Hi
from Clare, No 12 Last days in Nuku Hiva Tuesday 28th
July 2015
DANCE
ON
We
left the island of Hiva Oa after the blessing of the fleet ceremony
at the grotto of the Virgin Mary out on the cliff face overlooking
the ocean.
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| Path home from the blessing |
We had a very pleasant 80 mile sail to Taiohae Bay Nuku
Hiva in time for the Bastille Day celebrations on 14th
July. The dancing was performed for the senior administrative
officer for French Polynesia, local dignitaries and an enthusiastic
crowd. One thing is for sure, the Polynesian people enjoy dancing
and reportedly they dance for themselves rather than the audience. It
seems that traditional dancing is a weekly event on all the islands - at least in July, their party month
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| Views of Taiohae Bay |
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| The dancers and the drummers |
NEARLY
LOST IT
Over
the past two weeks, in our last burst for freedom, we left Taiohae
Bay and circumnavigated the island of Huku Hiva stopping at
delightful bays and small villages. We caught a large Wahoo and while
Andrew was reeling it in some other larger fish snapped its tail off.
It didn't really matter though as we ended up with enough superb
juicy fillets for 10 meals.
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| This fish was way bigger before.. |
ITCH
We
spent the majority of our time in the flat calm of Anaho Bay on the
north side of the island. There is a large kids camp there with horse
riding, games and dancing. We were made welcome to come ashore and
walk through the camp area and use the beach. It was all pretty
relaxed. The four day camp is only accessible by small boat and so
we watched the participants wading through the shallows with
suitcases and bags on their heads for landing and departure. There
are also lots of walking tracks and so Andrew walked to the next bay
to see the beach. I stayed on the boat because I had enough insect
bites and the nonos are said to be bad in this area. So Andrew
smothered himself with insect repellent went for his walk, had a swim
and came home with at least 150 bites. They must have struck when he
came out of the water. The Marquesas islands are really beautiful and
a tropical paradise but the insects (which don't seem to bother the
locals) are unbelievably bad. I am seriously considering when I go
home bringing my stinger suit back with me as I would love to do some
of the walks.
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| Anaho Bay |
THE
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
In
Anahoe Bay we firstly met up with Loren and Craig on the Kiwi boat
Revilo and spent a couple of days with them. Their timing was
perfect and happy to receive some Wahoo for their freezer. They were
an interesting couple with many stories after working on super yacht
charter boats for a number of years. They have now bought their own
yacht and realise how much more they need to know to run the boat and
get it safely back to New Zealand.
After
they left the anchorage the French and Spanish arrived. We had a
good night on the French Catamaran with eleven people from France,
Spain, Switzerland, Germany, America and Oz. There were three
languages being spoken, French, English and Spanish and all going at
once. However they were an interesting bunch with a published
underwater photographer, a film maker, a well published authoress and
a widow who along with her husband contracted malaria when cruising
in Haiti some years ago. Her husband died on their boat and she would
not have survived but for the American couple we met that night, who
air lifted her back to the States for treatment.
The
following day we sailed to Hatiheu Bay and the very picturesque
village of the same name. This is where we had our lunch stop the day
we did the guided tour of the island some weeks ago by car. It is
the prettiest setting with a well developed village and very friendly
people. By this time the French and Americans had left but the rest
of us went out for dinner and traditional dancing. This was followed
by a disco to pounding modern music and flashing lights. The
traditional dancers were now dressed in normal clothes and went out
of their way to speak and dance with the visitors. It was a good
night and terrific community atmosphere with everyone on the dance
floor from age three up. One little five year old in a bright pink
party dress caught our eye as she had brilliant rhythm and knew all
the moves. She was up for dancing the night away, impeded only by her
strapless dress which keep slipping off her chest.
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| This becomes this after cooking |
SO
WHAT'S NEXT
So
now we are back in Taiohae Bay and preparing the boat for departure
on Friday. Most of the big jobs are done and so it should be a good
few days. We will spend a night in Tahiti before flying to Auckland
NZ and then Sydney arriving Sunday afternoon for three months. Our
friends Colin and Denise are spoiling us again and picking us up from
the airport. We are looking forward to seeing you all.
Love
Candy xx
