The word tattoo comes from here, from tatau, like taboo. Five archipelagos, one hundred and eighteen islands, and no two alike: the high peaks of Moorea, the flat rings of the Tuamotu, the black cliffs of the Marquesas where Gauguin and Brel ended their days. Fakarava's lagoon holds more sharks than visitors. Bora Bora makes the posters. Hiva Oa makes the journeys.
