Rangiroa, June 2012

If you look at our previous posts you can see that Rangiroa is a special place for us. The Aranui 3 makes its last stop here before heading back to Pape'ete, Tahiti. There are plenty of activities such as a pearl farm visit, diving, snorkeling, glass-viewing boats, and a delicious local style BBQ with plenty of grilled lagoon fish. Great way to wind-down this incredible, unique cruise.

Our former village home of Tiputa, Rangiroa

Pearl production and demonstration at Gauguin Pearl Farm

Manaarii (on right) and Rangiroa friend always playing music!

Awesome local grilled lagoon fish (parrot fish etc).

Always playing pétanque - Rangiroa won the championship in Tahiti this year! Serious these buggas!

Koutau nui (mahalo nui!) for making the time to visit our little blog. 

Stop back again for future adventure updates! 

Mālama Pono!

A hui hou!

~ Victoria ❤

Ua Huka and Tahuata, June 2012

The Aranui also stops at Tahuata and Ua Huka, which have the atmosphere of being really off the beaten path. We stop at Vaitahu, on Tahuata, which is the main village and the first village that Europeans (Mendaña) arrived in 1595.  It has a unique history of politics. Ua Huka also has its uniqueness in that its terrain is more windswept and rugged, along with two unique and interesting local museums and a well-represented tropical botanical garden. The many wandering horses on this little island are everywhere and you can ride one if you wish.

Church at Vaitahu, Tahuata

Traditional carved stone canoe weights

Sewn-plank canoe from the Austral Islands

Horses at Hane, Ua Huka (on top of Dr. Sinoto's famous archaeology site!).

Hane, Ua Huka - site where Dr. Sinoto excavated back in the 1960s and '70s

Getting back to the Aranui in the whale boats - the crewmembers are amazing in getting you on the boat!

Koutau nui (mahalo nui!) for making the time to visit our little blog. 

Stop back again for future adventure updates! 

Mālama Pono!

A hui hou!

~ Victoria ❤