Around the World in 106 Days with Ray & Claire!! Part 29 – Tahiti

1. Around the World in 106 Days with Ray & Claire!! Part 29 – Tahiti

2. Crystal-clear waters, spectacular coral reefs and black sand beaches surround the island of Tahiti whose landscape - as it was formed from volcanic activity - consists of towering volcanic peaks reaching over dense rainforests of soft ferns, plunging deep into the sea. At high altitudes, the dark, moist tree-ferns blanket the forests and beautiful waterfalls cascade into cool rivers and streams. Truly and “Island to dream of” (but expensive for a foreigner to live on!)

3. The word tattoo originated in Tahiti and the legend of To-Hu (the god of tattoo) describes painting all the oceans’ fish in beautiful colours and patterns. In Polynesian culture, tattoos have long been considered signs of beauty and in earlier times were ceremoniously applied when reaching adolescence

4. On our travels around the Island we saw many locals wearing at least one flower behind their ear or stacked into a bun

5. Apparently there exists in Polynesia a true "language of flowers" such as a flower worn behind your right ear, means you are single and available. Worn behind your left ear means you are married, engaged or otherwise taken • Worn behind both ears means you are married but still available and if it is worn backward behind your ear, it means you are available - immediately!

6. One of the most widely recognised images of the islands is the world famous Tahitian dance - The Otea. The beauty, drama, and power of today’s Tahitian dance testify its resilience in Polynesian culture. In ancient times, dances were directly linked with all aspects of life. One would dance for joy, to welcome a visitor, to pray to a god, to challenge an enemy, and to seduce a mate Dance is still accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as thunderous drums, conch shells and harmonic nasal flutes.

7. The name Tahiti invokes many tales of legends, and lifetimes of daydreams! It is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia

8. Tahiti is estimated to have been colonised between 300 and 800 AD by settlers from Asia who drifted thousands of miles across the Pacific

9. The era of European exploration began in the 1500s, when Magellan spotted the atoll of Puka-Pukain 1521 which is now part of Tuamotu Archipelago. In 1595,the Spanish explorer Mendaña visited FatuHiva Island in the Marquesas.

10. More than 170 years later, Captain Samuel Wallis and the H.M.S. Dolphin was the first to visit the island of Tahiti during his journey to discover “Terra Austral Incognita”, a mythical landmass below the equator thought to balance the northern hemisphere. Wallis named the island of Tahiti “King George III Island” and claimed it for England - but soon after (and unaware of Wallis’ arrival) French navigator Louis-Antoine de Bougainville landed on the opposite side of Tahiti and claimed it for the King of France – whoops!

11. (1) European fascination with the islands grew and grew as news spread through tales of tropical beauty and the warm nature of the Tahitian people. (3) In the 1800s, it was the arrival of whalers, British missionaries, and French military expeditions who changed the way of life on Tahiti forever and created a French-British rivalry for control of the islands. France emerged as the colonial power by 1842 (2) Knowledge of Tahiti and the South Pacific continued to grow as Capt. James Cook (think that e have come across this fellow somewhere else haven’t we?!!) brought back thousands of illustrations of Tahitian flora and fauna as well as the first map of the islands of the Pacific.

12. In 1847 Queen Pomare accepted the protection of France However, it wasn't until the hereditary leader, Pomare 5th, abdicated his throne in 1880 (in exchange for a life’s pension for himself!) that France came to full power in the region In 1957, all the islands of Tahiti were reconstituted as the overseas French territory called French Polynesia. Since 1984, a statute of autonomy was implemented and, in 1998, French Polynesia became an overseas country with greater self-governing powers and their own Assembly and President.

13. Tahiti - often called “The Island of Love” - has a population of around 178,000 and is the most populous island of French Polynesia, accounting for around 68% of the group's total population The island consists of two roughly round portions centred on volcanic mountains, the north-western portion is known as Tahiti Nooeee (or Big Tahiti or Tahiti Nui) while the much smaller south-eastern portion is known as Tahiti Eetteei (or Small Tahit, or Taiara-Pu. Tahiti Nui is heavily populated along the coast, especially around the capital Papeete.

