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End Of The Trip – A Summary
My trip has come to an end, but what an amazing trip it was! It’s time to summarize:
– Completed an ocean crossing on a sailing ship of 1655 nautical miles. That’s 1905 standard miles, 3065 km.– I visited 7 islands: Rapa Nui, Pitcairn, Mangareva, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, only one of which I had been to before!– Took 7 airplane flights– Acquired 13 real black pearls.– Met dozens of new people, and will probably keep in touch with many of them– Photographed 1 endangered species.– Kayaked with dozens of dolphins.– Stayed in an overwater bungalow.One of my best trips ever, and I look forward to visiting French Polynesia again!
The Oosterscheld arrives at Tower Bridge Quay -
Black Pearls Again
I stopped in to the Pearl Museum in Papeete. Though small, it was quite interesting and I did learn some new things I didn’t know before about pearls.
The highest quality pearls cost over $1000 One is that the oysters can have multiple pearl sites in a single oyster. I thought there could only be one.
Oyster with 7 pearl sites! 
Bikini made from 472 black pearls When Marco Polo journeyed to the East in 1290 he met the King of Malabar. The king adorned himself with a magnificent necklace, strung with 104 white pearls, each a marvelous testament to the kingdom’s wealth and the seas’ bounty. But the pearls did not merely grace his royal neck. They cascaded down to his feet, materializing as intricately designed ankle bracelets and even toe rings, each piece reflecting a meticulous artistry and unmatched affluence. [1]
