Jackamy - Exploring Tikehau

Exploring Tikehau

Jackamy

Paul & Derry Harper

Tue 4 May 2010 03:43

Tuesday 4th May

The wind is still gusting through the anchorage at around 20 knots so we had a rather unpleasant nights sleep. We were all keen to get off the boat this morning and what could be more appealing than a stroll along the beach!

As soon as we stepped on to the beach we stumbled across two gentlemen playing a ukulele and enjoying life. We were called over to where they were sat and hands were shook, it was a real treat meeting them both and a lovely start to our day.

Being serenaded by a local and below is his view all day every day - lucky man!

We knew this place was a little gem as soon as we arrived! After walking a little further we stumbled across a couple who were sitting in the shade weaving palm leaves. We were soon engaged in conversation, well kind of considering we don't speak French, but anyway yet again they turned out to be lovely people. The man gathered some coconuts for us to eat and then he set about knocking some fresh ones down from the tree for us to drink the milk. He told us that we could come back anytime and have some more as he had plenty, how generous!

To the left he is opening up the coconut husks and the right picture show's the tasty treat inside

He used his long stick to gather more and Amy took full advantage

The walk along the pink sand beach was spectacular and before long we reached a shallow channel where the lagoon and sea merged. The beach suddenly became more spectacular as we reached the corner and we couldn't resist a dip in the water. The wind is really whipping the seas up so it was a bit choppy but that didn't stop us.

Amy waded/swam her way across the channel to claim the little motu as hers. When she didn't return and we'd all donned our reef shoes we made our way over too to discover her lay down in the calm water on the other side. She probably wanted a bit of piece and quiet then we turned up - oops! It was silent over there, you couldn't hear anything but the waves breaking, it was absolutely beautiful.

I think she's trying to tell us something because she then swam off and claimed another little motu. This however wasn't big enough for her, she wanted the one in the distance. Since Manihi she hasn't stopped dreaming!

Since we've been here we've been trying to establish whether there are any restaurants or bars but the locals don't seem to understand. We've figured it out now though - the pensions/hotels have their own "restaurants" where the residents eat a set meal every night so whilst making our enquiries we eventually asked the right person and she invited us in for a drink and before long we were booked in for dinner the next night. This was excellent news as supplies are now running very very low on the boat. Whilst on our walk we stumbled across an actual restaurant in a superb setting, just off the beach where we had a coffee and a grenadine.

We took the road way back and discovered a bar and another shop. The bars are just peoples homes so they are dotted all over the place, you have to seek them out! The village is very tidy and the locals seem to be very proud of their homes as their gardens and drives are in pristine condition, many with flowers and shrubs absolutely everywhere. It's very pretty!