Sunset at pension Moana Nui, Taiohae, Nuku Hiva

I've travelled for ten days in the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia (French is Marquises).

In some ways a "Garden of Eden": the trees offer fruit and flowers and the sea offers plenty of fish and shell-fish. Wild horses and goats in the mountains. Chickens and their noise everywhere there are people,

Travelling alone (with Terry's bear Lucien) and mostly away from internet of any useful quality, has been a chance to meet and talk and listen.

This has been an opportunity to visit whilst the transport is effective enough to make a trip practical and just about affordable but before the worst of the change takes place due to that communication with the rest of the world.

It's been a privilege to visit at this time but, to quote a fellow traveller "C'est pas mon paradis" - it's not my paradise. Particularly on Tahiti and Hiva Oa, I also encountered a degree of hostility to tourists which I haven't found elsewhere: several other people have the same impression: we're not welcome here except by the hoteliers etc working the tourist trade. We're pretty much agreed that La Réunion is a much better place in the Francophone world for a tropical island holiday. Food, welcome, access by flights and value for money accomodation. Good that it's not just my opinion about French Polynesia but sad to puncture a dream balloon.

Nonetheless, I'm sure these pictures will look great in the winter nights in Europe, where it seems winter has come early!  

Click here for my Polynesia Photo Blog