Rangiroa, French Polynesia

It was another hot but beautiful day in the Polynesian islands. We arrived around 7 a.m. and were off the ship by around 8:30 a.m. Rangiroa (“huge sky”}  is the old Paumotu name of the Rangiroa’s atoll. An atoll is a body of water separated from a large body of water by a natural barrier (I had to look that up). 

 

Rangiroa means "huge sky"

We did ride the tender over to the island today – it was just too gorgeous not to! I’m so thankful, though, that we didn’t have an excursion planned. We walked around for a bit under umbrellas (the sun is brutal!) but didn’t stay too long. There were the usual arts and craft booths set up for cruise visitors and of course different excursions offered, mostly to do with snorkeling and water-related sports and one to a local black pearl factory. 

 

bridge from tender to shore

Oceania's Vista - our home away from home

We were greeted by male and female hula dancers along with a drummer. I managed to snap a few pictures as we passed by. After my one hula lesson, I've developed a greater appreciation for their artistry.

 

Rangiroa is the largest atoll of French Polynesia and the second largest in the world. The inhabitants of Rangiroa live in 2 main villages - Avatoru and Tiputa, 2 islets separated by a pass. The rest of the atoll is almost uninhabited except for coconut plantations where the coprah is cultivated. (I had to look that one up too.) Coprah is “the dried, white flesh or kernel of the coconut, produced by sun-drying or smoking. It is primarily processed to extract coconut oil and is a valuable agricultural commodity used in making soaps, detergents, shampoos, and margarine. The byproduct, copra cake, is used as livestock feed.” I think it’s cool how all the parts are used, and even the shells are used in craft making.

 

jewelry made using black pearls

  

Although it was only 82 degrees, the humidity was high, making it feel much hotter. Oceania really looks after us by offering wet towels from an ice chest and ice cold water as we straggle back to the tender.

 

 

 

 

I think I may have relapsed from my crud, maybe from overdoing it the day before yesterday? My cough has returned and I’m not feeling well. Unfortunately we have excursions booked (and pre-paid) for the next 2 days, so I will drag myself out unless there is just no way.

Here’s a link on Rangiroa if interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangiroa As always, thanks for following along.

 

PS This afternoon there was an "code mike" announcement over the ship's loud speaker. We all know this is not good when this happens, or at least know that someone's health is in serious jeopardy. Never do we expect it to be someone we know. However, a couple from Ft. Worth that we met on our 2023 ATW cruise is once again sailing with us. They had an excursion to go snorkeling this afternoon. Apparently she collapsed and died from a heart attack while snorkeling. He will be flying home with her body the day after tomorrow. I won't mention his name, but please pray for him. Of course he is still in shock. 

Land! I see land!

After 11 days straight with only 1 (very stormy) day in port, I was sooo happy to step foot on dry land! We arrived in Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia around 7 a.m. Land! I see land! After 11 days straight with only 1 (very stormy) day in port, I was sooo happy to step foot on dry land! We arrived in Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia around 7 a.m. Being a small island with a shallow bay, a large cruise ship is unable to dock, making it necessary to tender in.  Everyone on the ship was ready to get off, as evidenced by the wait inside hot tenders to carry us back and forth to the island.

 

At only 127 square miles, Nuku Hiva  is the largest of the Marquesas Islands. This island was the inspiration for 2 of Herman Melville’s novels, one in which he summed up Nuku Hiva as a “country that no description could fit the beauty.” I must agree with him – the island is gorgeous! Hot and humid, but gorgeous! 

 

lots of color

lush and tropical vegetation

We did not book an excursion there, but were happy just to walk around and take in its beauty. Upon the arrival of our tender, we were greeted with plumeria blossoms for our hair, local dancers, drummers and ukulele players performing. 

 

friendly native dancers

4, 6 and  8 string ukuleles

 

From there we went through a small market where locals were selling their arts and crafts, along with local produce. Some offered wood carvings while others offered an array of handmade jewelry and souvenir type items.

 

 

Regarding the locals diet, it tends to be breadfruit, taro, manioc, coconut and many kinds of fruit which grow there in abundance. Goats, fish and (more rarely) pigs are the main sources of meat, but there is a growing amount of local beef available. By the way, Ronnie learned in trivia that the most fattening fruit is….guess what? Coconut!

mango tree loaded with fruit

 

acai berries on palm

 

Once on the island, we weren’t sure whether to turn right or left, so we ended up walking both directions. First we turned to the right and climbed Tuhiva Hill, where we saw many large stone carvings. 

 

The largest, which overlooks the bay of Taiohae was the Tiki Tuhiva. It is a 40 foot sculpture of 2 Tiki people, the female and tallest of the two representing the guardian of tradition and knowledge and the male representing a warrior imposing his power. 

 

side view, Ronnie under Tiki warrior

front view, female guardian of wisdom and knowledge

Coming back down and heading back the other direction, we walked at least a mile (felt like more) to see the Notre Dame Cathedral of the Marquesas, an open air church known for its unique Polynesian architecture. It is famous for its massive wood-carved pulpit, local stone statues and wood from all 6 of the Marquesan islands. Of course I took lots of photos.

entrance to Notre Dame Cathedral grounds

large carvings stand on either side of front doors

 

elaborately carved pulpit

Between the heat and perhaps a little dehydration, I had to take several rest stops on my way back. Ronnie, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to run on land back to the tender dock. 

 

Vista from my shady resting spot

Worrying about what was taking me so long, he came to meet me with water. I was so thankful that we took one of the earlier tenders because there were still people arriving as we were leaving. I can’t imagine how they handled the mid-day heat!

I forgot to mention that Survivor Season #4 was filmed on Nuku Hiva.