Aunt Louise thought for a moment, and then said, "I think I know of something even better!  You'll still need your swimsuit though."

Stanley was confused.  If they weren't going to the beach, why did he need his swimsuit?  And what could be better than going to the beach and burying oneself in the sand?

Stanley, Aunt Louise, and Uncle Robert hopped in the car again, but instead of driving towards Hong Kong island, they headed to a place called Pak Sha Wan.  It was a small harbor where many sailboats were anchored.  There was a pier in the middle of it, and a small opening out to the big blue ocean. 

"Are we going sailing?" asked Stanley. 

"Not today," replied Aunt Louise.

Then Stanley saw a long yellow boat.  It didn't have any sails, just six people lined up in a row.  They each had a paddle.  It looked like a long thin canoe.  "Is that what we're doing?"  Stanley asked.

"Yes it is," replied Uncle Robert.

"But what IS it?" asked Stanley.

"It's an outrigger canoe.  A canoe especially for traveling in the ocean." said Aunt Louise.

Stanley, Aunt Louise and Uncle Robert watched as the six paddlers brought the canoe to the shore.  All of their paddles went into the water at the same time.  And the person in the last seat steered the boat with his paddle. 

Stanley heard them make a funny yell to each other, "HUT... HO!" and then all the paddlers would paddle on the opposite side of the canoe. 

"That looks awful fun." said Stanley.

"Would you like to try it?" asked Aunt Louise?  Stanley nodded yes.

The three of them walked to the boathouse where they found a life jacket that fit Stanley perfectly.  They also got him a paddle.  When the boat arrived, Stanley asked, "Where should I sit?  What should I do?"

"Since you're our special guest today, you can sit in the first seat.  All you have to do is paddle." said Aunt Louise.

Stanley had a huge smile on his face as he climbed into the canoe.  There he was at the very front, looking out over the nose of the boat.  As he raised his paddle to make the first stroke, all the paddlers behind him followed exactly.  As he pulled back on the paddle, the boat surged forward as all six paddlers moved the slim boat through the waves. 

"Wooooooooooow.  We're flying!" yelled Stanley. 

And when a paddler behind him called "HUT!" all the other paddlers answered with "HO!" and they switched their paddles to the other side of the canoe.

Further and further they went, out of the harbor and into the ocean.  There were islands all around, as well as sailboats and some small rowboats with fishermen.

As they moved far away from land, they all decided to take a rest.  Stanley, curious as always, explored the canoe -- which he found was a very strange boat.  He climbed out on a big piece of wood that went to a float next to the boat. 

"What's this for?" he asked? 

"That's called an ama.  It helps keep our canoe straight up in the water -- especially when there are big waves." said Aunt Louise.

Stanley walked further and further out on the wooden piece towards the yellow ama. Stanley thought it looked like a big banana.

"Be careful Stanley," said Aunt Louise.  "You don't want to slip and..."

Just then Stanley lost his footing and fell into the water.  SPLASH!  He went right under the water, but fortunately he was wearing his life jacket.  He popped right back to the top of the water.

"Whew!  I must have slipped."  he said.  "But the water is nice and cool.  If feels good to take a swim after so much paddling."

Uncle Robert decided that this sounded like a swell idea and jumped into the water with him.  Together they swam to the end of the ama.  Stanley climbed up on it and relaxed as the waves lapped at his feet.

Stanley thought is was pretty funny that Uncle Robert went swimming with his red hat and glasses.

After a day of paddling in the canoe, Stanley thought about all the things he had done and seen in Hong Kong.  And he also wondered what kinds of things the other Flat Stanleys had seen in their travels. 

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