JodockWorldTravel

Papeete is the economic center of Tahiti. Its main industries are tourism, coconut-related products, fishing and black pearls. We took advantage of our time here to join a tour of the island, where we learned a bit about the deep spirituality of the Tahitian people, visited beautiful gardens, and checked out a grotto.

Tahitian people are very spiritual and feel a deep connection to their ancestors. In days gone by young men would go through a rite of passage from childhood to manhood. Each year, the Chief of each tribe would gather all of the boys who had turned 18 and together all of the chiefs and young men would make a journey into the mountains. Before going, each young man would have the opportunity to volunteer to be the sacrifice that would be offered to the Gods during this trek. The chiefs would choose one person from among all of the volunteers – no one was ever forced to be the sacrifice. When they got to their ceremonial site, the young man chosen would be given a special drink that would cause him to fall into a coma. The group would lay the body on special alter, conduct their ceremony and set the pyre on fire. The young man would remain “asleep” as his body was offered as sacrifice. The rest of the men would leave the mountain and return 45 days later. This allowed time for the body to fully burn, and for the ashes to be spread among all of the villages. At the end of 45 days the men would return to the mountain to complete the ceremony. Each tribe would give a piece of land to the family whose son had been sacrificed. That land was handed down from generation to generation, and remains in families today. Our guide’s father was a chief whose family had received such land and the family now owns land on all of the islands of Tahiti. They are not allowed to sell it, and their family will always have a place to live. Tahitians also believe that their ancestors continue to live among them in this way, and they feel their spirits everywhere. Our guide spoke with great reverence about feeling the spirits of the ancestors at the ceremonial site we visited, in the gardens…it was pretty cool.

We also learned about the Noni fruit, the item you see Pam holding in her lap on the large green leaf. Polynesian people are great believers in natural medicine, and the Noni fruit is a large part of that tradition. It is used to treat diabetes, cancer, reduce weight, and manage one’s energy. It’s even used as a natural form of Viagra! As an energy drink they mix it with four other fruits, put the juice in a tightly sealed container and let it ferment for three days. Then they hold their nose as they take 1 teaspoon a day to give them energy.

After visiting the gardens, Ken walked across the street to check out the view and found a water taxi site. We thought the sign offering valet parking was pretty funny.