Hike in the Fataua valley

Our hike to the Fataua waterfall was wonderful. I let the pictures speak for themselves.

Written by: Tararaina

On a sunday morning...Hinano, Martine, Hinanui and myself, Tararaina, met in front of the gate of the Fataua Valley. The gardians or rangers started to open the gate to us and allowed our entrance into the inside parking lot.

The Polynesian tradition wants that we make a head garland to wear before we go on any adventure...whether it is a hike, party, or whatsoever....We feel the need to invite and to carry with us some of mother earth energy...her colors...her scent...and beauty.

When we hiked to the Fataua waterfall... We took our time stopping and looking at every trees and exotic flowers. We found on our way a variety of ginger flowers and heliconias surrounded by various ferns...

At one moment in our hike we ran into two tourist couples and their guide. One couple was from Israel and the other from the USA. We allowed them to borrow our head garland so they could take pictures wearing them. They seemed very pleased and thankful for that picture opportunity.

Along the river, we would stop to check some of the uniquely shaped boulders out. At one place we ran into something quite convenient to access our next trail...whoever that takes care of this valley and that is in charge of keeping the trails nice and clear has done a great job cutting stairs into a mountain that was totally all rock. It was quite an impressive work and at the same time very helpful. They had set up some ropes along the side to assist you in your climbing. Boy! It made it so easy for me.

Going far and deep into the valley We came to cross four different rivers before reaching the great waterfall. At each river crossing it was a delight to sit and just soak in the beauty and magic of the polynesian jungle.

I have tried to take my tennis shoes off at each river crossing so they would stay dry because they were not my hiking shoes but the ones I usually jog in.

When we started to hike back....I fell into the water at the first river crossing and my shoes got all wet. So during the rest of the trip I kept them on. They were actually comfortable and better to have on when crossing rivers.

You will find that some of the rocks in the water are very slippery with moss on them. If possible find yourself some shallow places to cross. Try when crossing to step on tiny rock surfaces rather than on big rocks.

It was a beautiful day and the river was not wild but quite gentle. They say to avoid this hike
when it has been raining. The river becomes then

dangerous to cross.

So we hiked for a couple of hours into the valley to the waterfall and it took us of course another couple of hours to hike back.

Once at the foot of the waterfall we realize that the fall does come with a great mist just like at

the niagara falls. With reverance we bathed and cleansed in this natural pool before we went to the side by a little cliff very near by to nourrish ourselves.

We all brought differents things to eat. From firifiri (tahitian yeast donut but shaped in a 8

form)...cheese....pua roti (a specialty meat on the Island)...cold meat...baguette and some tasty drinks. :-).

We brought our picnic and shared a meal. On the way I found a fresh ripe avocado that has fallen from the tree and you could also tell that it just
fell.

How could I tell? Well when you looked at it... it was slightly pealed at the stem where you could see fresh and not dry flesh. Yami!!!! It was extremely good and tasty...all organic! ha ha ha.

Our dessert was a phare breton (a cake) made by Matahere. A delight...It tasted really good

When you are inside the valley…no doubt you get your appetite back.

If you have ever lost it somewhere for some reason or another! ha ha ha Get yourself into this valley...I guaranty you will get your appetite back . :-)

I would like to share a very special time that bonded all four of us girls. Martine who is a french lady from Bretagne has always dreamt to be adopted into the polynesian culture and always wished that a native would give her a tahitian name.

This happened naturally. I was not aware that she always wished to have a tahitian name!? I looked at her and asked her how come she didn't have a tahitian name yet especially after having been living in tahiti for so long and so many years now! I have observed her and detected in her heart a genuine love for the polynesians and the polynesian culture. As I was moved by that love I then asked her if she would love for me to give her a Tahitian name? She replied as swift as a shooting star and with a big smile yes...she would really love that.

So as we walked...I kept on thinking about a name starting with the letter M. Sure enough it came easily. MATA for eye... the window of the soul and HERE for love... not just any love but a genuine love that is full of compassion, that is unconditionnal and divine. I then called her MATAHERE (loving eyes). On our way back from the waterfall Martine was adopted into the polynesian culture with a new name : MATAHERE. My sister Hinanui and I cleansed her with the water from the FATAUA river and baptized her with a polynesian name.

What was curious...of all the pictures that were taken that day.....that was the only picture that did not come out. I guess it was meant for that moment to be only remembered or written about!

Sooooo... obviously while hiking we were also able to visit some. We were fortunate to have had the chance to come together on this sunday morning to share in this one beautiful experience and in a quite unique setting.
Definitely this hike has brought us four girls closer to each other and this one experience will always remain in my heart as a very memorable one.