drums | Where in the world is Riccardo?

Limestone formations at Ana Ae’o cave, Rurutu, Austral Islands, French Polynesia; it is the largest and most spectacular cave on the island, with many stalactites and stalagmites.

The most northerly island in French Polynesia’s most southerly archipelago, the Austral Islands, Rurutu is almost 60 kilometres [37 miles] south of Papeete. Rurutu offers visitors the “the chance to explore the island’s remarkable limestone caves. Eroded into soaring cliffs made of ancient coral, these caves were once used as shelter by the locals. Each of the island’s 30 or so caves are different, some filled with stalactites and stalagmites, others with verdant ferns growing out of piles of rubble. The ceiling of Tupumai cave is decorated with shells and corals; the largest cave, Ana a’eo [featured in this blog post], has plenty of stalagmites, and a hole in the top through which locals used to talk to their gods.” — www.traveller.com.au

The most famous cave on the island, Grotte Ana A’eo in the local language, has recently been called the “Mitterrand cave” — after the visit to the cave by the French president in 1990. It is the largest and most spectacular cave on the island, with many stalactites and stalagmites.

As the music began, one of the male dancers climbed up on a ledge for dancing and blowing his conch shell as a horn, Ana Ae’o cave, Rurutu, Austral Islands, French Polynesia

We were very surprised when we arrived on the path to the cave to hear drum music and then find that there were men and women in traditional costumes on the path, along with our guides and truck drivers, to give us a hand up the steep, rocky path into the grotto. After a chance to explore the cave, we were then treated to a lengthy Rurutu traditional dance exhibition in the grotto.