Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas

This is the capital of the Marquesas group. About 2000 people live here. So there is lots of activity going on all of the time. The day we arrived we were buzzed by a bunch of va'a racers.

We noticed a new tiki on a hill above the village that had not been there when we were here the first time. The gate to go up the hill is guarded by these two crazy looking figures. 

Mike stands behind the entrance, where even the gate is a piece of artwork.

There is a great view of the village from here and the big sweeping brown sandy beach.

There are all kinds of interesting art on top of the hill. I can see a guy smiling in this rock, can you?

An arch of coral stones over this tiki and you can see the entrance of the bay in the background.

Tiki close up under the arch.

The dedication was obviously made sometime after we were here in 2016.

The sacred octopus showing the arms reaching all over the vastness of Polynesia.

This is the big one! Had to have Mike stand under it so you get some perspective of how tall it is.

This is the biggest tiki in the world. Made of plaster and rebar, too big to carve. I am playing one of the drums located at her knees (yes you can tell it is a female tiki because of the boobs and pregnant belly.)

Several foot prints are in this one block of cement by the drums, meaning that this statue is for all generations.

A side view of the tiki with her warrior behind and Mike standing by her knee.

This is one of the legs of the warrior, showing his turtle tattoo and ankle bracelet.

Looking up at his face he has a very intent stare to his eyes and a big pig tusk necklace.

The faces on the warrior's club.

Avatar is anchored behind the trimaran Manakai, our good friends Christian and Norma who we knew back in La Paz, Mexico! And the supply ship Taporo is unloading fuel.

Nuku Hiva carved sign by the community Equipment office. Funny how we saw dolphin on the side with the dolphin and turtles on the side with turtles. It was great fun sailing around this spectacular island, from the NE corner all the way to Taiohae Bay on the South side. The dramatic backdrop of her cliffs, the lighting of her valleys and the energy we felt as we explored some of her ancient secrets, helped us to feel her deep strong pull of mana (energy). This is something to be experienced and felt, which is hard to explain in words or show in photos.