Astrid and Francis

Friday we flew from Bora Bora to Raiatea, the sacred island that was home base for all of Polynesian culture.



Quite to our surprise, we found ourself lodged in the middle of the jungle, miles from any restaurant or shop. Maybe we should have read our travel guide more carefully? Anyway, we had no choice but to cook our own meals and to pluck both familiar and strange, unknown fruit from the trees to survive. It all tasted quite good, actually. It did help that we had taken with us a stock of Hinanu beer.





At our pension we found some bikes to our disposal and we explored a bit of the island. The traditional temples, the maraes, are impressive, even if they're just very simple structures. Astrid did a couple of long time exposures of them (as she did of some other spots on the island).






We did some kayaking and snorkeling and saw more rays, squid and a baby shark. Francis hopes that we will see some mean, grown up sharks really soon! Astrid does not seem to be so keen... Will she have a choice?



While we're writing this, it's pitch black dark around us and the air is filled with the sound of a zillion insects, reptiles, birds and even some higher level organisms. Astrid? Oh yeah, let's not forget the sound of falling coconuts and the roar of the distant ocean.

Tuesday we'll leave for Maupiti, a small island. We hope we'll find some Internet access over there. If not, we'll update you in about two weeks from now. Ciao!