Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Nuku Hiva: First Impressions

After spending a week here on the island of Nuku Hiva, we’ve gotten a good feel for the way things work. The people start their days very early. The sun rises at about 5:00 a.m. and the Saturday market starts at 4:30 a.m. We’ve been waking up at 6 so we can start school at 7 because that way we’ll save daylight since the sun sets at about 6:30. The water here is dark because the sand is black, making it so that we can’t swim because if a shark came (and there are sharks-we’ve seen them in the shallow water when the fishermen come in), you wouldn’t see it. So, instead of swimming, we go to shore. The land is IMG_0892very green since it rains almost every day at least five times. There is one road that runs around the island, branching off toward a couple of side streets. Most roads are paved and almost everyone drives a car. My friends and I go to the basketball/volleyball court, which here is the equivalent to a park, if we’re not at each other’s boats.
The people here are very nice. One of the men we met while walking led us on a hike and cut pamplemousse (grapefruit, but way better) from a tree and gave it to us. It was really cool because we ate rightIMG_0722 off the tree instead of going to a store and buying what you think is fresh, but not really knowing what preservatives have been put on your food. The man then opened up a giant sack and dumped out a large branch of bananas and gave them all to us.
I really like Nuku Hiva. It has the same welcoming feel Mexico has, but it makes a nice change.

-Danielle in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas
Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. bubbiefredaMay 19, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Nice description of your first impressions of Nuku Hiva - it's so clear that I can almost feel like I'm there with you. There are so many wonderful and welcoming places and people in this world and you are so lucky to be able to experience this all first hand. By the way, I'm sure glad that you don't attempt to swim in those waters!
    Picking fresh fruit from a tree is always the best! Perhaps when you get home you can start a new hobby like planting a garden with your favorite fruit and vegetables. I'm sure you would have lots of takers/eaters for that!
    Love hearing from you and I miss you all lots ... x x x

    ReplyDelete
  2. MaureenMay 19, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    Danielle- your story of picking the fruit reminds me when I was little, and visited my Zaida and Bubbie in Miami Beach. Zaida and I would go for walks and he would pick oranges and grapefruits off the neighbors trees (they had an apartment, no trees of their own). It wasn't pamplemousse, but the freshest citrus juice around.
    Isn't amazing how the lifestyle on the islands can really show you the kindness of others, the side that we don't often get to see in our hugely populated cities!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)