Travel // Going Around // South Pacific // Hiva Oa
On the early morning of December 5, 2007 M/S Paul Gauguin dropped anchor at Tahauku Bay, where the sharply sculpted mountains of Hiva 'Oa as viewed from the ship displays a breathtaking view. Hiva 'Oa about 740 miles northeast of Tahiti, is the second largest island of the Marquesas Islands, an island group within French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France.
Mountains walled the valleys where the small town of Atuona is situated. Atuona is a peaceful town where in its bay yachts and cruise ships dropped anchors. This peaceful little town is the administrative center for the southern Marquesas. Atuona has restaurants, banks, shops and communication facilities. Famous French painter Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel were buried in Hiva 'Oa. In Atuona, the Gauguin Museum displays items related to Paul Gauguin's stay of the island and copies of his paintings are on display too.
Most of the time in a year, high swells are expected in this area. But this time the seas were calm and quiet which occurred very rarely. With the use of ship's tender boats, passengers were taken off to shore for a tour. As guests arrived the shore, Hiva 'Oa's locals in their traditional dance and music to the beats of their native musical instruments greeted the visitors. And of course, each visitors received a beautifully made mountain fresh garlands.
Pre-arranged buses shuttled guests from the pier to downtown Atuona and back to the pier. Travelling along the road on the hilly sides with this open-air type buses keeps everyone inside occupied enjoying the wild and natural scenery of Hiva 'Oa.
The island was so inviting as I gaze at the mountainous landscape from the ship's bridge during my watch. Not satisfied with what my naked eyes saw, I took the binocular to get a closer look of the mountain that walled the deep valleys and green hills. Heards of goats grazing on the hill sides and on another hilly slope I could see group of beautifully designed houses which later I found out that it was actually the Hanakee Hiva 'Oa Pearl Lodge. I learned it from the village locals whom I asked when I went to the shore during my free time.
Below is the Kanahan Pension, situated on the top of the hill. It is a beautiful lodge overlooking the valley and the bay.
Map of the Marquesas Islands
The unspoiled beauty of this volcanic island captivates every person's dream for an island escape. Hiva 'Oa is another place on earth where nature remained untouched. The green forested mountains and the deep valleys of Hiva 'Oa are breathtaking view and is truly a remarkable scenery one would always think about.
