Resetuj wyszukiwanie
French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
SatelitaEdytuj trasę

French Polynesia

kwietnia 2023
15-dniowa przygoda według skip's retirement travel Czytaj więcej
  • 13ślady stóp
  • 2kraje
  • 15dni
  • 103zdjęcia
  • 0filmy
  • 1,9kkilometry
  • 1,0kkilometry
Obserwuj Kalendarz Dzielić Lista postanowień
Data malejąco
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 17

    Avarua

    25 kwietnia 2023, Wyspy Cooka ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Avarua is the capital of the Cook Islands and the only town of any real substance. There are a number of small villages, but they don't have the definition of Avarua. This post adds to the overview (see another post) with more detail about this part of the island.
    The 1st 2 posts look at the divided boulevard through downtown. Stores are to the left; the ocean is to be he right.
    The overview talked of the hostels for each island. The 3rd picture is a couple of these. The performance hall is across the street to the right.
    The 4th picture is the oldest school on the island. Apii means to teach or a place to teach.
    The 5th picture, taken just before the skies opened up, is street art whose significance is in the message. It is a very abbreviated history, beginning from the indigenous creation myth to modern time, symbolized by the airplane.
    The 6th picture looks across a modern cemetery to a raised marae (see other posts) in the background. Cemeteries like this only have foreigners and VIPs. Local families traditionally bury the dead on their own land. It is still the case today.
    The 7th picture has a church hall in the front and the oldest church on the island to the rear. It is under renovation for the 200th anniversary (see the overview post). The 8th picture is of the stone where the 1st Christian sermon on the island was preached. This location in a modern traffic circle is the actual location, and the stone was moved back here from where it had been kept.
    The 9th picture is the courthouse. The story has it that the current justice minister, in his youth, was a defendant in a suit and was talked into burning down the courthouse. He was caught and did his time. Since his release, he got involved in politics. I'm told that now he is one of the most popular politicians here.
    The last picture, in front of the national police headquarters, is a group of officers doing what looked to me to be line dancing. Unlikely, I know.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 16

    Rarotonga Overview

    24 kwietnia 2023, Wyspy Cooka ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands in the South Pacific that are self governing and are also in free association with New Zealand. They are not members of the UN, but are members of most other international bodies and organizations.
    Rarotonga is the largest and main island of the country. The international airport and national capital area located here. My visit is limited to here.
    The 1st picture is the view from my balcony. This is typical for most of the island with sand beaches and lush vegetation.
    The 2nd picture is the main port with the local fishing harbor in the foreground and the commercial/cargo port to the rear.
    The Cook Islands are a parliamentary democracy. The 3rd picture is the parliament building. I doubt that there is another country whose legislature is housed in a former hostel.
    The 4th picture is simply a look at inland portion of the island. It is mountainous with no roads crossing the street interior. There are hiking trails across.
    The Cook Islands has been a part of the British world for well over 100 years, but they are not full members of the Commonwealth. Yet, the relationship remains strong as evidenced by the presence of a King's Representative whose facilities are in the 5th picture.
    The 6th picture is Muri Beach. Muri is "tourist central" here.
    The 7th and 8th pictures go together. The 7th picture is an historical monument of 7 stones remembering the 7 vaka or canoes that made the migration to New Zealand in about 1350 CE. These are said to be the ancestors of the New Zealand Maori. The 8th picture looks out from the monument across the bay and through the passage through the reef that the migrants passed through.
    The 9th picture is the national Library and Museum. Behind them is the center where cultural events take place. The area is surrounded by hostels for each island of the country where those folks stay, especially for the 10 day celebration each year of their self governing status.
    The last picture is the headquarters of the Cook Islands Christian Church, the denomination descended from the London Missionary Society's work here. This year they are marking the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the LMS.     Czytaj więcej

