Nuku Hiva

 

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After departing Honolulu, we headed south to the Marquesas.

This was the only ship we saw while we were away from land and it was also a long way from us.

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Part of a lecture by Dr Dave on Dolphins and their echo location systems.

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We crossed the equator and that of course called for a ceremony.

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Neptune arrived with entourage

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and set up ready for the ceremony.

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Instead of slime we were doused with ice water,

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but we had to kiss a real fish!

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Elisabeth seemed to enjoy it,

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but I was not so certain.

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That was rather cold!

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The fish really did not look so inviting!

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Ugh!

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Elisabeth got quite friendly with Neptune.

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The mermaid had a great costume.

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When all was over, Neptune was doused with the rest of the ice water.

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The next day we were treated to a gala brunch and the cooks all tried to excel the others with creativeness.

There were some very artistic creations.

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The food was also delicious!

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How about a watermelon.

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The desert table.

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Ice sculpture.

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The bread table.

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Mmm!  No calories of course!

Nuku Hiva is the largest iasland in the Marquesas group and is, as are most islands here, an extinct volcano.

The caldera has emptied into the ocean to the south of the island forming two large bays. We anchored in Bae de Taohae and

went ashore in the tenders. The island is extremely rugged with a few very small beaches.

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Aproaching Nuku Hiva before sun rise.

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The rugged south coast.

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The pilot boat.

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Waterfall

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On final approach!

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Taohae bay with the steep walls of the old caldera.

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Preparing the tenders and the landing platform.

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Looking out of the bay towards 'Ua Pou, on the horizon about 45 km to the South.

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Breakfast on the aft deck before going ashore.

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Welcome with a Gardenia blossom.

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Our tender.

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Dark sand beaches.

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A musical welcome.

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Letter openers in local style.

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Various local carvings.

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Tiki with children!

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Carved from the bill of billfish.

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The local council chambers

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Mangoes.

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Frangipanni

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Breadfruit.

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The new church and the remains of the old one.

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Biblical carvings in the local style.

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Bougainvillea.

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White bougainvillea.

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Similar to frangipanni but a different species.

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Hibiscus.

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The ancient ceremonial area. This table would have been for serving up the meat. They were canibals!

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Note the three sitting at the table eating with their hands!

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Sharpening stone.

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One has to imagine what the ceremonies here were like.

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The ceremonial area.

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We have seen these seeds floating in other parts of the Pacific. They are quite large.

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The first stop for yachts on the trip west across the Pacific.

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A large Tiki to welcome or scare off visitors!

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Time to head back to the ship.

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Beautiful weather.

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A lecture on Captian Cook by Joe Kess. He gave some very interesting presentations.

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Playing shuffle board with new friends from Germany. Our shoulders were sore afterwards.

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Dinner in the French restaurant, the Polo Grill.

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After dinner, we attended the show in the Regatta Lounge

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and the farewell from our first captain.

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He had been relieving while the regular captain of the Regatta was on holidays.

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This is quite a line up, but it is a good portion of the crew.

Some of the cooks to the left, some of the waiters etc to the right and other staff behind in the middle.

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