Anchored in another very calm bay near Taiohae, Daniel's Bay, we are going to go on a 2hours (one way) hike to the famous cascade (the biggest in the Marquesas). The landing on the beach is pretty spectacular, surrounded by those huge mounts, but you think we would get used to it by now, I find them forever just beautiful ! The path leading to the hike leads through farm land and houses at first where banana trees, pamplemousses, mangoes, oranges, lemons are prolific. It seems to be Eden's garden.... Anyway continuing in the forest, we crossed the stream several time, went through a place where the trees are the perfect setting for the movie "Lord of the ring", we arrived in a narrow flat land green with spark of gold little flowers everywhere, and the fall is in front of us, not so impressive at first but then we went in the first pool of very cold water, passed under a big rock and found the huge cascade and a much bigger pool with a steep black wall of rocks all around. The water felt so good after a hot walk, it was great but ......those nonos are the only annoying little things and very annoying they are!!!! So after a light and quick snack we were on our way back. A great day....
The next morning, we were in search of those delicious fruits we had seen yesterday, so I took a few trading goods and we were on our way with Dionne and Steve from Orca III. We met a lady who was interested and she wandered around her beautiful land gathering pamplemousses, banana stalks (green, so we can keep them on the boat until the Tuamotus), star fruits, papayas... as we stop at her house for a glass of water, we got into a discussion and mentioned that David and Steve were both mechanics in a different field, so her husband asked us about his chainsaw.... 1 hour later his chainsaw was fixed and he was very happy! In the meanwhile, Dionne and myself sat down for a Marquesian lesson, we know now how to pronounce properly "ka/o/ha (hello)", ""ko/u/ta/u nui (thank you very much)", "Ka/na/ha/u (it is nice)", "nana (goodbye)", "ko/o/u/a (grandpa)", "pa/ka/hi/o (grandma)".......We are in the Marquesas since over a month now and I just love those people, it is going to be hard to let go... even though we know the beautiful turquoise waters of the Tuamotus are awaiting us.
Au mouillage d'une jolie petite baie tranquille, Daniel's Bay, nous allons partir pour une balade de 2 heures a l'une des plus grandes cascades des Marquises. L'arrivee en annexe sur la plage est spectaculaire, toujours entouree de ces immenses montagnes, je devrais etre habitu�e maintenant mais je les trouve tellement splendides . Le chemin conduisant a la cascade commence par traverser des terrains ou de petites maisons entourees de leurs jardins remplis de pamplemousses, papayes, citrons, manguiers,des jardins d'Eden.... Puis nous continuons a travers la foret, apr�s avoir traverse la riviere quelquefois, les arbres deviennent plus denses et pourraient servir de scene de montage pour le film "lords of the ring". Nous arrivons enfin a une petite plaine etroite et tres verte , parsemee de petites fleurs dorees et... voila la cascade, pas tres impressionante au debut mais apr�s avoir pass� le premier petit basin d'eau puis surmonte les rochers, nous voyons maintenant un grand basin entoure d'une paroi noire et rocheuse, l'eau est tres fraiche est apaisante apr�s notre longue marche. Tout serait parfait sans les nonos qui commencent a serieusement nous piquer... Alors, apr�s un petit en-cas rapide, nous reprenons la route du retour. Une belle journee...
Le lendemain, nous etions a la recherche de ces fruits magnifiques que nous avions vu hier, alors apr�s avoir rassemble quelques affaires d'echange, nous voila en route avec Dionne et Steve d'Orca III. Nous avons rencontre une dame interessee par notre maquillage, et nous la suivions a travers sa propriete en quete de pamplemousses, regime de bananes (vertes pour qu'elles puissent durer jusqu'au Tuamotus),papayes, citrons... Nous nous sommes arr�tes pour boire un verre d'eau a sa maison et en discutant, je mentionne que David et Steve sont tous les deux des techniciens dans des domains different, son mari nous a donc demande si on pouvait jeter un coup d'oeil a sa scie a chaine... une heure plus tard, elle etait reparee et il etait tout content. Pendant ce temps, Dionne et moi avons eu notre lecon de Marquesien ou nous avons appris a prononcer "Ka/o/ha (bonjour)", "Ko/u/ta/u nui (merci beaucoup)", "ka/na/ha/u (c'est joli)", "ko/o/u/a (grand-pere)", "pa/ka/hi/o (grand-mere)", "nana(au revoir)". Nous sommes dans les Marquises depuis pres d'un mois maintenant , et j'adore ces gens, cela va etre dur de partir... meme pour les belles eaux turquoises des Tuamotus.......