As we watch the amazing sunsets, we realize that it is soon full moon. The time when people go nuts. We noticed a change in Rikiteas
atmosphere. And as soon as we walked thru town, an old friend came to us with the bad news: His friend had stabbed his own parents
last night. Apparently a man in his 40s still living with Mom and Dad flipped out and knifed them .The whole village is upside down. Nothing
like this ever happens in small islands, except when they slaughter German sailors and eat them in the Marquesas. But that's also
very rare they say.
In such a case the doctor orders an "Evasan flight" Its a small plane that that comes specially from Tahiti and takes medical emergencies to
the main hospital. In this case the cops took the naughty son along as well . He is going for an extended stay at the main slammer
for rough boys in Papeete.
Somehow it seems strange for us, that so many Polynesian's live together way beyond their 40 s. I could not have imagined living with my
parents for longer than a week. I only ever did it once and that was plenty good for me .
I just try to imagine how i would feel on a flight, handcuffed and your parents are on stretchers hooked up with tubes and fighting for their
lives. What an experience....Apparently they are no longer in danger but i am sure their family life will never be the same again.

Although the locals tell me its rare , i often hear stories of domestic violence in French Polynesia. The alcohol doesn't help. I never see
them fighting or cursing at each other like the Italians and French can do so well. They seem rather docile, but i guess like with all of us,
the steam builds up inside of them and if you have no way to vent your anger....kaaaahhboooom : it explodes!! I am not a expert on violence ,
but i heard that domestic violence happens hardly ever after a loud and ugly verbal fight. It mostly explodes when you let it boil for too
long inside. So please scream and shout at your partner...its good for both of you hi hi hi

Phillip the brioche baker calls it quits. He is leaving for Papeete trying to make a living with his daughter. I wish him luck. He sold all
of his equipment and now the yachts have no place to do internet anymore. We will all sit at Jojos little supermarket and bring the web to a
halt with 10 of us trying to send some mail.
I think we leave soon for the remote islands and chase pearls and beached treasures that come from far away across the Pacific.

We are happy here to catch up with our local friends and appreciate that we can exchange so many stories. It seems like we are almost the
only ones that spend days with the locals. The average yachtie is surprised to hear what gossip we get from the Polynesians. Its
called "Radio Coco". Mainly because many yachts do not speak French and the French themselves often have a hard time being accepted. I don't
know if this is true for all of them, but practically all Polynesians told us how they dislike the "Franies" as they call the
French. To them they are all full of themselves, they know it all better and have little respect for the local customs and their own way of
life. Off course there are many French living here and i am sure they must have a functioning social live. But one thing the Polynesians
love to do : is to talk French to a white man that is NOT from France. Like Swiss , Belgians of Quebecers. It often goes for a long time,
this ranting on and on what the French do or did to them.
But we have met French that are quiet funny,and brotherly with the Polynesians, learned to speak slowly and become a bid lazier in the way
they pass the day. But i have NEVER met a French person that picked up the Polynesian French accent and their expressions.
Almost like the Germans in Switzerland that never bother to speak Swiss German. You can hear the Germans or French from miles away. The way
they talk and their gestures. With tis handicap its very difficult to be ONE OFF THEM. You will always be the foreigner, the slave driver and
the oppressor or what ever stigma they attach to you.
The boulangerie is out of flour AGAIN. Somehow they goofed up the order and now there has been no bread for the last 10 days and the ship is
not coming anytime soon. Daniela is baking bread for our friends and makes happy faces. The shops are also out of flour, but
they are used to it. Local gossip has it that the owner of the only bakery often drinks to much and has no cash for the next big order of
flour. Then it takes even longer to get baguettes again . The record has been 3 THREE months with zero bread. A combination of a missed order
and the next shipment got soaked in saltwater when the supply ship didn't close the hatches properly. On Yelo we still have about 50 kilos
flour left, we could sell it at a profit....But i don't think the baker would be happy, i think he likes a vacation now and then. I don't
know what the guest houses do with no baguettes and no flour to make any bread at all. Maybe French fries for breakfast!! Welcome to Gambier,
where things are a little different then anywhere else.