Tiny Polynesian Islands

Named and chartered by Lieut. James Cook and his pilot Tupaia in 1769 the

Society Island lies at the heart of Oceania. Having changed devastatingly since

those days, Tahitipolynesia still spellbinds many travelers.

These pictures are shot on little Maupiti island 300 and then some

kilometers from Tahiti. You won't meet many foreigners here - I met

one French family. Maupitians are friendly, always greeting you

"Ia Orana" or "Bon jour", and walking the 12 kilometers around the

island you'll meet hundreds of Polynesians saying just this. Bikes

are the preferred means of transport - here they'll carry two persons

with one sitting on the handle bar as a figurehead.

Maupiti is like one big garden. The pastel colored turquoise and pink village houses

are shaded by bread fruit trees, bananas of all kinds, bougainvilleas, tiaras, hibiscus,

mangos, ... Maupiti is a tiny place - only two kilometers across, even on a good day

- but as you begin to climb up the slopes it starts to grow, the Teurafa'atui Mountain

really is a massive hill as it looms over you when you work your way through the

swaying coconut groves.

Turn around and a turquoise, green , blue, yellow etc. lagoon spreads out below

fringed by the green and white motu iles. Down on the narrow coastal plain you see

Maupitians parading the street of little Farauru village - almost everybody has put a

small sweet smelling tiara flower behind their ear.

This is the weather in Tahiti - right now!: