Ua Pou

Ua Pou,
The Flower of the Marquises...As they call it!
Is part of the northen group of Islands, yet is in the middle...
With its 12 Peaks that reach for the clouds at 1000m height they dominate the horizon with there majestic presence.
The Island's coast is cut in many valley's where calm little vilages have settled...
Hakahau is its main town, where about 1500 poeple live...This is where I lived for 9 month's, 15 years ago!!!
On the boat we had at the time, a 18m french tuna trawler.
Dad and I were very eager to go back and explore the Island, find old friends and spend some time there.
So we sailed over on "Margot" for a week!

Our little tour started in Hakahau, the main town and old stomping grounds...I went on the hunt for friends, and found Marie-Noelle Bruneau...We were in the same class, and friends back in the day...She now has 3 children and lives a very peacefull life...She was happy to see me and gave us some mangoes! Other friends have moved to France, or Tahiti.
On sunday the beach got animated with poeple having BBQ's and childen swimming that seemed to all know who I was...
It turned out to become a fan club and they all joined me on the boat for an afternoon of swimming!
Then the "Aranui" came into port, and we stayed to be able to see what the art's and craft center was going to show!
The speciality of Ua POu is Pandanus woven baskets and hats.
I made friends with Pauline, one of the artisans...
Then we sailed to the bay of Hakahetau.
Other beautiful views of the pics, and a small village that is famouse for its wood sculptors and waterfall...That we walked to...The fall in its self was not the most impressive or big, but the pond was a real delight to swim in...
Fresh cool water, shaded by coconut tree's and alive with little fresh water prawns.
A day spent cruising around, where dolphins came to see us.
then we anchored for the night in front of a little village called Hakamaii...With its colourfull church facing us!
Then one last stop in the bay of Vaiehu...Where Stephen and I walked to the village of Haakuti. To meet my new found friend Pauline and her lovelly grand mother who made Pandanus Baskets...The poeple are soo nice, we headed back to the boat with banana's, avocado's, breadfruit, lime's.
Dad bought me one to use as our baby bag! Thank you Daddy!!!

And with that we had to end to our trip, back to Nuku Hiva...