We lowered the Jetboat into the water (which is affectionately known onboard as "The Jetboat"), with Mark at the wheel we boarded via the pilot door on the port side (left side) of the ship. We weren't entirely sure what to expect as we approached the island in the boat, we were quite excited whilst being cautious at the same time. We spent sometime searching for an appropriate place to make a landing as the sea floor was very rocky.

Once we found the ideal place, Mark got us in as close as he could, then it was into the water for a few metres swim to get to shore. It felt like I was in a reality TV show like Lost or Survivor. I was even hoping to meet people who had been ship wrecked there for years and we'd be the first people they'd seen since. However, we did our research prior to departing the ship and we established that this tiny island paradise had a population of around 2000 people, so no castaways were likely.

Once on the Island we spotted a fisherman with a long bamboo fishing rod, sitting on a man made chair, or as I like to call it ‘Ocean Stool' about 20 metres off shore. Shortly after he passed us by while we were on the beach and we exchanged ‘hellos'. Our first interaction with the local community was just Hello? Damn! I figured he must have just been shy. A few of the crew noticed a small village further round the cove we had landed in. So In typical friendly Greenpeace style a few of us decided to go and have a chat with the locals.

Not knowing what to expect upon arrival in the little village, the local community was extremely friendly and perhaps slightly surprised. This community has 0 percent tourism so having visitors isn't a common occurrence. With such a warm reception we decided to take the opportunity to sit with them and have a chat.

As remote as this community is, it's not totally isolated. Speaking with Wahid Ibrahim, who manages the local postal service, he tells us that he can pick up 113 TV channels. The next question I'm sure we could have guessed the answer, but we asked what they do for fun to which we got a reply of "we watch TV". I think the most humorous thing I found was that they had a cell phone tower and a lot of people seemed to have cell phones. It was great, but just looked so odd in this remote village to see that. With 2000 people on the Island I wouldn't have thought they needed to call each other, but even the kids we're SMS texting each other.

This community is very self sufficient and self sustainable. They have very strict laws on fishing. They aren't so much 'laws' as they are community morals - no net fishing at all. They are all aware that if they over fish there will be none left. They only take from the sea what they need.

Rising sea levels here are a scary and clearly visible reality. The island is two metres above sea level. In the recent Tsunami, the nearby island of Filadu took an intense battering whilst at the same time sheltering Kelai Island. The people of Filadu we're evacuated to Kelai. The population here know that they are sinking and are very conscious of the rising sea levels. In the last 50 years they have lost nearly 30 percent of their land to the sea. It's quite obvious that the sea is rising because when you look along the coast line it's slowly being washed into the ocean. There are dying trees surrounded by sea water that are slowly being taken by the ocean. There is very little beach left, only is some sheltered coves on the south west side of the Island can you found any decent beach.

I think this stop has been very educational for all onboard, I know I learnt a lot. It was also good to see the devastation that is happening here with my own eyes. I think this is definitely an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. It's sad to think that quite possibly in my life time, this tiny Island I visited may not exist and will be wiped off the map.