Even more of the Isle of Pines

I am horrified to discover that it is two months since my last post.

What with Christmas and all the celebrations and catching up with family and friends in that special season, including writing two newsletters, I have been flat out. I am now in our state of New South Wales visiting my son and grandsons, but making use of the break whilst they are off swimming. It is very hot here! (As you know, we have opposite seasons to those of you in the Northern Hemisphere who read my blog.) 

In my last post I promised to show you a little more of the Isle of Pines, which I visited again on another South Pacific cruise in 2016. 

Our tour guide this time was a delightful Kanak who spoke fluent French and English as well as his own language. He had us all greeting each other and him in his language, and told us so many interesting tales. We visited some of the same places as I had done previously, but this time we spent more time in the forest hearing the story of Queen Hortense, the first Queen of the local Kanak people. Traditionally they only ever had a king, but at that time she was the only direct descendant of the King. Giving her this role angered many of the men, and so poor Hortense was spirited away by some loyal subjects to a cave in the middle of the forest. There she lived in hiding for many months until things calmed down and she could take her rightful place. Sadly, of course, over the history of humankind she was not the only woman subjected to male prejudice . . .  but apparently she carried out her role with great wisdom and now things are very different. One of the photos below was taken at a memorial to the Queen at the entrance to the forest. 

The forest was just beautiful, I thought, though we had to watch our step. I loved some off the tropical flowering plants we saw growing there. 

Later on that trip we also visited a beautiful beach where women were sitting in the shade weaving and we saw some outrigger canoes - now with motors! It was just so picturesque and peaceful! 

In my next post I will show you something of the main island in the archipelago, and its capital city Noumea. It was worth visiting too, but I must confess I preferred the Isle of Pines, with its much smaller population and simplicity and charm.