Society High

Avalon
Mon 13 Oct 2003 04:05
  
 
The seldom heard of island of Huahine is one of French Polynesia's 6 Society Islands. With only 2 hotels and a lovely sleepily little portside village,
 this island is a great escape from the tourist centres.
 
 
 
The water colours and dramatic landscape are as beautiful as ever with the added bonus of uncrowded beaches and extensive historical ruins.
 
      
 
After a hike to the mountain top we lunched on beautiful organic salads and fish at "Eden Parc" farm. 
 
      
 
Training for the famous Hua'uaki  canoe race was taking place through out all of French Polynesia. The big race starts here in November,
crossing the open ocean to Raiatea and then around Tahaa and finishing in Bora Bora, about 100 miles paddled over 3 gruelling days.
The local men certainly have the muscle for it.
 
    
 
Finding a flat work surface to rebuild some of our canvas covers lead us borrowing the veranda of the local electric company's office one Sunday.
Not surprisingly we attracted the attention of lots of local Sunday strollers, straining our poor French to give a reasonable explanation of our actives.