Scenic drive and our new friends.

Today we decided to do a 'recce' of the island to familiarise ourselves of the layout and what there was to see (if anything) and do (if anything).  The island is not very big and is about 60km around.  We ended up going one way and then driving around the island in reverse!  Well, at least we get to see the island from different aspects - forwards and backwards. 

During our travels we noticed a scuba diving business - Moorea Fun Dive (http://www.moorea-fundive.com/en/) and stopped to make enquiries.  The prices were reasonable (another company was a lot more expensive) and so we have booked a dive for tomorrow.

On getting back to our accommodation we soon had feathered visitors.  A hen and her chicks were scouting around the garden looking for grubs and other tasty morsels. 

Our new friends keeping cool

Later on I awoke to hear cheeping in the house.  The hen was exploring the house with her chicks (we left doors and windows open) and then took the opportunity to keep cool - sitting on cool tiles in the lounge.  It was really sweet seeing them huddled up together and resting.  Mum was by no means tame - she and her chicks kept their distance from us.  In the evening, during dinner, we gave them bread crumbs from our baguette. 

It is interesting listing to the hen when she communicated with her family.  There was the general gentle clucking, a sharp urgent squawk when warning her chicks (and they would flee into the bushes), another type of clucking when she saw food and notifying her chicks, and yet another one if she was trying to help a chick with a bit of food - as if to say 'here you are'.  The hen is very protective of 'her' food and chicks;  and chases other hens, cockerels and birds away!

So far we are very happy being here on this beautiful island and are looking forward to seeing what each day brings.

 PHOTOGRAPHS

Panoramic view