A Reason to Smile

Words Adam Blakey
Photo Chris Searl

You gotta hand it to the French Government. There they are with their rich cheeses, arrogant vins rouges and piss stained cobblestone streets stinking up Western Europe and the best place they can come up with to test their nuclear weapons is the pristine, virgin waters of the Pacific Islands. Don’t worry that most Polynesians consider the sea to be the very origin of and continued source for all life on earth. Hell no, bomb that shit! Thankfully a few photos like this must have made their way into the French corridors of power as it’s been nearly ten years since the last encounter between frog nuke and tropical atoll. In that time the territory has gained strength with an increasingly independent government, a more diversified economy and a booming tourism trade that attracts over 200,000 visitors a year. No wonder kids like these on the island of Moorea are laying down the famous broad island smiles and hefty shakas. