Anaho Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia – In search of the near by ‘farm’

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY

Giving the copper coat antifouling a good buff to slow any growth on the underside of the boat

Even anchored in the beautiful bay of Anaho can be a drag if it is all work and no play. But I need not have worried about my humans, as they are very good at avoiding work….or at least taking lots of breaks. The arrival of Manta Rays is their number one excuse to drop everything and head into the water for a better look. In fact the beautiful reef here is enough of an excuse to take regular snorkel breaks.

WHO NEEDS AN EXCUSE?

Now they have found another excuse to ‘skive’ off of work. They want to get some fresh vegetables from the local farm. The humans were told there was a farm a short hike away where they could easily acquire fresh vegetables. Considering the amazing selection available in the main harbour, they had high expectations. Perhaps a little too high?

GETTING TO THE FARM

The farm is in the next valley over to the east. Thankfully there is only a small hill separating these two valleys. A few of the people who live in Anaho Bay work on the farm, so there is a well worn horse trail from the anchorage area on the farthest side. My humans were too lazy to follow this trail, sighting that they would be over burdened with their newly purchased fresh produce. They kayaked across the bay and landed on the beach right where it crosses over the hill instead.

View, from the top of the hill, down into the valley with the farm

THE FARM?

I do not know what the humans expected, but a farm here in the tropics is just a little different. The farm turned out to be no more than a small clearing in the trees. A shaded horse corral in the middle. Fruit trees around the perimeter. Plastic had been stretched over the ground in areas and the cultivated plants grew out of holes in this. Good way to cut back on weeding.

Yes, this is it!

Most of the ‘plastic covered’ areas seemed to be left fallow. Crop rotation? On one of the newly covered areas the humans met the wife of the farm owner doing some planting. She was nice enough to inform them all she had, at the moment, was tomatoes, cucumber and aubergines (egg plant). The humans waited for her to finish by the horse corral. It gave them a chance to admire the beautifully crafted Marquesan horse saddles. They make their saddles out of wood here. Not exactly the softest of seats, but they are cleverly simple and many carved with designs.

The horse coral

Marquesain style horse saddles

Some are beautifully carved

They were taken round to the different corners of the garden to pick their own choices of sun rippened tomatoes, and a couple more veggies including the local kind of bean. They also took home a big papaya that was still green. The lovely farmers wife said she would have lots more available in a few days time. Did they want a whole bag of oranges and/or pamplemouse? So the humans get to skip off work again to pick up some more supplies in a few days.

Like the humans need an excuse to get out of work. We are never going to get out of here. Oh well, at least it is an amazingly beautiful place to get stuck.

END