Subsistence Living: We Question Western Society's Materialistic Standards!

Why do we work our whole lives to buy materialistic things? Finding this true piece of paradise makes us question why Western Society put such a big value on Materialistic Items. Spending 10 days with a Polynesian Family in Toau shows us how little you need (materialistically) to be happy and content. They live a completely self sustainable life, providing absolutely everything they need for themselves.
To get here we have a couple more pass entries and exits. We leave Fakarava Atoll and take a short sail to Toau, a far less inhabited atoll.
It is an early departure to make sure we exit the pass at Fakarava at the right time and enter the one in Toau also in good time. We need the wind and the current to be going in the same direction when going through a pass or there needs to be no current at all.
Predicting when slack is is not as simple as most other parts of the world.
An atoll is like a massive swimming pool. If the wind is blowing heavily from the east for days on end, you may not have a slack tide as the constant waves into the atoll may keep filling it up leaving you with outgoing current for longer than expected.
In every video, you will see us wearing our life jackets when doing this and yet the conditions always seem flat. This must have you wondering what we are always concerned about.
You will that when we exit the Toau pass at the end of the video there are some breaking waves on our port side. We are getting dragged out sideways towards this but with the power of the engine and the sail we manage to keep clear.
These waves can get pretty big and the current is racing in or out when this happens. They are short and steep. If you get a catamaran in this washing machine side on, you will be given a serious shake up. Worst case is you end up with someone in the water without a lifejacket. This is likely to result in drowning. Better be safe than sorry.
We make it to the anchorage in Toau and head off ashore to meet the local family and ask for permission to be on their land.
We motor along the coast shouting our hellos from the dinghy. Finally we find a good spot to drop the dinghy anchor and swim ashore.
We introduce ourselves the Louis and his wife, daughter and daughters boyfriend. An Italian single handed sailor is also here and he is helping Louis on his land.
Massimo shows us around the motu and we get to see all the animals. Bees, Chickens, Pigs, Goats and of course the motu is surrounded by fish.
We spend a few incredible days here. The boys go off fishing and spearfishing every day and Claire and I explore the motu.
Our hosts were very kind and we enjoyed having them and Massimo onboard for drinks and snacks one evening.
Before we know, it is time to head off again to Fakarava. With the Christmas Tree secured in place we head off through the pass again.
Goodbye Toau, we will be back.
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/ sailingmokara

[@Maloy7800]

Gosh the water is SO clear!!!

[@bodgewil]

Always learning about sailing, seeing new places it almost feels like I am there enjoying the sunsets, scenery and meeting the people.

[@SailingMokara]

Good to hear that you are enjoying it and that you are feeling part of the journey as it is an incredible one. Thank you for watching.

[@willieroets1809]

Thank you for a great video. Without Tubers like yourself some of us will not know the beauty that is out there. We love your channel and content as a family. Enjoy and safe sailing.

[@SailingMokara]

Hi. Thanks for the great comment. It makes our channel well worth while to hear that others are enjoying it. French Polynesia is an incredible place to visit. The best parts are off the beaten track and not the typical tourist hotel areas. We could stay here forever but we have to move on. Take care and thanks again

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1210">20:10</a> This Massimo guy is very entrepreneurial! He got himself two slave he doesn't even need to feed. Ben fatto, ragazzo! 🙂

[@allisonhamilton1222]

Love the scenery. Awesome pig. Very nice of the family to show you around.

[@SailingMokara]

Thank you. We love the pig. Bacon rolls are no longer an option. The family were very inviting but quite private. We had a great time with them. They even spent an evening on Mokara with us which I wish we could have filmed. We could have asked if it was ok but for us this was not really an option as it changes the mood.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="426">7:06</a> YAY! The famous Taylor Figurehead is BACK! A bit askew but good to see status quo restored. And still a mystery how he stays there! 🙂

[@SailingMokara]

Some sort of magnetic field between tender and Nathan.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2005">33:25</a> PLEASE tell me Dylan is doing Nate's homework for that! Kids just can't be THIS good. Especially younger brothers. 😛

[@jna9888]

Ahh! ☺ You have provided just a perfect pause in the middle of a sweltering Southwest Florida afternoon! Quite mesmerizing, I paused the show several times to let the beauty sink in. Your videos are so easy to view, just what retired sailors need... such as, I found my own heart rate increased slightly through that pass as you described it perfectly. I was wondering about food, how the body handles so much carbs and sugars, but with fish, eggs, maybe some pork, should be okay. I just say this because I have fought and won against diabetes (and the related heart disease!) Be safe and happy Taylors! Jerry

[@SailingMokara]

Hi and thank you Jerry. A longer video than normal so I am sure you needed a break. It is nice to hear that other sailors are watching and enjoying our videos. Did you ever sail in this region? The pass is always stressful and so far we have been ok. I am always nervous as I know how it can go wrong so quickly. We seemed to do ok with food. Claire always provisioned so well and made great meals. I lost a lot of weight and strength on board. We should really lift weights etc to keep our strength up. Well done with your diabetes battle. Not easy I am sure. Take care.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2337">38:57</a> WHAT are you talking about!?!?!? Your heart is pounding WHY? I have MIRRORS with rougher surface than this sea. There's some swell but nothing even remotely "dangerous". Or is this a special tribute to me? 😀

[@SailingMokara]

It could be sailors humour.... Clickbait.... or..

