Fakarava Atoll
A brief squall rinsed the outer decks at sunrise and formed a showery veil across the glowing orange sun rising ahead of the ship. As the rain dissipated, we passed through Ngarue Channel into the inner waters of the huge atoll of Fakarava in the Tuamotu Archipelago. The ship soon anchored off of the town of Rotoava where the local people welcomed us ashore for the morning. Fragrant blossoms were handed out to each of us as we arrived onshore, and local musicians and dancers were playing and swaying in the gentle morning breeze. Black pearls and shell necklaces were being sold, and the entire harbor had a festive air as the first of many outrigger canoe races were beginning. Soon small groups of us were heading out to explore the small town and surrounding area. Many people gravitated to the grassy beach lot that served as a staging area for all of the local canoe racers. Different teams -- the men wrapped in colorful maro, the women paddlers in their pareo – were all sporting freshly gathered plant strands wrapped as traditional Hei around their heads. The paddlers were wading out into the shallow waters to board the canoes, then setting off to race in these large, six-person outriggers. Others went diving in the atoll’s rich lagoon waters, or chose to walk across the narrow island to the shores on the ocean side in search of birds.
By afternoon, the winds had strengthened, so instead of moving the ship, plans were made to visit a lovely beach near the Mai Tai Dream Hotel farther along the inner coast of the lagoon. Some people went for an educational tour of a local pearl farm, while many others preferred to simply loll beneath the sweeping coconut palms along the beach and swim in the balmy waters lapping the sandy shores. As the sun returned to its evening orange hues, we returned again to our mother ship. After dinner we were joined onboard by a troupe of local dancers and musicians who entertained us on the aft deck beneath a deep tropical sky.
A brief squall rinsed the outer decks at sunrise and formed a showery veil across the glowing orange sun rising ahead of the ship. As the rain dissipated, we passed through Ngarue Channel into the inner waters of the huge atoll of Fakarava in the Tuamotu Archipelago. The ship soon anchored off of the town of Rotoava where the local people welcomed us ashore for the morning. Fragrant blossoms were handed out to each of us as we arrived onshore, and local musicians and dancers were playing and swaying in the gentle morning breeze. Black pearls and shell necklaces were being sold, and the entire harbor had a festive air as the first of many outrigger canoe races were beginning. Soon small groups of us were heading out to explore the small town and surrounding area. Many people gravitated to the grassy beach lot that served as a staging area for all of the local canoe racers. Different teams -- the men wrapped in colorful maro, the women paddlers in their pareo – were all sporting freshly gathered plant strands wrapped as traditional Hei around their heads. The paddlers were wading out into the shallow waters to board the canoes, then setting off to race in these large, six-person outriggers. Others went diving in the atoll’s rich lagoon waters, or chose to walk across the narrow island to the shores on the ocean side in search of birds.
By afternoon, the winds had strengthened, so instead of moving the ship, plans were made to visit a lovely beach near the Mai Tai Dream Hotel farther along the inner coast of the lagoon. Some people went for an educational tour of a local pearl farm, while many others preferred to simply loll beneath the sweeping coconut palms along the beach and swim in the balmy waters lapping the sandy shores. As the sun returned to its evening orange hues, we returned again to our mother ship. After dinner we were joined onboard by a troupe of local dancers and musicians who entertained us on the aft deck beneath a deep tropical sky.
