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The Society Islands

Tahiti - Papeete

We arrived in Papeete on June 30th. We pulled up to the marina and Mediterranean moored the boat- that is, we dropped our anchor and backed up to the dock. As soon as Kabuki, Nereid and New Dawn were secure to the dock, we checked in to the marina office and found out the lay of the land. (For us, that means where the nearest grocery store, the bus schedule, the best marine hardware/repair parts store and places to eat) Judy and I started to lead the group left to the grocery store/mall and lunch in a little cafe when we were stopped by the men in the group who spotted McDonalds and said- "To the Right!" So we had fast food.

We spent more time here then expected. The days just flew by as Ross shopped for parts and installed them on our boat. The largest problem being our batteries and some faulty fuses he tracked down and replaced. While he was doing all this, I was learning how to SUBA dive. The class worked fast. We were in the water on the first day. We learned to breathe and take our respirator out of our mouth without panicking. wow! After the class, we got the PADI book which tells you how to do everything and what to expect on your first few dives. I could not believe that we were breathing under water. I keep saying we. One of my friends from Kabuki, Ed, was taking the class with his girl friend who had flown out to see him. So the three of us were the first class. Great teacher student ratio. I dove a few more times and developed an ear infection that took a month to go away. so I am only certified to 18 meters. That is still pretty deep.

Ross was so excited that I was learning to dive that we bought gear for me to scuba dive with him in the remote places of the South Pacific. We even bought an air compressor. We realized we now had too much stuff on our boat and needed a swap meet. Judy thought it was a great idea too so she called on the radio- everyone listens to channel 16 on the VHF- Good morning fellow cruisers. The Alaska boats are having a swap meet. Join us on the dock tomorrow morning at 10am. The next day several other boaters came over with stuff from their boats to sell or trade too. It was much fun and we sold most of what we brought out.

We decided to take a car tour of the island with some friends. This was full day of 4 wheel drive open top land rover adventure through the middle of the island to a hotel/restaurant and then continued on to the other side of the island. The scenery was quite impressive even for Alaskans that have seen plenty of mountainous areas. The tour is an eco tour so we learned about the jungle vegetation and how it is a combination of native indigenous species and the more successful introduced species. Unfortunately some of these introduced species are displacing the local flora. Also the innocent looking doves, introduced a long time ago, have out competed many of the island bird populations. There were the seven of us, Judy and Ray, Ross, myself a couple from Australia and a medical student from the Netherlands bouncing along in the back of the truck. . After a few scenic stops, we stop for a swim in a secluded area. One of our friends said- hope its alright, I forgot my swim suit and proceeds to strip down for a swim. We all look at each other and decide- I do not want to wear a wet swim suit the rest of the day- and we also dive in in our birthday suits. Sidney, our guide, pointed out the local lore of the swimming hole. There is a rock formation in the river which is quite unusual and natives had identified it as a male body part of a god. The water reminded me of Alaska. It was cold and brisk and lovely. We soon got out of the river and continued our trek. The other cool event was a tunnel built by the army. Very long! I think it took 2 years to build.

Other sights we saw were the pearl museum. Amazing. It is located in Robert Wans store. His pearl are stunners. The shopkeeper even let me try on a $60,000.00 necklace. I was already a pearl fan- now I am enamored too! While we were in Tahiti, the fete was going on. It is a month long festival where everyone in French Polynesia comes to compete in sports, dancing and sell their artistic wares. I ogled plenty at the art. We went to an evening of song and dance. It was amazing. they way those women can shake their hips is mouth dropping. The costumes were colorful and the drumming music addictive.

I am now wrapping up so I can make it to the internet place before we set sail for the Cook islands. We are currently in Bora Bora.

last updated 08/16/06

For The Crossing, The Marquesas & The Tuamotus, click on the links above.