[@RebelRobin501]

Love your videos. You said there was no food on the little island where the pig was, but I saw 2 hams, 2 racks of ribs, and 2 sides of bacon!

[@SailingMokara]

I clearly see it now too. At the time I had to block those thoughts out. In Harifa in Fakarava, the locals do a pig on the Braai / BBQ when there are enough sailors around. I think we would have been gutted to be eating bacon sandwiches only to find either Miss Tahiti or Francois (the 2 pigs names) missing from their pen later that day. Great comment by the way.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="43">0:43</a> Yeah, keep to the left is a good advice. It's about time we kick tories out! DOWN WITH TERESA... no... DOWN WITH JOHNS... no... DOWN WITH TRUSS... DAYEM! Who's answering the door now? Is it still Richie? Yes? Okay, down with him then.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="225">3:45</a> The sharks are munching on the boys from another family who did NOT catch a tuna for dinner. That's the story I'd stick tto. Trust me, fishing would suddenly become MUCH more effective.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="472">7:52</a> HANG TEN!? In favor of the criminal reforms, are we?

[@FrankJamger]

An atoll pass successfully negotiated, yields another paradise island to explore. Interesting how this one doubles as a homestead, with cute animals running about and busy bees making honey. Best part: you get to stay for a while! Yes, island piggies r just too luvable. A pretty reef just offshore: what a place to catch the daily supper! That shark thinks that good chaps ought to share? Wow to the swirly corals. Fascinating crabs. Breezy Polynesian homes don't need insulation or security. Interesting synopsis of the island's economy. Sad good byes... and you still have to make it out-- yikes! Your Yule tree looks frosty. Certainly agree that pristine places like this need to be protected, kept in the hands of folks who appreciate them the way they are, and don't mind (respectful) visitors.

[@SailingMokara]

They do say that you should start your cruising in this region as there is so much to see. The risk is that you will never leave and see anything else. The Pacific is so very different from the Caribbean in so many ways and we far prefer it. It was really quite an experience to be welcomed by Louis and his family and we would loved to have filmed more of our interaction with them but this didn't feel right and we were not prepared to ask if we could either. The boys had the time of their lives here. The fishing was great and the friends we made will never be forgotten. Thanks for watching.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2305">38:25</a> No, we don't see the camera shaking. 😀

[@SailingMokara]

Go pro image stabilisation is brilliant

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="672">11:12</a> HOW do they get those machines on those tiny atolls is a mystery to me. Never seen them actually do it. If you ever do, FILM IT.

[@Maloy7800]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="915">15:15</a> You will not believe how many people want pigs as pets. RIGHT until the moment they find out the hard way pigs cannot be trained not to poop in the house. WHY am I always the voice of reason for your family!? It's your job, Mr.Taylor! I should be the fun grampa. Hey, Nathan, let's go jump off that cliff. Take your bedsheet, we'll check out if it works as a parachute. (Spoiler alert: it doesn't. See this screw in my bone?)

[@Maloy7800]

I mean seriously! Even if by some miracle your boat capsizes on those tiny waves, you can swim to shore in a SIEVE. It's RIGHT THERE, Papa! This HAS to be a special trolling session in my honor.

[@SailingMokara]

Hi. I wish it were that easy. Unfortunately you can’t really see what is going on with the waves on our port side as we managed to keep clear. By luck more than planning. If you get into the strong current and end up going out sideways in 5 plus knots with short spacing between waves which are steep you will be given a really good shake up. If you have been through one before you will understand. As for swimming in it, I would bet my boat that without a life jacket you will drown. Yes the boat can handle a shake up but things escalate quickly when they start going wrong. Dinghy will be thrown around severely with 50kg engine on the back likely to hit the hull if not secured well enough. If the fixings then break and the dinghy drops into the water with just the bow or stern attached at a hoisted level. The drama starts to unfold. Rope in the water then around the prop of the yacht one person now with a knife trying to cut the dinghy free from the yacht as it is banging into the hull. Kids panicking kitchen draws opening and closing and throwing contents out onto the galley floor. Microwave becomes dislodged. Crashes to the floor… this is the reality. Been there, seen it but not yet done it. Respect for the ocean is critical and we have seen so many sailors doing stupid things that have gone horribly wrong. Most of them have years of experience. Anyway hopefully we will capture closer and better footage of the conditions in a pass for you going forwards. Take care and thanks for the comment.

[@SailingMokara]

Take a look at about 9 mins into this video to see how it can go wrong in a pass pretty quickly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPJYX2Bp6eNm8U

[@Maloy7800]

@@SailingMokara That's sad. BUT!! They are all ALIVE... unless I fast forwarded through the video too quickly. Anyway, I'm glad you survived the treacherous pass and are in four pieces. **place for thumbs up icon which I cannot find**

[@Maloy7800]

You sailed 20,000 miles in 4 years... TO FEED PIGS!?

[@SailingMokara]

And we didn’t eat them.