Northern Marquesas - 1 of 3
Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Thu 23 Jun 2011 15:35
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From our anchorage on Tahutua, we made a short 60 mile voyage north to the
island of Ua Puo, which
is part of the Northern Marquesas.
 Ua Pou is the -geologically - youngest of the islands, and has spectacular
outcrops of lava left by
the volcano that created it.
  The Aranui 3 was expected today, and the locals are preparing their exports
of fruit and vegetables.
They have their own individual crates which are consigned to the wholesales
in Papeete on Tahiti.
 Others were preparing for the Aranui passengers.....
 ...as Ua Pou is noted for its craftsmenship. This lady makes
beautiful tapas cloth with traditional
designs. Tapa is made from the bark of a tree, cut off in sheets and
soaked and pounded many times
to make a 'cloth'.
 Her husband is a wood carver. We thought this wood mask was
wonderful.
 The artist busy with his next creation.
   We moved around the north of the island to another anchorage....
 ....which has a very pretty village at the head of the bay.
 The village was like a little garden of Eden.
    These men were out fishing in their canoes.
 We had a brisk sail 25 miles north to the island of Nuku Hiva, the largest
island in the Marqusas and
the administrative centre. Our first anchorage as in Hatiheu Bay, a
very sheltered, almost landlocked
spot where we caught up with our friends on Sunburnt and Steel Sapphire,
last encountered in the
Galapagos. We all had dinner on Sunburnt (the white boat in the
background, with Steel Sapphire on
the right), barbequed tuna and lamb chops.
  This part of the anchorage is known as Daniel's Bay, after the family that
used to live here.
 The other part of the bay has a small village with half a dozen houses and
we landed here to walk up
the Hakui valley to the Vaipo waterall, the 3rd highest in the world
we are told.
    Next post, we walk to the waterfall.....
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