just call me rasta

As most of you know, I have been working on a set of my very own dreadlocks. They are really coming along, the salt water and sea air really makes them tighten up. Stephie you would be so proud! I find it really amusing that one of my nicknames from home has also become a nickname here; Rasta. At the pétanque parties I get called Rasta at least ten times because of my hair, and it makes me miss my friends a lot. Something about my hair in dreadlocks makes the locals talk to me about Bob Marley, make love not war,  and other rasta related topics, while giving me the hang loose sign, which I find highly entertaining. Every time I walk past the pétanque arena I hear "rastaaaaaaaa!" and I give a wave and hang loose.

new friends

the infamous pétanque arena and players

Yesterday was a wonderful day that I have been looking forward to since getting to Mo'orea; I finally got to travel out to the beautiful beach at Opunohu bay and spend some quality time slack lining, drinking a local fruit cocktail "Tahiti Drink" and snorkeling. Don't get me wrong, staying in Paopao and hanging with the locals has been wonderful, and working on Ardea, giving her a fresh coat of varnish has been...not as wonderful, but hey! Can't really complain can I?

la plage

Slack lining was very entertaining, as I kind of blanked on how to set it up, but we managed somehow and soon we were getting strange regards from onlookers. Mostly children. They would come over and watch me try and mostly fail to walk across the line; I tried over and over to get them to join us but I think they were too embarrassed to give it a go. Soon some fellow cruiser friends on Bombaleíro kayaked from their boat to where I was posted up and gave it a go as well. The snorkeling was fun, nothing extraordinary as Opunohu bay is very heavily traveled, but there were some cute little fishies out there, no Nemo's or grumpy clown fish though. 

cute little guy

The landscape here in Cook's bay gives me itchy fingers; meaning that my fingers are itching to get on the huge walls and rock faces that make me want to go rock climbing so badly, especially after having spent such a kick ass week at Smith Rock with great friends. Hey Jeff, someday you can lead trad here and we can all go up after you! 

look at those walls just waiting for the first send!

But for now, I suppose I'll just kick back and enjoy this wonderful island.

Much love. jah mon. Rasta.