Jan. 16

We’re making our way through 5 consecutive sea days. Our standard day is 6am green drink and latte and then exercise. We compare the activities and events that we have chosen for the day…some together, most not….and then meet for lunch and at the end of the day. That has worked well for us. But, yesterday, I started to worry. Karla went to a sea knot tying exhibition. Think about that. I did.

In times of confusion, I turn to David Sedaris. In a recent book, he related two stories which I will personalize for the ease of understanding.

   -Karla and Fred are on deck. Fred is stumbling clumsily. A friend of Karla’s walks by and Karla asks, “How can I keep him from stumbling like that?” The friend says, “You’ll probably have to shoot him again.”

   -Fred and Karla are walking to the room after an early dinner. Karla says, “Tonight, I want you to make me feel like a real woman!” When they get to the room, Fred grabs the laundry bag, pulls out 2 shirts, and says, “Here, iron these.”

What might she be planning?

Yesterday, on our way to see a “pre-port lecture. (There is a lecture on each port we visit a day or two before arrival) ”  we were informed that we would not be stopping in Bora Bora. There is a medical emergency on board and we’re sailing directly to Tahiti, which is large enough to have more facilities. On a previous cruise, a helicopter came to transport a person to medical facilities. Evidently, we’re out of helicopter range. We hope the 2-3 day wait isn’t a problem. We have Dr.s on board, rooms for patients, and even morgue spaces, but, of course, everyone hopes they aren’t needed.

A person died last cruise in Cape Verde, a Catholic country that does not allow cremation, so the body needed to be shipped to Southern California. It was not logistically easy for his wife, but she did it and returned to the ship later in the voyage. In Captain Cook’s day they had a more fish-friendly solution, but I guess we’re more “civilized.”

Early Navigation

   As we move through the Pacific and see nothing but water in all directions, we have to wonder how the early settlers populated the islands of the South Pacific. There have been a variety of theories through the years and lots of research. It is estimated that the first inhabitants of Polynesia arrived from Taiwan about 3500-5000 years ago. There are 1000 plus islands in the Polynesian triangle which has “points, in Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island” Most are not populated. Think about families setting forth on a voyage with provisions….including dogs, chickens and pigs….Why are they doing it and how do they know where they’re going? The Tahiti area was settled more recently…1200-1400, but we have the same questions.

   Researchers  point to a number of indicators that were important.

   -Most important seem to have been the stars; they were familiar with the north Star, and other celestial configurations.

   -They watched birds, knowing that their presence indicated land somewhere nearby.

   -Some boats evidently carried frigate birds which could be released. If they returned to the boat, there was no land nearby. If they didn’t return, there was land somewhere.

   -Ocean swells and their direction were helpful.

   -Floating stuff (we say flotsam and jetsam) indicates that land is near.

   -Evidently, land masses have an odor that some can pick up; and the salinity changes when near a land mass.

However it was done; it was remarkable.  Adding to the complexity, some islands had sweet potatoes (from South America) and chicken with DNA from India. There developed specialized Wayfinders who mastered the variety of “signals” and could lead expeditions. The settlers developed their gods and religions and ways of life. Evidently, there is lots of similarity in Polynesian languages. There is lots more to learn.