around the world in 106 days with ray & claire!! part 29 – tahiti
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Around the World in 106 Days with Ray & Claire!! Part 29 – Tahiti. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Around the World in 106 Days with
Ray & Claire!!
Part 29 – Tahiti
Crystal-clear waters, spectacular coral reefs and black sand beaches surround the island of Tahiti whose landscape - as it was formed from volcanic activity - consists of towering volcanic peaks reaching over dense rainforests of soft ferns, plunging deep into the sea. At high altitudes, the dark, moist tree-ferns blanket the forests and beautiful waterfalls cascade into cool rivers and
streams.Truly and “Island to dream of” (but expensive for a foreigner to live on!)
The word tattoo originated in Tahiti and the legend of To-Hu (the god of tattoo) describes painting all the oceans’ fish in beautiful
colours and patterns.
In Polynesian culture, tattoos have long been
considered signs of beauty and in earlier times were ceremoniously applied
when reaching adolescence
On our travels around the Island we saw many locals wearing at least one flower behind their ear or stacked into a bun
Worn behind both ears means you are married but still available and if it is worn
backward behind your ear, it means you are available -
immediately!
Apparently there exists in Polynesia a true "language of flowers" such as a flower worn behind your right ear, means you are single and
available. Worn behind your left ear means you
are married, engaged or
otherwise taken
The beauty, drama, and power of today’s Tahitian dance testify its resilience in Polynesian culture. In ancient times, dances were directly linked with all aspects of life.
One would dance for joy, to welcome a visitor, to pray to a god, to challenge an enemy, and to seduce a mate
Dance is still accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as thunderous drums, conch shells and harmonic nasal flutes.
One of the most widely recognised
images of the islands is the world famous Tahitian dance
- The Otea.
The name Tahiti invokes many tales of legends, and lifetimes of daydreams! It is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society
Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia
Tahiti is estimated to have been colonised between 300 and 800 AD by settlers from Asia who drifted thousands of miles across the Pacific
The era of European exploration began in the 1500s, when Magellan spotted the atoll of Puka-Puka in 1521 which is now part of Tuamotu Archipelago.
In 1595,the Spanish explorer Mendaña visited Fatu Hiva Island in the Marquesas.
More than 170 years later, Captain Samuel Wallis and the H.M.S. Dolphin was the first to visit the island of Tahiti during his journey to discover “Terra Austral Incognita”, a mythical landmass
below the equator thought to balance the northern hemisphere. Wallis named the island of Tahiti “King George III Island” and claimed it for England - but soon after (and unaware of Wallis’ arrival) French navigator Louis-Antoine de Bougainville landed on
the opposite side of Tahiti and claimed it for the King of France – whoops!
(1) European fascination with the islands grew and grew as news spread through tales of
tropical beauty and the warm nature of the Tahitian people.
(2) Knowledge of Tahiti and the South Pacific continued to grow as Capt. James Cook (think that e have come across this fellow somewhere else haven’t we?!!)
brought back thousands of illustrations of Tahitian flora and fauna as well as the first
map of the islands of the Pacific.
(3) In the 1800s, it was the arrival of whalers, British missionaries, and French military expeditions who changed the way of life on
Tahiti forever and created a French-British rivalry for control of the islands. France emerged as the
colonial power by 1842
In 1847 Queen Pomare accepted the protection of
France
However, it wasn't until the hereditary leader, Pomare 5th,
abdicated his throne in 1880 (in exchange for a life’s pension for himself!) that France came to full
power in the region
In 1957, all the islands of Tahiti were reconstituted as the overseas French territory called French Polynesia. Since 1984, a statute of autonomy was implemented and, in 1998, French Polynesia became an overseas country with greater self-governing powers and their own Assembly and
President.
Tahiti - often called “The Island of Love” - has a population of around 178,000
and is the most populous island of French Polynesia, accounting for around 68% of the group's total
population
The island consists of two roughly round portions centred on volcanic
mountains, the north-western portion is known as Tahiti Nooeee (or Big Tahiti or Tahiti Nui) while the much smaller
south-eastern portion is known as Tahiti Eetteei (or Small Tahit, or Taiara-
Pu.
Tahiti Nui is heavily populated along the coast, especially around the capital
Papeete.
We docked at Quay D’honneur which was very convenient as it is virtually at the centre of the Town, the shopping area, the market, cathedral, post office and town hall
Yes, I have found the
Market on the map.....but let’s go and have a look around the Town first
At the Tourist Office we were
serenaded by a local group whilst
the coconut (what an
extremely useful nut this is!) bra’d
maidens prepared the
garlands
..and on the seafront were some really pleasant gardens
where (at night) local vendors set up mini-restaurants and local
musicians play
The early days of the Catholic Church in French Polynesia go back to 1834.
Established for over 30 years in Tahiti then in the Society Islands,
The Protestant missionaries were having a hard time bringing Christianity to these islands which is why Picpucian Fathers
Caret and Laval, chased away from Hawaii by the British in 1834, chose the Gambier Islands to settle in Polynesia. A cathedral
was then built on the island of Mangareva, probably the most beautiful of all
Polynesian islands.
