Driving around Nuku Hiva

Lynn & Mike ..around the world
Mike Drinkrow & Lynn v/d Hoven
Sun 28 Apr 2013 18:17
Driving around Nuku Hiva
 
Yesterday we rented a car (double cab 4x4) to take a drive around the island. It is very mountainous, and although the roads are fairly good, there are patches of gravel and some very steep turns.  Seems cars only really need 3 gears here!   The countryside is very lush, with lots of  goats, roosters , cows and pigs, as well as banana, mango, guava, papaya and coconut trees. There are also an extraordinary number of horses, some tethered and some wild. 
We visited some ancient ruins - where many thousands of Polynesians lived before the British and French brought their disease to kill people and their Christian morals to kill their culture. Can you believe that the missionaries actually banned tattoos, dancing and music ...forcing the people to adopt Christianity.
 
Here are some pictures:
 
 
looking back down on Taiohae Bay
 
 
 
Giant Banyan Tree                                                                Tahakia Ruins
 
   
 
Roosters everywhere!                                                                     Hatiheu Beach
 
  
 
Multi-coloured Hibiscus                                                                               Wood carved sign with traditional images

  
 
Aakapa Bay in the north                                                                           Entrance to the cathedral of the Marquesas