  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 12

    Ra'iātea

    20 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    Ra'iātea is second only to Tahiti in both size and population. However, it's importance to all of Polynesia is historical.
    For many, Ra'iātea is a sacred island. It's original name was Havai'i which is related to the names of other Polynesian islands. It is in the center of the of called Polynesian triangle, with Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island at corners. This is apparent in the 1st picture. The octopus is a symbol of the interconnectedness of the Polynesian people. You will also see that Ra'iātea (using the original name Havai'i) is at the center where the body of the octopus is shown and from which all else emanates. And, Ra'iātea is believed to be where Polynesian culture began and from where colonization of the many islands began.
    As a sacred place, it isn't surprising that the main marae of all Polynesia are here. Marae Taputapuatea, in the 2nd picture, is the largest marae and the center of religious and cultural life of Polynesia. It dates to before 1000 CE. People of Polynesia still gather here for ceremonies. The next 3 pictures are of more of the marae that have been built nearby over the centuries. As Polynesian culture spread, stones from Marae Taputaputea were carried to and incorporated in many marae elsewhere.
    The last 2 pictures are of the town and waterfront on the island.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 11

    Taha'a

    19 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Taha'a stands next to Ra'iātea (see another post) sharing the same lagoon; that is, they are surrounded by the same coral reef. Like most of these islands, the economy is driven largely be tourism and fishing. However, Taha'a is also known as the Vanilla Island as about 80% of the Tahitian vanilla comes from here.
    The 1st picture is taken from an overlook towards Ha'amene Bay, the largest on the island.
    The 2nd picture is of a pig dance. I'm told this was done to dissuade people trying to steal pigs.
    The next 3 pictures are of vanilla cultivation. The 3rd picture is in the screened greenhouse to prevent birds from damaging the chop. The 4th picture is a bunch of green vanilla pods. And the 5th picture is of pods being dried.
    The next 3 pictures are at a black pearl farm, of which there are many around the islands. The 6th picture is of what is needed to seed the oysters to produce pearls, and the 6th picture is a worker describing the process. Each oyster gives 1 pearl and can be seeded 3-4 times. It takes almost 4 years to get the 1st pearl. The last picture looks over the bay where the oysters are kept. They are kept in heavy cages to prevent predation.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 11

    Pari Pari, Taha'a

    19 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Pari Pari is a local business on Taha'a this is of 2 parts. One is coconut and tamanu oil. The other is rum. Both are made in the same small facility.
    The 1st 2 pictures are the oil operation.
    In the 1st picture is the area where the coconuts and tamaru nuts are accepted and prepared. The 2nd picture is where the oils are extracted. The presses are to the right. The stacked containers contain the oils awaiting further processing.
    The next 3 pictures are in the rum operation. The 3rd picture is where the sugar cane is crushed. The liquid sugar is then put in 1,000 liter containers where it is fermented as in the 4th picture. The 5th picture is the still.
    The last picture is a look at most of their products arranged for sale.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 10

    Bora Bora

    18 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Bora Bora is an extinct volcano surrounded by a lagoon and coral reef. The local economy is almost entirely driven by tourism. There are many high end resorts as well as simpler accommodations. Bora Bora is well known for diving and snorkeling. While this suggests that the main attraction here is the lagoon (and rightly so), the island does have many walking trails to explore the mountains.
    The 1st 2 pictures were taken from the rim of the volcano looking over the lagoon. This part of the lagoon is the caldera of the volcano. The 3rd picture, taken later in the day in the rain, looks back from the lagoon to exposed rim of the volcano.
    Another part of Bora Bora's story is world war 2. The island was an important supply and logistics base for the US Navy. There are dozens of bunkers still here. The 4th picture looks through the woods to one of the empty bunkers. Likewise, a number of gun emplacements remain, too. The one in the 5th picture is not an original gun. This one was recovered from the USS Connecticut and paced here.
    The 6th picture is a portion of Matira beach, generally considered the best on the island. It is well over a kilometer of soft white sand facing to the west.
    The 7th picture is another mara (see other posts). Marae are the temples of the pre-Christian religion of the islands.
    The last picture is another part of what remains on the cone of the volcano.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 9

