Takapoto, October 12, 2015

The Taumato Archipelago is a group of islands to the north-north east of the island of Tahiti. There are at least 60 islands to the archipelago as closely as I could count on the map. They are all low islands or atolls where a reef defines the submerged mouth of a once serious volcano. They belong to the French and are referred to as a French Protectorate. Some of the islands have been used for their nuclear bomb testing, including the modern neutron bomb. I think they mostly stopped this sometime in the mid-nineties. It was not very popular amongst the locals.

Our late afternoon departure from Tahiti and the next night were spent at sea with a destination of the atoll of Takapoto. It is located on the Western edge of the Taumoto’s and it was not bombed. There is a nice village there and we had a three hour shore excursion to swim in a white sand lagoon and maybe shop.

It was great to get off the ship and stroll through the village streets where young and laughing children circled you on their rusty bicycles as you walked along. I’m sure the large group of strange people all carrying various items of swimming gear down the street was good fun for them.

I found that the high-five hand gesture may be universally recognized as I raised my hand with palm out to the next circling cyclist passing and receiving a joyful slap that met mine.

At the beach a group of local ladies set up tables to display some of their handicrafts. There were some black pearl necklaces, beads made from different colored seeds and a display of the colorful hand colored parues waving in the breeze. Some people purchased the young coconuts with their tops cut off and a straw inserted for the fresh coconut water. Our first of many shopping excursions to come.

The swim in the salty water of the lagoon was a welcome sedative for what it took us to get there and in preparation for the next couple days that will be spent entirely on the open sea.