Proud of their experience, while conflicts between Tahitians and colonists were
fading away, the Catholics finally landed in Tahiti and, in 1856, they built the Notre-Dame de Papeete Cathedral in Papeete
This imposing green roofed church (the Pao-Fai Church) is on the site of the first Protestant church, which was built in the early 19th century but reconstructed in 1981
The town hall – located on Paul Gaugin Street, just up from the quay - was built in 1990 and intended as a
replica of the old Queen's palace
Just one block inland from the centre of the waterfront, Claire found this colourful market – known locally as "Le Marche" – which, is in a sense, the heart of the city.
It has become a tourist and traveller's sightseeing favourite due to its brightly coloured vendors and attractive Tahitian products such as hats and Handbags, shell necklaces (and guess who
purchased one?!) and was a lovely place to visit – especially as the prices were fairly reasonable and it had a local group playing Tahitian tunes for us
We wandered among the many stands and displays and found such products as ripe fruits and vegetables, scented soaps,
vanilla beans, cakes and pies, fruit preserves, dancing costumes and clothing,
woven hats and bags
The market is on two floors including beautiful displays of orchids and a number of
(quite expensive compared to Bora Bora) stalls selling black pearls
The amazing Tahitian Black Pearl is called the King of the Pearls
This necklace looks nice......!
You did bring your wallet
with you didn't you?
...and Claire only purchased a flower for
her hair – see right hand side
On the outskirts of the town is the Bougainville Park, named after Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
The plant, bougainvillea, was also given his name after it
was first sighted in Brazil by a botanist travelling with de
Bougainville.
He was an early Pacific explorer who returned from Tahiti to
France with tales of the primitive people he had met on the island.
There were a number of tours on offer from the Ship and we chose “In Paul Gaugins footsteps” which, as well as the Gaugin Museum also took in the Museum of Tahiti and the Marae
Arahurahu
...we also
passed about 5 miles of Shanty Town
leading up to
Tahiti’s Airport
On the way the National Museum, we
passed alongside about 2 miles of beautiful
gardens and parkland
...and a lovely olde worlde shack
...some roadside shops
..and another type of “joint”
At La Pointe des Pecheurs (Fishermen’s Point) we stopped at the Museum of Tahiti and Her
Islands which is known to have one of the best collections in the Pacific.
This museum had not only a number of archaeological finds but, our Tour Guide (Lidia), helped us to gain an
impression of the island’s geology, its flora and fauna and to learn about the
culture and customs of ancient and modern Tahiti
Part of the Royal Pomare Dynasty of Tahiti
Cooking Pots “Missionaries for the use of”
An ancient Polynesian boat
..but look how it is all held together!
Some ancient Polynesian fishing pots for the “Algar
Boys” to copy!
Have you any idea what this was for? (it was about 12 ft long by the way)
No, it wasn't a canoe..................
.....it was for mixing flour for the village
There are hundreds of these Tikis on Tahiti and I think
that they originally came from Easter Island didn't they?
Come back again real
soon!
Going onto the Gauguin Museum we passed many different types
and styles of churches
We also passed a Noni producer (see green sheds and fields) which is a massage oil
...and also a roadside vendor selling fresh fish
(and yes, for a change it had decided to pour with rain!)
The highlight of the tour was “supposed” to be a visit to the Paul
Gauguin Museum – but unfortunately, it was very poorly
maintained (for example the room housing the carvings had no
electricity in it)
However, set in a tropical garden, this museum (which was/is dedicated to Gauguin's life in French Polynesia) was certainly worth a visit
Paul Gauguin (or Eugene Henri Paul Gauguin) was born in 1848 in Paris.
In his life he experienced bouts of depression and at one time attempted suicide, but it was his dream to find a tropical paradise, where he could 'live on fish and fruit' and paint in his increasingly primitive style.
Gauguin lived in Polynesia from June 1891 to August 1893, and again from August 1895 until May 1903 when he died in the Marquesas Island and where he is buried on Hiva Oa
The time he spent in Tahiti and the Marquesas, was the subject of much
interest both then and in modern times due to his alleged sexual exploits, as he
was known to have had trysts with several very young native girls, some of
whom appear as subjects of his paintings.
A self Portrait
The famous sketch by Gauguin
Gauguin by Picasso and Picasso by
Gauguin
A model of Gauguin’s Tahitian House
Unfortunately no major works of art are kept here, as they are prized possessions of galleries around the world – particularly in St Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum.
Also (unfortunate for him) he didn't get a chance to paint that young maiden under the tree!
Views from the garden
Our final stop was the Marae of Arahurahu
On the way there we passed some quaint little villages and a huge great
nursery
Situated in a pretty little valley the Marae of Arahurahu is the only one that has been fully restored in the whole of Polynesia and is Tahiti's best example of an ancient Royal Polynesian
temple and meeting place
On the way back to the Ship we passed some
lovely scenery
..and a selection of “buildings”
I wonder if Barry has sorted out the greenhouses at Riddiford Yet?
I wonder what he has got to
photograph now?
Doesn't he know that it is
time to Buckle up and sail for The
Marquesas Islands?!
Hey Ray, with three days at sea and plenty to do in the evenings, you had better service your camera – it is taking fuzzy pictures right
now
Smart a***
American
!
Tropical Night
20 Mar 2012
The hip shaking was so fast that the camera couldn't keep up with it –
even at high speed
Go Claire –
GO!!
She was
fabulous and
we have
made her an
honoury
Team
Member
21Mar 2012
You are too late Ray –
this seat is taken!!
22 Mar 2012