We Love Niue! There are between 1000 to 1500 people left in Niue, most of the 6000 inhabitants left little by little for New Zealand and when cyclone Heta hit in 2004, the population really dropped, leaving a good 50% of the houses abandoned. But the small town of Alofi is very hospitable and one of a kind! Beginning by an original way of lifting your dinghy (lifted on the wharf by a crane that you operate yourself at the great joy of Alec and David, all men get a kick out on this one), Alofi does not seem like much at first but you just get into it and find yourself busy every day (market, weaving class, pool table, the cutest little yacht club, site seeing or just hanging out with cruisers or the locals that are absolutely a joy!). Yesterday we went on a full day trip with 4 other boats; we left early, all 14 of us packed with our picnic in the van, what a wonderful day we had! We first stopped at the Tahava / Matapa site and hiked for about 20 minutes before reaching some amazing caves near the seashore where this gigantic arch (Tahava Arch) open on breaking ocean waves, inside, a small transparent pool is so pretty that you can't not just jump in it. We also explored the other pass that led to Matapa Chasm, a nice snorkeling and swimming spot. The afternoon was spent to visit another site on the south east side of the island, called Togo Chasm: another 20-30 minute hike in the forest took us to a very strange and hypnotic lunar landscape of coral spikes. The wind on the east coast was ferocious and the waves crashing on the rocks where we were standing were mesmerizing, we stayed a long time just watching the power of nature. We finished the day at Falala...la restaurant where the food was delicious and to top it all we were served by Miss Niue! Emilie and Alec are so happy to find kids again, the days go by very fast.... Tomorrow we are going to a weaving class....
Niue est super! L'ile a entre 1000 et 1500 habitants, la plupart des 6000 habitants present il y a quelques annees ont quitte l'ile petit a petit pour la Nouvelle Zelande et depuis le cyclone Heta en 2004, 50% des maisons sont maintenant abandonees. Mais le petit village de Alofi est acueillant et tres original! En commencant par la levee de l'annexe a la grue (au plus grand plaisir des petits et grands garcons qui s'amusent follement a opere la grue plusieurs fois par jour), les journees passent tres vite entre le marche, les cours de vannerie (ou plutot palm tree weaving), le petit yacht club, deux restaurants, et surtout le contact avec les autres bateaux et les locaux qui sont tres sympas et toujours pres a discuter. Hier nous sommes partis faire un tour de l'ile avec 4 autres bateaux. Un depart tres tot, 14 personnes plus le picnic, masques,tubas, serviettes, le van etait a maximum capacite, quelle rigoalde!Premier stop au site Tahava / Matapa ou une marche d'environ 20 minutes nous a menee a des caves fantastiques en bord de mer ou une arche ouverte sur l'ocean completait le spectacle. De belles petites piscines naturelles d'eau sale nous invitaient a nager, l'eau est tellement transparente les fonds colores sont tres attractifs! Nous avons aussi explore le second chemin qui nous a mene a Matapa, un endroit a ne pas manquer , nage entre les rochers et de jolis poissons tropicaux. Le site de Togo au sud est de l'ile est aussi a ne pas manquer: Apres une marche dans la foret de 30 minutes , l'arrivee dans un paysage lunaire de piques coralliens est hypnotique! Nous avons fini la journee au restaurant Falala...la ou un delicieux repas nous a ete servi par Miss Niue elle-meme! Demain le marche a 7h et la classe de vannerie....