Motu Man

Motu Man has graced our homes since we brought him back from French Polynesia. Read about him (here).

 

Small World

About fifteen years ago, Mrs. Chatterbox and I flew to Tahiti where we boarded a ship for a cruise through French Polynesia.  We weren't impressed with Tahiti, but many of the surrounding islands were unpopulated and beautiful, giving us the “Gauguin” experience we were looking for. Read about it (here).

In Gauguin's Footsteps

 

 

French painter Paul Gauguin was seeking paradise when he left France in 1891. Although he lived in French Polynesia for years and painted his most famous pictures there, he wasn’t thrilled with the impact of western civilization he witnessed on his arrival. He was looking for an Eden, where innocent natives walked about naked and unashamed. Alas, French missionaries had already discovered the place, and women were compelled to cover their nakedness with dresses. Since Polynesian women had no concept of shame, they didn’t understand why they were supposed to cover their breasts. Many of these women thwarted modesty laws by cutting holes in these dresses to expose their breasts, making it easier to nurse babies.

Mrs. Chatterbox and I traveled to French Polynesia in 2004. See more pictures (here.)