Raiatea is certainly a beautiful Island and not quite as touristic as some of the others.

It must have impressed me as I have a lot of photos here, but we also did see and do a lot. Enjoy the album!

Approaching the entrance passage to the harbour on the left.

Looking north to the neighbouring island of Tahaa

Aproaching the harbour at 'Uturoa

Looking to Tahaa again. Lots of reef joining the two islands.

On the wharf at 'Uturoa

The welcoming committee.

Native style huts for the people selling their wares.

An entertainment area.

Gardenias again

Another offer of snorkelling.

The old chief blowing his triton horn.

Two young ladies.

A drewing board, but he looks happy.

Now you know the reason for the mutiny on the Bounty!

Some more beautiful floral head dresses.

A musical welcome

and more Gardenias.

These people had been ashore and already bought flowers.

The tags state that they are tourist people in training.

Lots of nice young people.

This frangipani was just lying on the ground, but still looked beautiful.

The flower market

and the fruit and vegetable market.

More fruit

These are taro  plants which are one of the staple foods of the Pacific Islands.

A fish seller on the footpath.

This pool was in the middle of the market complex.

Looking across part of the small boat harbour. We organised a trip down the east coast on the red and white outrigger canoe in the middle.

First Elisabeth had to quench her thirst and had found a coolau (PNG for a fresh drinking coconut)

Aboard the outrigger.

Passing under the bow of the Regatta.

The owner skipper blowing the triton horn.

Looking towards the centre of the island.

We came back later to snorkel on the island in the background.

Art and Ursula enjoying themselves.

We first visited a black pearl farm. This is a pearl oyster cut open to show the inside.

Here he is showing a pearl developing.

These are samples of the basic form that is inserted into the oyster to start a pearl.

This lady is preparing the oyster for the implant.

and here it is being inserted.

Samples of some of the local jewellery. Prices are in CFP Francs. 1 US$ = approx 100 Franc

Putting the seeded pearls back in the water to grow for two years.

Entering the only navigable river on the island.

Getting smaller

and smaller.

Other traffic.

Scratching!

Here we stopped at a local farm and the guide brought a vanilla plant to show us.

This is the vanilla bean

and a closer photo.

Larger traffic in the other direction. He had to back up to make room as we were wide with the outrigger.

Ursula and Art trying the horn

and the headdresses.

We stopped at this outer island for a swim on the way home.

We had also brought our snorkelling gear.

The reef was not so interesting near the island and we did not have enough time to head further out.

Back on board the Regatta looking towards Tahaa Island.

In the distance we could see Bora Bora.

We then went for a walk around town.

Beautiful flowering trees.

Another church.

These trees are commonly used for shade and for erosion protection.

Another shingle roofed building. They always looked good.

Golden rain.

This is called "Le Truck". A locally made bus with rather hard seats.

This really caught my eye. The Regatta beside the Shell Tanking Station! I bet she emptied the storage tanks.

Her is reality.

Back at the wharf.

Elisabeth with the head Chef Friedrich. A very important person on board. There were 66 cooks on board.

Evening looking towards Bora Bora.

Bora Bora in the setting sun.

Prost!

Here Elisabeth is with Roberto. He made the best coffee on the ship!

Enjoying ourselves again.

That evening we had a local dance group perfirming the Tamure on the swimming pool deck.

One can get an idea of the movement by the waves in the grass skirt.

The men were also dancing.

This was the band.

This woman was performing something like the Hula.

Here she was demonstrating various ways to wear a sarong.

This elderly woman asked for a volunteer to show how a man can wear the sarong.

He was very cooperative.

Some of the passengers joined in the festivities.

This necklace would have smelled great.

This is Julie the cruise director joining in the fun.