Graptolite - Still Smiling

17:32.38S 149:34.16W Pape'ete Yacht Harbour, Tahiti, Saturday 3rd May AM

After seeing a good number of Polynesian song and dance shows, some amateur as in Atuona and some very professional as at Rangiroa and three others here in Pape'ete, I think I can safely say that they are much more watchable than the Caribbean equivalent of limbo dancing, fire eating and steel drums. The combination of grass skirts being wiggled by smiling girls and sticks being shaken by scowling men provides a little something for everybody.

It is unfortunate that the cost of being here in Paradise is so high. Most people are eating dinner at the food vans parked on the harbour front rather than taking the pain of restaurant prices. It is very good food though and relatively inexpensive but it lacks ambience and they don't sell wine or beer. On the other hand, there can sometimes be a little money left over after paying the bill to be able to afford a beer somewhere else later.

Now girlfriend and mother have been informed (pleased and not so pleased respectively) it can be revealed that it was Colin (also pleased) that got the skin artwork recently. He will need a lot more to be invited to join in any serious Hakka.

Updates for photos and video are a bit of a problem here due to limitations of the local internet but there should be some new ones soon on www.graptolite.eu

M