Trees and nails

These are the sort of umbrella trees that cover the hills, it looks like every leaf is positioned to be in direct sun.
This is a photo of the roof of a traditional Long house. The logs are strapped together with a fiber maybe from the breadfruit tree, no nails involved. In the early european visits the “vahiné” would trade themselves for a handful of nails. The captains had to prohibit the sailors from going ashore in fear of their ship falling to pieces. These young free polynesian girls are very beautiful!  
We hiked up a hill to a “marae” which is a ceremonial platform for yes, ceremonies. There are many sites in Huahine, a island now of 6000 inhabitants.  Here is Yves next to a large banyan tree that has engulfed this site. Can you see him?
This is a marae near the sea, there are many up in the hills that are so nice because you get the trade winds up there and it is cooler.  I stopped to rest in one site that was the most sacred on the island and it was so calm and silent until I heard singing.  Magical, it was sunday and the churches here are overflowing with people singing the sound carried in the humid air. I wish I could have recorded it.

 Another beautiful sunset.

Comments

  1. HessamFebruary 27, 2023 at 8:23 PM

    Nice pictures and comments. Almost like being there. Say hello to JYM.

    ReplyDelete

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