Jacaranda Journey

Six inhabited islands. Fatu Hiva is the southernmost island and off the beaten track.

The high peak in the background was the first part of the Marquesas Islands sighted by Mendaña in 1595.

Rugged coastline. Jacaranda is the boat on the right side of the group. (Photo: svSodric)

Jacaranda in the Bay of Virgins. Sunset was a spectacular time of day.

Jacaranda at anchor in Bay of Virgins (Photo: svSodric)

A faint rainbow arched over the scene, implying the pot of gold might just lay in the village of Hanavave tucked into a corner ahead.

Fatu Hiva is the only island that still makes this traditional cloth from pounded bark, originally used for clothing. Today tapa is decorated with designs for sale to tourists.

Colonization of French Polynesia was a war of the missionaries. The Marquesas are mainly Catholic while the rest of the island groups are Protestant.

Local grocery store

House made of plaited bamboo and plywood; the colorful vegetation is common

The old store

The stream which ran through the middle of town emptied out on to the beach in the Bay of Virgins

Walking out of town along the river toward the waterfall

Chuck with Isabelle and Jean Pierre of svSodric

Looking toward the bay and its pillars

Vaiéé-Nui Waterfall seen from a distance (Photo: svSodric)

Linda and Isabelle swimming in the cold pool with shrimp and eels

Returning from the Vaiéé-Nui Falls with Isabelle from svSodric

The town is full of dogs used for hunting goats and pigs; they are all basically mutts from a hound breed

Chickens are everywhere, especially wild ones. There is no cockfighting on the Islands; pet chickens are used to hunt wild ones.

Lots of flowering plants in gardens

This boat brings the teenagers who are going to high school in Tahiti back to Fatu Hiva for the holidays.

svSpace and svOrion rafted up together in the Bay of Virgins

Jeremy, crew on svSpace, had Tedi (from Omoa) do this spectacular tattoo. Took three days and boy was he sore!

Jeremy, crew on svSpace, had Tedi (from Omoa) do this spectacular tattoo. Took three days and boy was he sore!

Augustine paused from chanting to strike up a conversation with Linda. Her husband Lucien sits to the right of her playing the guitar.

Children's dance troupe

Kati, "chief" of the children's dance group, oversees practice

Children's dance group practicing

Too young to join the child dancers who perform in the village (age 8 and up), this kid rocks out on the sidelines.

She's got the right idea!

Marquesan woman and child watching dance practice

Adult dance troupe practicing in the evenings

Adult dance troupe practicing in the evenings

Tiki carvings from seashell by an artisan named Mark

Augustine's brother-in-law is an expert carver. We purchased these two pieces from him.

Temo's expert carvings

Seeds for making jewelry

Temo's house with "Je Suis Charlie" sign on the wall

Kati, "chief" of the children's dance group, making costumes for the kids

Kati showing part of the costume on her granddaughter