Nigh on 48 hours at sea,some 4 hours behind schedule,and at at last we arrive in the Society Islands or French Polynesia.We docked at Ra'iatea at 11.30 ,whilst we were having an early lunch.The morning spent listening to a lecture from an ornithologist on his 200 cruise!
Disembark at 12.45 going on 13.00 and travel by school bus-long benches along the sides of the bus-to Marae Taputapuatea. The ride there was through lush vegetation with a number of small rivers descending from the volcanic peaks.The island has a population of 20,000 so much bigger than most that we have been on recently.5000 live in the main town where have docked,but it feels like a significant place with some hustle and bustle.Beautiful coastline that we see frequently as we bounce along.Our guide was a french canadian who came to the island by boat 8 years ago,and has not left.However in conversation he admitted that he flew to Tahiti and bought the boat there! He still lives in the marina on board the same boat but has to pay 300$ per month for the mooring.
When we reach our destination it turns out to be a flat area near the sea which contains a number of flat stony areas that were the religious and political centres of Polynesian life.Not too interesting to see as there is not a lot to see! But we are told that this is the centre from which all the population of the Pacific islands originally came.Not born out by any other source!
Disembark at 12.45 going on 13.00 and travel by school bus-long benches along the sides of the bus-to Marae Taputapuatea. The ride there was through lush vegetation with a number of small rivers descending from the volcanic peaks.The island has a population of 20,000 so much bigger than most that we have been on recently.5000 live in the main town where have docked,but it feels like a significant place with some hustle and bustle.Beautiful coastline that we see frequently as we bounce along.Our guide was a french canadian who came to the island by boat 8 years ago,and has not left.However in conversation he admitted that he flew to Tahiti and bought the boat there! He still lives in the marina on board the same boat but has to pay 300$ per month for the mooring.
When we reach our destination it turns out to be a flat area near the sea which contains a number of flat stony areas that were the religious and political centres of Polynesian life.Not too interesting to see as there is not a lot to see! But we are told that this is the centre from which all the population of the Pacific islands originally came.Not born out by any other source!
More lovely blue sea ,a large encircling reef,but high mountains up to a 1000 metres.
The chap gave us a long talk on the significance of the site ,blew his nose flute and chanted away,but as you can see the stones are not as large as Stonehenge !
On the way back to the boat we passed a pearl farm,just a small hut in the lagoon,from which they insert the irritant into the shell.but about 40 % of the time no pearl is formed.
Then past a mountain,the scene of the Disney film Moana
And finally across the bay to a small beach from which we could snorkel
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