Begin forwarded message:
From: Ken Burns <knpburns@yahoo.com>
Date: March 22, 2012 12:53:42 PM PDT
To: Pats Gazette <epochref.patsgazette@blogger.com>
Subject: Wednesday Raiatea French Polynesia
Wednesday March21 Raiatea -- Society Islands -- French Polynesia
A little background from the onboard blurb. Raiatea, the second largest island in French Polynesia, is located 120 miles northwest of Tahiti. Tahitians believe Raiatea to be the sacred birthplace of their gods and their religious and cultural beginnings.
Don, Linda, Ken and I opted for a river tour up the Faaroa River, the only navigable river in French Polynesia and a visit at Marae Taputaputea, said to be the best preserved and most sacred site of pre-missionary Polynesia.
Our ship docked at Uturoa, a quaint little village that reflected Polynesian friendliness and extended welcome to our ship and the inhabitants aboard. The Captain of our skiff was a handsome young man who looked to be in his mid to late 20s. He expressed pride in phis adopted homeland. He was born in Australia, lived in South Africa until he was 13 when he moved with his family to French Polynesia.
Our departure from Raiatea as we Wound our way throughthe bay leading to our destination,the lagoon off Bora Bora was some of the most scenic and picturesque of my travel experience. These islands are awesome in their lush beauty that portrays a happy simple life in tune with nature and it's neighbors.
On to Bora Bora, the island that Michener deemed the World's most beautiful island.
