Early in the morning the Paradis Beach on Mouly Island is deserted and the sand has been wiped clean of yesterday's footprints - the only footprints you'll see are your own. The lagoon water is calm and clear, lapping softly at the white sand, just waiting for the first visitors to begin their day of pleasure.

One of the great pleasures in life is the beach walk from Lekiny bridge to the Village of Mouly on Ouvea Atoll in the Loyalty Islands. It's best to do it at low tide where you can walk down by the water where the sand is firm or up at the top of the beach where the sand is warm and soft. The changes in the sand alters the way you walk so you use different beach walking muscles - otherwise the 12 kilometer long sandy walk to Mouly and back will frazzle your toes. Of course you can take hours (or even all day) to do it, stopping to take pictures of tiny sea shells in the tideline or flopping down in the clear calm lagoon water to float for awhile, or sitting in the shade of the trees at the top of the beach for a cool drink and a snack.