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Archipelago Society Islands (French Polynesia) - 2003

Archipelago Society Islands (French Polynesia) - 2003

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-25 13:37:57

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Yet Unlost Paradise

The myth of Polynesia, the Mecca of the elitist tourism, that fascinated Cook, Wallis or Bougainville in the 18th century, enchanted me in the mid seventies. I have been there several times since then and each time I go back home with strange feelings, with a sensation that I arrived there too late.

Once I was struck by the lack of spontaneity of the local people, another time by the absence of „vaataias”, pliable sailing canoes with a lateral floating device, simply replaced by motor-boats. Later I could see nowhere else besides the hotel shows the sensual „tamuje” dance, reflecting the triumph of the Polynesian dancing art. There is something of the quintessence of the feminine charm in it, and above all a wonderful love declaration accompanied by a wild rhythm. I was disappointed more than once by a rare view of the famous „vahines” from the Gaugein’s masterpieces. They are certainly no more a visit card of the Pacific, since too many races have been mixed up during the last decades.

The positive side is that the impressing colour of the sunny islands’ emerald green lagoon, changing shades according to the day time or water depth, is still the same. Today, as at the beginning of the times, the coral reef is full of live. There is still the same rich vegetation, the same wild view of spent volcanoes and the fascinating dull sound of the sea waves.

"Polynesia has also its bad sides- a Frenchman living on Bora Bora, the Pearl of the South Seas complained to me one day-. The isolation is not easy to bear. The excellent climate is very monotonous and nerve destructing. Also the continuous rustle of the palm leaves produces negative effects on the human psyche. At least once a year I have to go to Paris, in order to change the climate and environment for a while".