We have sailed altogether 5749 nautical miles from Ft. Lauderdale and we finally got to see land this morning for the first time in over a week. We anchored at the island of Nuku Hiva. This is the island where Survivor, Season 4 took place. The actual site of Survivor was on the far side of the island so we didn’t get to see it.
There’s a giant rock acting as a sentry at the bay entrance. The jagged terrain and rugged coastline are striking. There are a few palm trees but mostly the hills are green and rocky. The bay itself is reminiscent of an undeveloped, unpopulated and unspoiled Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas. The “downtown” is called Baie Taiohae and consists of exactly nothing. There are 2 or 3 tourist souvenir shops, a bank, a school and a couple of churches. One road serves the island and cars and people are few and far between. Roosters crowed continuously as chickens and dogs joined us on our trek along the waterfront. Flowering trees and bushes were everywhere in reds, oranges, pinks, purples, yellows and whites. Gardenias, with their heavenly smell, were abundant.
As we walked we saw Tikis scattered along the roadside. Tikis are ancient sacred icons that were worshipped by the first settlers of Polynesia before the French took over the islands. They are very interesting rock carvings that have lasted for centuries.
We met up with our friends Dick and Debra and walked to a small resort at the far end of the island. The hotel is called Keikahanui and it sits on a hill overlooking the bay. It was a hot and humid day so we had a beer and were joined by three other people, Cynthia and Charles from Tampa and Eric Dunn, the astronomy lecturer on the ship. The hot sun and the Tahitian beer made us all a little giddy and we had a very nice time. As we left we discovered a path down the hill to the black beach and Debra and I took off our shoes and walked along the water’s edge. It was Saturday and a large group of Nuku Hivans were having a picnic and swimming in the ocean. We had been warned about sharks in the water but apparently the natives didn’t get the message because they seemed totally unaware that they were in grave danger. We had also been warned about sand midges, or “nonos”, insects that can deliver a vicious bite, but Deb and I threw caution to the wind and braved it anyway.
We’ve just finished the On Deck For The Cure 5K walk for breast cancer. We all met in the Atrium this AM dressed in our On Deck for the Cure T-shirts and pink bracelets. There were 200+ people altogether. The cruise director, Bruce, read us an email he had gotten from his sister-in-law this morning. She had a double mastectomy four days ago and her message was very moving. We did a few stretches and then proceeded out to the deck to begin our walk. At the end of the walk they had pink lemonade for everyone and I’m sitting here enjoying mine right now.
Next stop Papeete, Tahiti.
There’s a giant rock acting as a sentry at the bay entrance. The jagged terrain and rugged coastline are striking. There are a few palm trees but mostly the hills are green and rocky. The bay itself is reminiscent of an undeveloped, unpopulated and unspoiled Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas. The “downtown” is called Baie Taiohae and consists of exactly nothing. There are 2 or 3 tourist souvenir shops, a bank, a school and a couple of churches. One road serves the island and cars and people are few and far between. Roosters crowed continuously as chickens and dogs joined us on our trek along the waterfront. Flowering trees and bushes were everywhere in reds, oranges, pinks, purples, yellows and whites. Gardenias, with their heavenly smell, were abundant.
As we walked we saw Tikis scattered along the roadside. Tikis are ancient sacred icons that were worshipped by the first settlers of Polynesia before the French took over the islands. They are very interesting rock carvings that have lasted for centuries.
We met up with our friends Dick and Debra and walked to a small resort at the far end of the island. The hotel is called Keikahanui and it sits on a hill overlooking the bay. It was a hot and humid day so we had a beer and were joined by three other people, Cynthia and Charles from Tampa and Eric Dunn, the astronomy lecturer on the ship. The hot sun and the Tahitian beer made us all a little giddy and we had a very nice time. As we left we discovered a path down the hill to the black beach and Debra and I took off our shoes and walked along the water’s edge. It was Saturday and a large group of Nuku Hivans were having a picnic and swimming in the ocean. We had been warned about sharks in the water but apparently the natives didn’t get the message because they seemed totally unaware that they were in grave danger. We had also been warned about sand midges, or “nonos”, insects that can deliver a vicious bite, but Deb and I threw caution to the wind and braved it anyway.
We’ve just finished the On Deck For The Cure 5K walk for breast cancer. We all met in the Atrium this AM dressed in our On Deck for the Cure T-shirts and pink bracelets. There were 200+ people altogether. The cruise director, Bruce, read us an email he had gotten from his sister-in-law this morning. She had a double mastectomy four days ago and her message was very moving. We did a few stretches and then proceeded out to the deck to begin our walk. At the end of the walk they had pink lemonade for everyone and I’m sitting here enjoying mine right now.
Next stop Papeete, Tahiti.
2 comments:
Bring it on! I read every word with excitement. I was just thinking how this blog will become the documentation of this is truly adventurous journey.
Love Sil
Suzanne,
When I first logged onto your blog I only read a few days' worth. I didn't read the part where you said you'd had a mastectomy. I just read that. I'm so sorry. There are so many women I know who've been affected- my sister, my mother in law, my grandmother, my best friend in high school...it goes on and on and I'm at high risk myself. A race for the cure is very close to my heart too. Thank you and Ed for what you did on the ship. I was so appreciative of Bruce making such a point about the race on board. Some really good news is that my sister is twelve years past her diagnosis and is thriving! You sure seem to be too! Well, take care and keep having fun out there. Can't wait to hear from your next port.
Love to you and Ed,
Claudia Hardwick
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