Part 5: April 7 - 13, 2007 - Voyage on the Aranui 3 to the Marquesas - Week 1


Day 1: April 7 - Depart Papeete

We had to wake up very early in the morning from Bora Bora (4:30 AM) in order to get to Papeete in time for the start of our trip to the Marquesas. Because we were to board the ship between 7:30 and 10 AM we scheduled ourselves to leave on the first 50 minute flight from Bora Bora at 7 AM. Since the airport in Bora Bora is on an island this meant the shuttle boat was to leave at 5:45 in the morning from the main town. Although the 20 minute shuttle didn't really leave until 6 AM we had plenty of time to check in for our flight and purchase a few postcards at the airport gift shop.

We...

Part 6: April 14 - 20, 2007 - The Aranui 3

Voyage on the Aranui 3 to the Marquesas - Week 2

Day 8: April 14 - Hiva Oa: Puamau and Hanaiapa

Our arrival in Hiva Oa was as beautiful as ever. Although the mountains were not towering over us in this little harbour, there was one unique feature in the pointed rock that jutted out of the water about one third of the distance across the entrance to the harbour. This pillar stood alone in the water behind where the Aranui was anchored by the time we woke up in the morning.

The true adventure however started when it came time for us to disembark the whaleboats when we arrived on shore. It was perhaps the most trecharous landing so far as the boat bounced...