Sunny morning, but humidity is so high that it takes twodays to dry my laundry. I decided to walk around the eastern part of the Tubuai Island. Just after T-junction in Mataura you will find few fruit & vege- stalls, and also a kind of fast food institution, where most of the dishes cost 1000 francs (10 $). Walking east in Taihuaia I passed the nice college – the only one on the island and few churches. On the coast around 15 people were cleaning the fresh fish. On the eastern side there are nicest motus visible along the barrier reef. On the southern part of the island I turned inland to the ancient marae – place of cult. It is not easy to find because of the lack of a good map and nobody is interested to put any markers showing the direction – you have to ask people, They are very friendly – it is good occasion to see how they live in their sprayed-out houses surrounded by avocado and lemon trees. In fact the low part of the island looks like one great garden. Local boys offered me a coconut drink – directly from the palm groving on the roadside. Then I found an old llace of cult. Stone platforms of marae are surrounded by lush jungle. Do not expect any explanation. I returned to the coast to walk again along narrow, sandy beaches before taking the traverse road back to Wipa Lodge. Mosquitoes are main plague of this island. Tkanks God they have good mosquito nets installed over the beds in Wipa!
