the Leonardo DiCaprio movie), The Beach, where a motley band of international backpackers drop out of mainstream life to pursue palm tree-fringed utopia.
