Hello to all, Trish here again.I called Ann and Barry the other day and they just happened to have a new position to pass along. As you can see they are at a new island. Fatu Hiva. I will add some info below from google earth about Fatu Hiva and if you are interested you can read on.
When I asked Ann if she is still enjoying the region her response was....
"It is absolutely spectacular here"
So I will take that as a yes. Some of the pictures I saw on google earth of the island were amazing, very lush with awesome rock features.Ann says they have been doing some exploring. The other day they did a long walk and came across a 200ft waterfall, and I am sure went for a swim if Mom had a say. On the way back they were starting to get hungry so Barry, getting into the hunter/gather mode, chased down a wild coconut on foot and they feasted on its fresh milk and meat. (Not bad for a guy with a bum hip.)
That was about all I got from the brief conversation. Sounds like all is well and they are happily cruising along. We will keep updating the blog now and they until Ann can get a good internet connection.
Fatu HivaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Statistics
Elevation 0 m–1,125 m
Land area 85 km²
Population¹(Aug. 2007 census) 587
Density 6.9/km² (2007 census)
Fatu Hiva (the "h" is not pronounced, see name section below) is the southernmost of the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. With Motu Nao as its closest neighbor, it is also the most isolated of the inhabited islands.
Fatu Hiva is also the title of a book by explorer and archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl, in which he describes his stay on the island in the 1930s.
[edit] Name
The correct name of the island in Marquesan is Fatu Iva (without "h"), however the name was incorrectly recorded as Fatu Hiva, probably under the influence of other Marquesan islands containing the element Hiva (Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, two island names where the element Hiva, with "aspirated h", is different from the element Iva in Fatu Iva) and also because in French the letter "h" is always silent (not pronounced). The spelling Fatu Hiva has now become official. In English however, contrary to French, this creates a problem as the letter "h" is almost always pronounced in initial position. In order to obtain a correct pronunciation of the name, English speakers should not pronounce the "h" of Fatu Hiva (IPA: /fatu iva/).
The correct name of the island in Marquesan is Fatu Iva (without "h"), however the name was incorrectly recorded as Fatu Hiva, probably under the influence of other Marquesan islands containing the element Hiva (Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, two island names where the element Hiva, with "aspirated h", is different from the element Iva in Fatu Iva) and also because in French the letter "h" is always silent (not pronounced). The spelling Fatu Hiva has now become official. In English however, contrary to French, this creates a problem as the letter "h" is almost always pronounced in initial position. In order to obtain a correct pronunciation of the name, English speakers should not pronounce the "h" of Fatu Hiva (IPA: /fatu iva/).
The island was named Isla Magdalena ("Magdalene Island") by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, a name rarely ever used.
[edit] Geography
Rainforest on Fatu-Hiva
The eastern coastline of Fatu Hiva is characterized by a number of narrow valleys, carved by streams that lead to the interior. Between these valleys are headlands which terminate in cliffs that plunge directly into the sea, making travel between them possible only by travelling over the high mountain ridges between them, or by boat. The largest of these valleys is at Uia.
The western coastline has two significant bays, Hana Vave (also known as Bay of Virgins or Baie des Vierges) in the north, one of the most picturesque sites in the South Pacific, and the well protected harbor of Omoa near the south. There are several smaller valleys between these two.
The center of the island is a plateau which is covered largely by tall grasses and pandanus trees. To the south of the plateau, running to the south, is a mountain ridge, called Tauauoho, its highest peak, at 1,125 m (3,691 ft.) is the highest point on Fatu Hiva. Proceeding to the north and northwest from the plateau is a mountain ridge called Fa‘e One, the highest peak of which is 820 m (2,690 ft.).
[edit] Administration
Administratively Fatu Hiva forms the commune (municipality) of Fatu-Hiva, part of the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands. This commune consists solely of the island of Fatu Hiva itself.
The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Omoa, on the southwestern side of the island.
[edit] Demographics
The 2007 population of Fatu Hiva was 587. The people live primarily in three villages:
[edit] Geography
Rainforest on Fatu-Hiva
The eastern coastline of Fatu Hiva is characterized by a number of narrow valleys, carved by streams that lead to the interior. Between these valleys are headlands which terminate in cliffs that plunge directly into the sea, making travel between them possible only by travelling over the high mountain ridges between them, or by boat. The largest of these valleys is at Uia.
The western coastline has two significant bays, Hana Vave (also known as Bay of Virgins or Baie des Vierges) in the north, one of the most picturesque sites in the South Pacific, and the well protected harbor of Omoa near the south. There are several smaller valleys between these two.
The center of the island is a plateau which is covered largely by tall grasses and pandanus trees. To the south of the plateau, running to the south, is a mountain ridge, called Tauauoho, its highest peak, at 1,125 m (3,691 ft.) is the highest point on Fatu Hiva. Proceeding to the north and northwest from the plateau is a mountain ridge called Fa‘e One, the highest peak of which is 820 m (2,690 ft.).
[edit] Administration
Administratively Fatu Hiva forms the commune (municipality) of Fatu-Hiva, part of the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands. This commune consists solely of the island of Fatu Hiva itself.
The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Omoa, on the southwestern side of the island.
[edit] Demographics
The 2007 population of Fatu Hiva was 587. The people live primarily in three villages:
