June 2 update

Nirvana arrived safely in Hiva Oa May 27 at night, but needed to wait until the morning to enter the harbor. After showers, laundry and drinks, I arrived. We spent a few beautiful days on the island of Hiva Oa. It takes some time to figure out the local ways. Especially the fact that most things are closed by noon. We toured the entire island yesterday, and the most incredible part was seeing the ruins and having a picnic at Paamau. There are 2000 year old tikis and ruins of an old sacrificial site. We also had the completely unique experience of picking mangoes from the trees at the side of the road, and there being so many ripe mangoes, that when the wind blew the mangoes were launched from the tree like little bombs at us. We picked guava, coconuts, basil and grapefruit from the side of the road. Harrison was extremely good at the fruit foraging.

Today we re-provisioned with fresh food, although we didn't need fruit since we did such a good job the day before. Fresh veggies and eggs came from a lady selling them out of the back of her truck, frozen meat and 18 baguettes. We have a lot of hungry people on this boat.

We just arrived at a beautiful anchorage. Just coconut trees, white sand beach and high cliffs. The Bay of Hana Moe Noe on the island of Tahuata. We are expecting to spend 4 days in the various anchorages on Tahuata before back to Hiva Oa to get Scott and Shala to the airport for their flight home. But for now, it's off the beach and time to snorkel.

Julie