Tahiti-Morea

The Pacific Puddle Jump Yacht Rally Rendezvous... that's a mouthful!!
What a great day!

Outrigger races - the "Lil' Savages" won all their heats!

The crowd were backing the kids team against the adults

Lil Savages racing ahead...

Overall, the kids came 2nd out of 16 teams

Celebrating with the dance troupe

Travis' new girlfriend - Miss Morea

Shake those hips...

Travis and Beau learning the moves!

Coconut husking and shaving competition

Stone lifting - this is the lady's stone!

The band

The coconut run - two coconuts on each end of the pole 

The Awards - Lil' Savages cleaned up!

Tuamotu Atolls

Some friends we met in Kauehi - check out their boat shed and bunkhouse!

Kara putting on a brave face after falling out of Travis' treehouse

Jol preparing a pit oven for our Mahi Mahi on the beach

Kicking back with a good book between two palm trees

Bike ride with Tashi Delek, Malua, and Sudueste yachts

Crystal clear water at a pearl farm in Fakarava

Another great boat shed

Pearls in a cage at Fakarava South

Kara's friends

Travis showing the sharks who is boss off the back of the yacht

Jol kite boarding

Travis teaching Archie (7) how to wake board

Polynesian culture

Polynesian culture is fascinating.  On our island hikes in the Marquesas, Tuomotos and Society Islands we have discovered ancient archeological ruins such as Marae's which are sacred sites for religious and ceremonial gatherings.  We have found stone walls, bridges, foundations, and platforms.  Some of the platforms were used for human sacrifices!  We have seen many flat stones that were used for grinding and sharpening tools.  The Tiki's are stone or wooden carvings of human-like gods with mythological significance. Their eyes are like aliens!

The Polynesians populated this part of the Pacific 1000-2000 years ago having sailed large outrigger canoes against the wind from Asia.  It's amazing how for centuries the Polynesians had the technology to sail into the wind considering European yacht design progressed to windward sailing in the 1800's!  Here are some pics showing what we have seen and done in French Polynesia...

A pit used for fermenting breadfruit

Alien Tiki

Cannibalism was practised - heads in a pot

Marquesan totem pole

Sonia with old grinding stones in the church wall

Turtle carving

A sacrificial altar

Traditional hut image carved into the end of a tree

Marquesan symbols

The Marquesas was rich in fruit - here we are celebrating with other kid boats

Laurie getting tattooed in Nuku Hiva

Paddling goddess on the wall of the local outrigger canoe club

Fishing outriggers covered with corrugated iron sheets

Laurie's reading material