    Huahine

    17 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Huahine is known as a royal island. The Polynesian kings lived here. The main "island" actually consists of 2 islands separated by a deep, narrow channel except at low tide when they are connected by a sand bar and now a bridge. The channel is deep enough to accept cruise ships up to 3,500 passengers.
    The 1st picture is taken from a viewpoint on the larger island. You can see part of the channel and the smaller island on the distance.
    The 2nd and 3rd pictures are of the royal fale. This reproduction, now a museum, gives an overview of Polynesian life before they abdicated to the French. The 2nd picture is the outside, and the 3rd is inside. That is a 3D representation of the 2 islands in the foreground of the 3rd picture.
    The royal site contains many marae or worship sites. These are leveled stone surfaces with various standing stones. The 4th picture looks across a couple of them next to the royal fale.
    The 5th picture is another mara up hill in the forest. The 6th picture is a banyan tree. If you look closely, another mara is located adjacent. There are dozens of marae around the island.
    The people of Huahine still use stone fish traps such as those in the 7th picture.
    The last picture is of some of Huahine's surprising residents. These are blue eyed eels, a species I hadn't heard of. They are harmless so the local kids play with them. If you look closely, you can pick out blues eyes looking back at you     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 7

    Tikehau

    15 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Tikehau is another small atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. This is another raised atoll somewhat like Makatea (see another post), though not as high. This one is a coral outgrowth on top of an underwater volcano.
    Tikehau is probably best known for its pink sand beaches. The 1st 3 pictures are taken at various beaches around the island. Much of Tikehau is made up of a series of motus, small islets. The 3rd picture shows a couple of them.
    The 4th picture is Hina's Bell. Legend has it that Princess Hina bathed here. To maintain her modesty, her father or a servant would bang on the rock that rang like a bell, warning people to stay away.
    The 5th picture is called the Sun Rock. I'm told that this partially degraded art is located so the sunset will shine directly on the white oval.
    Tahitian black pearls are world famous. Tikehau is one of the atolls where they are cultivated or cultured. The last picture is of some of the pearls.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 6

    Rangiroa

    14 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls anywhere. This archipelago is an important source of the Tahitian black pearls. The economy also includes coconuts, grapes (there is even a small winery here), fishing and tourism.
    Rangiroa is also well known as a snorkeling and diving location with the extensive coral reefs and very clear water. Perhaps the best known site is the Blue Lagoon which is essentially an atoll within an atoll.
    The 1st picture is of the waterfront of one of the small villages here. The 2nd picture is of the road on the island. Like other atolls, Rangiroa is long and narrow with only one road plus a few small alleys in the villages.
    The 3rd picture is of a coconut orchard.
    The 4th picture is of Tiputa Pass. It is one of only 2 passes or larger openings in the atoll. The tides run fast through the passes, attracting many of the large fish, rays, etc. to feed.
    The 5th picture is one of the several hundred islets in the atoll. These are called motus and many are used for tourism.
    The 6th picture is another cultural show presented on the upper, front deck of the ship.
    The last picture is my attempt to show how amazingly clear the water is.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie
  • skip's retirement travelFrench Polynesia
    Dzień 5

    Makatea

    13 kwietnia 2023, Polinezja Francuska ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Makatea is the 1st island of the Tuamotu Archipelago that we visited. It is unique in French Polynesia in that it is neither volcanic nor a typical atoll. It is a raised coral island with shear cliffs around most of the circumference. The cliffs rise straight up about 80 meters and are becoming a significant rock climbing site with over 100 routes already in place from beginner to expert climbs.
    For about 60 years of the last century, phosphate was mined here. When that operation shut down, the population dropped from about 3,600 to fewer than 100 today.
    The 1st picture is taken from the ship as we approached this island. You can see some of the cliffs to the left. The 2nd picture is taken from atop the bluffs, looking back at the remains of the phosphate operation's shipping terminal. This serves as the landing site for the island.
    The 3rd picture is a typical road on the east side of the island.
    The 4th and 5th pictures are of the former maintenance area of the mine with rusting equipment that was abandoned.
    The 6th picture is a closer look at the bluffs. I don't think I've ever seen natural limestone columns outside of a cave like those to the left in the picture.
    The 7th and 8th pictures are in a natural grotto where swimming among the cave formations is possible.
    The last picture is of a portion of the small village on the island.     Czytaj więcej

    Zobacz tłumaczenie