14. We docked at Quay D’honneur which was very convenient as it is virtually at the centre of the Town, the shopping area, the market, cathedral, post office and town hall

15. Yes, I have found the Market on the map.....but let’s go and have a look around the Town first

16. At the Tourist Office we were serenaded by a local group whilst the coconut (what an extremely useful nut this is!) bra’d maidens prepared the garlands

17. ..and on the seafront were some really pleasant gardens where (at night) local vendors set up mini-restaurants and local musicians play

18. The early days of the Catholic Church in French Polynesia go back to 1834. Established for over 30 years in Tahiti then in the Society Islands, The Protestant missionaries were having a hard time bringing Christianity to these islands which is why Picpucian Fathers Caret and Laval, chased away from Hawaii by the British in 1834, chose the Gambier Islands to settle in Polynesia. A cathedral was then built on the island of Mangareva, probably the most beautiful of all Polynesian islands. • Proud of their experience, while conflicts between Tahitians and colonists were fading away, the Catholics finally landed in Tahiti and, in 1856, they built the Notre-Dame de Papeete Cathedral in Papeete

19. This imposing green roofed church (the Pao-Fai Church) is on the site of the first Protestant church, which was built in the early 19th century but reconstructed in 1981 The town hall – located on Paul Gaugin Street, just up from the quay - was built in 1990 and intended as a replica of the old Queen's palace

21. Just one block inland from the centre of the waterfront, Claire found this colourful market – known locally as "Le Marche" – which, is in a sense, the heart of the city. It has become a tourist and traveller's sightseeing favourite due to its brightly coloured vendors and attractive Tahitian products such as hats and Handbags, shell necklaces (and guess who purchased one?!) and was a lovely place to visit – especially as the prices were fairly reasonable and it had a local group playing Tahitian tunes for us

23. We wandered among the many stands and displays and found such products as ripe fruits and vegetables, scented soaps, vanilla beans, cakes and pies, fruit preserves, dancing costumes and clothing, woven hats and bags The market is on two floors including beautiful displays of orchids and a number of (quite expensive compared to Bora Bora) stalls selling black pearls

24. The amazing Tahitian Black Pearl is called the King of the Pearls

25. This necklace looks nice......! You did bring your wallet with you didn't you?

26. ...and Claire only purchased a flower for her hair – see right hand side

27. On the outskirts of the town is the Bougainville Park, named after Louis-Antoine de Bougainville He was an early Pacific explorer who returned from Tahiti to France with tales of the primitive people he had met on the island. The plant, bougainvillea, was also given his name after it was first sighted in Brazil by a botanist travelling with de Bougainville.

28. There were a number of tours on offer from the Ship and we chose “In Paul Gaugins footsteps” which, as well as the Gaugin Museum also took in the Museum of Tahiti and the MaraeArahurahu

29. On the way the National Museum, we passed alongside about 2 miles of beautiful gardens and parkland ...we also passed about 5 miles of Shanty Town leading up to Tahiti’s Airport ...and a lovely olde worlde shack

30. ...some roadside shops ..and another type of “joint”

32. At La Pointe des Pecheurs (Fishermen’s Point) we stopped at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands which is known to have one of the best collections in the Pacific. This museum had not only a number of archaeological finds but, our Tour Guide (Lidia), helped us to gain an impression of the island’s geology, its flora and fauna and to learn about the culture and customs of ancient and modern Tahiti

34. Part of the Royal Pomare Dynasty of Tahiti

37. Cooking Pots “Missionaries for the use of”

38. An ancient Polynesian boat

39. ..but look how it is all held together!

42. Some ancient Polynesian fishing pots for the “Algar Boys” to copy!

44. Have you any idea what this was for? (it was about 12 ft long by the way) No, it wasn't a canoe.................. .....it was for mixing flour for the village

46. There are hundreds of these Tikis on Tahiti and I think that they originally came from Easter Island didn't they?

48. Come back again real soon!

49. Going onto the Gauguin Museum we passed many different types and styles of churches

50. We also passed a Noni producer (see green sheds and fields) which is a massage oil ...and also a roadside vendor selling fresh fish (and yes, for a change it had decided to pour with rain!)