Back from the Marquesas

Just got back last night from almost four weeks in the Marquesas. The Marquesas are rugged, beautiful islands, with far fewer people than the Societies, but still highly threatened and degraded ecosystems. Happily for me, they are also full of cheese trees. The trip was highly productive for all of us, but four weeks in the field has left me rather drained. I caught a cold in the rain after the most unpleasant day of fieldwork in my life on Hiva Oa a few days ago, which has not helped. Today I moved into a bungalow on the property of a NZ expat who works as an engineer at the local juice factory, just up the hill from the Gump Station. It's a beautiful little room (very airy, kind of rustic), with a spectacular view of the ocean and a nearby mango tree. Can't wait till mangoes are in season. I'll post more about the Marquesas soon, but in the meantime, check out my incomplete photo album here.