Last week ‘Aunty Norma’ and Toni were at the Raglan Food and Wine Festival foods of the pacific, or so I read in the news paper where I saw their photographs. I was working during the event with a busy schedule so unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend the food and wine festival, admittedly I would have liked a glass of wine, or two… My dutch friend Else tells me the vineyard samples were of quite a tasting. Nonetheless, I had the greatest week with quite a few eventful surprises. Even though I was unable to attend the festival, I was able to attend dinner and conversation at Aunty Norma’s house after the wine festivities closed. The night consisted of delicious summer food, wine, Polynesian dance, laughter and everything else in between.
After dinner Toni’s daughter Victoria wanted to perform a traditional dance and so they all performed in their coconut bras and hula skirts. This is my favorite photograph from the entire evening, Tiare’s bright smile is reminiscent to me of the dancers smiles that I saw in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Coincidentally, Tiare means ‘Flower’ in Tahitian.
It wouldn’t have been official without a ‘group photograph’ so I took quite a few photographs. The dance made me miss Tahiti and it’s colorful culture. I have since decided that I have to return to French Polynesia within the next few months, I miss everything about that part of the pacific. I miss the dancing, the language, the cuisine, the music, the scenery, the overt French influence, the people, the market places and the white sand beaches. From this written moment I could write an entire list of things that I miss.
Most of all I miss the great memories that I have of Tahiti, they were some of the best memories of my travels away. Hopefully, if all goes to plan I would like to book airline tickets within the next few months. It’s just one of those things where I have to find the time and the dates to do it. Je manque tout au sujet de la Polynésie Française.
