Nuku Hiva

Friday 23^rd of March

When you think it can’t get any better, when you think you have seen it before that’s when it happens and you realise that the element of surprise hits you right in the eye. These Polynesians Islands are so beautiful and we have seen Bora Bora and Tahiti and now Nuku Hiva!

This Island is more than beautiful and if Bora Bora and Tahiti can be outshone this island certainly does. The comment I heard over and over again when we were enjoying last evening’s sail away in the balmy air and blissful evening was “this is paradise”.

Nuku Hiva is and Island in the Marquese Archepeligo and is a French colony. 2,500 inhabitants and an \island of extremely beautiful scenery covered with forests mountains and many shade of green. The blue sea laps the bay where children are playing on the beach. The sun shines down in the heat  to which we have tried to be accustomed, but again it is humidly very very hot.

We were tendered ashore and “Black Watch” was anchored in the bay. I cannot sescribe adequately the beauty of this place, you will have to come here yourselves to see it.

We did not have an organised tour, but wandered ourselves along the sea front stopping at a café for refreshment and talking to the locals who again were so friendly.

There is a cathedral on this Island which is dramatically beautiful. Dramatic because it is located in the natural beauty of the Island. There is an outdoor church and an indoor church. This is a building which naturally assumes a presence of God and is so conducive to worship.

The wood carvings one could look at and study for long periods of time not just because of their content but because of the craft work and sheer artistry that is so evident. The lectern itself is carved out of one piec of wood and measures around 4 to 5 feet tall with a diameter of around 3 feet. Apparently so we were told that when there is a service the whole outdoor is filled with worshippers and instrumentalists enjoying the service in happiness and harmony.

When I returned to the ship, Suuske went out again and discovered a churchyard where she enjoyed a pastime of looking at the dates on the tombstones and wondering who the people were and how they lived. A pastime inherited somewhat from her father who used to enjoy this as well.

Incidentally, in all of the Polynesian Islands it is a tradition that if too many boys are born into a family then one is chosen to be brought up as a girl. This is ti insure that there are enough people in a family to do the traditional home chores usually done by women. In this modern age it still takes place but the boy has to agree and volunteer to be the “girl”. When we were back on ship Suuske said that she thought that the “girl” who served us in the café could have been one of these “boys”. I cannot say truthfully that I particularly noticed but “she” was about 25 years old, nicely featured with a nice face not particular masculine and no sign of facial hair She had a well-defined but small bust line and a thickset waist. Because her legs were covered with a calf length skirt it was not possible to say about leg shape. As I say I did not at the time think about it and it only came to my mind because of what Suuske had said. It is certain that women are more aware of these things and are more likely to take notice of something like this. I put it to your judgement!!

What a wonderful time we all had in this magnificently beautiful place.

Pictures to be posted tomorrow