There isn’t a lot to do in Moorea. Especially on a Sunday, when everything except the larger tourist attractions and the wharf’s hello market are shut down. But it is one of the more beautiful places in the world, well worth a second day. We took another excursion today. We started out at the Tiki Village, which is built to demonstrate and celebrate pre-Columbian Polynesian culture. It’s nowhere near the quality of Colonial Williamsburg, but it’s a lot larger than Jerusalem Mill. We started with a concert. Other than the Ukulele, all the instruments were authentic. The Ukulele is so pervasive in today’s Polynesian culture that nobody would quibble about including it in a traditional concert. The songs were also authentic, at least as far as I could tell.

We also watched a dance, which was very much not a traditional dance. But the young lady hip wrigglers were quite entertaining. The picture is quite misleading. Behind the stage was incredibly beautiful tropical water. But the sun was bright, the sea was bright, and the dancers were in the shade of the stage. I had to wash out the sea so I could get a picture of the performers.

In 1958, Hollywood made a movie called South Pacific. Thee story took place in the shadow of the mountain of Bali Ha’i, on the island of Moorea. But it was more practical to film the move in Hawaii. So they did. After they finished the shoot, they needed a picture of the mountain for background. So they sent a photographer out with a camera. He came back with a picture that was almost as good as this one.

Near the end of the tour, we stopped at the Kia Ora Overlook. The verdant greens of the trees contrasted with the blues of the sea. I wouldn’t want to live here, but Moorea is a very beautiful corner of our planet.

I hope this finds everybody doing well.