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On board the Tiki !! |
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OK, so the Yacht Tiki was a little old....and most things on it didn't work....and we had to be mean with water and power...... but she was full of character with a great crew, not too much of a price to pay for a month sailing around French Polynesia!
We sailed around the Society islands of Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora. The Islands themselves were stunning. High peaks covered in lush green vegetation which ran down to the white sandy beaches with swaying palms. The Polynesians, dressed in amazingly colourful outfits with sweet smelling floral head dresses, were generally friendly, but the French were not.
Bora Bora was Lisa's dream destination and it was lovely - a huge festival kicked off their during our stay with traditional dancing to drum music and canoe racing performed all day and night but I guess Huahine gets our favourite island vote. So few tourists reach this charming little island where the catch of the day can be found for sale, hanging from the big tree in the centre of the village. In Raiatea Simon set up a challenge day for the crew of Tiki & La Scala, which basically entailed hitchhiking around the island c.95 kms with various tasks to complete on $20 budget, including a scavenge and photos to take of various places and people! It was a great day, despite it being exhausting! and a close result.....Lisa's team won. A huge party followed that night on La Scala (they have fridges for beer & power for lights and music!) A big thank you to capt Phil and Naylene on La Scala, as well as crew Fred & Ryan for looking after us with cold beers whilst the Tiki's generator has been broken, and for generally being 'great people'! Safe sailing guys!
Spending a month with Kenny and the Tiki crew members was lot of fun too. We ate like Lords, drank like fish and partied hard when in port. At sea, it was all hands to the deck. An old 78ft stay sail schooner with three sails plus a Genoa takes some sailing too! unlike the majority of modern push button operated boats around us. Simon was in heaven, just a pair of shorts to wear each day!
We felt extremely privileged to have spent time on Tiki. The old girl is returning to her home port of Sydney, where she left 7 years ago with her Capt, John Murphy. It was a dream of John and his wife to sail around the world together after he retired, but sadly she passed away before the journey started. In many ways this is John's journey for both of them.
Finally thanks to Kenny for setting this adventure up for us and for giving up his cabin for 4 weeks!
So from the sophistication and chic of French Polynesia to the white trailer barbie doll trash of Vegas...... Yep, it was quite a contrast! But Vegas is fun.
Temps hover between 30 - 45 degrees around the clock. We are staying in the Terribles Casino and Hotel. A little tacky compared to Ceasars Palace perhaps but quite respectable. Huge room. TV. Great pool and you can eat for next to nothing! (to be honest, it has been a real novelty just to have a hot shower, turn lights on, have TV, communicate with friendly english speaking people!)
Our blistered bleeding feet are proof of the miles and miles of walking we have done here. For those who haven't done Vegas - some of the resort hotels take 30 minutes to walk through! We've been entertained by the Mirages erupting Volcano, Treasure Islands Pirate Ship attack and The Bellagios dancing fountains. At the Venetian, the only way to do some window shopping, is by Gondola! Yep, its Disneyland for grown ups.
No doubt the pling, pling, pling, of fruit machines will grate on us soon - We've already taken in a show and we will visit the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon, then gap it out of here to Chicago. 10 days there then we fly to Toronto to see Doddy for a quiet end to our journey.
See you next month!
lots of love
simon & lisa
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