DAY 29-AT SEA

This was our position at noon today.  It is mostly sunny and a warm 82 degrees and humid.  The wind is out of the east at 25 knots causing some 5 foot swells.  Although not completely smooth today, the ride is good.    
    
This morning we had another "refresher" emergency drill for crew and guests.  We're getting real tired of these.  Speaking of tired, neither of us slept well last night as Rebecca is still having breathing problems and my head is draining.  Hoping we start feeling better soon.

BACKGROUND INFO ON NUKA HIVA
       Since we will be arriving at Nuka Hiva tomorrow morning I thought I would tell you a little about this island today.  Then I will just have to put my photos on tomorrow's posting.  We visited this island in 2010 on our first world cruise and it is indeed beautiful.  Rebecca will go ashore this time.
       Nuka Hiva is the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.  It is located approximately half way between the Central America and New Zealand, almost 2300 miles directly south of the Hawaiian Islands.  The island has been populated by Polynesians for over 2000 years and is a beautiful volcanic island with jagged mountains up to 4000 feet high.  The current population is thought to be almost 3000.  They subsist mainly on vegetables, fruits, fish, and some cattle is now raised in the valley.  Food imported from New Zealand is also available.  Once home to an estimated 100,000 Polynesians, diseases from merchant and whaling ships during the 1800’s killed 9 out of every 10 natives.  Early on breadfruit was their main food staple.  Fish was their main meat but their diet also included pigs, chickens, and dogs.  Cannibalism was also practiced here many years ago but was thought not to be for ritual purposes but rather for food.  It seems they preferred to eat women and children.
       In the 1800’s the American novelist, Herman Melville, wrote his book “Typee” based on his experiences in the Taipivai valley.  It was where he deserted his ship and hid for 3 weeks.  He was captured by the indigenous natives and observed their way of life.  Robert Louis Stevenson made landfall on the north side of the island in 1888.  More recently, the “Survivor” tv show was filmed here in 2001.
       We will be anchoring at 9:00 am tomorrow in Taioha'e Bay on the south side of Nuka Hiva and tendering ashore to the small village of Taioha'e.  There is only one tour offered here.  It will be a 3 hour panoramic sightseeing tour visiting Taipivia Valley.  We will be using local people's personal, unair-conditioned vehicles for the tour.  They are not guides and probably will not speak any English.  They will just drive us to view points for photos.  Since there aren't that many vehicles to accommodate everyone at the same time, I am scheduled for the 2:00 pm departure.  I hope it is not raining then.

                       The sun setting yesterday evening as we crossed the Equator.

This is a fish knife!  Now excuse me for my ignorance but I figure if a fish is so tough I need a knife, then I should not be eating it.  So last night they gave us this for our miso sea bass which was, melt in your mouth, flaky.  Then I had asparagus with the fish and this utensil was worthless in cutting it.

                        Susanne with one of our long time, favorite waiters, Mario.

       I had a very nice pan fried ocean perch fish for lunch in Compass Rose.  It was cooked perfectly and tasty.  Rebecca had her usual salad with grilled shrimp.  Chef Michael stopped by our table last night to ask how our fried chicken was the night before.

This was his miso sea bass last night.  It was soooooooooo good!!  I had two orders!!!  I requested he try preparing French fried soft shell crabs for our entrees tonight.  First two attempts not exactly now I wanted.  Not going to the production show tonight.  Think I will post this then take a nap to rest my neck.