Kon Tiki

[Wansworth]

I can’t claim to know much about the area, though there was a fine show called Oceania at the RA a few years ago. There is also an interesting book by Paul Theroux called ‘The Happy Isles of Oceania’ which is well worth reading, the title being ironic of course. It is a good while since I read it but I remember his dislike of American missionaries and suspicion of the Chinese, who were only just starting to expand at the time of writing. My chief memory of the book was his account of finding himself on some island during festival time where, as well as drinking a list of the local hooch, it was the tradition on a certain day or week for young women to chase men in bands and have their wicked way with them, which event he narrowly escaped

I would skip the US airlines which -to put not too fine a point on it - are pretty crap and fly Air Tahiti Nui.

I recall a book by Robertson/Robinson - 'Towards the Great South Sea' - about a voyage from Tahiti to Valdivia in the 50's. They called at an island somewhere south of Tahiti - Rapa by memory - where all the menfolk had gone to Tahiti to work. The two Tahitians in his crew were ****** within an inch of their lives.

Be careful what you wish for.

That’s the problem Captain Bligh had with his crew……and on later voyages crews found any bit of iron could buy you a weekend away…..I think it was Vancouver got very cross about stuff disappearing

 

[DJE]

The museum in Oslo is worth a visit if you're in the area.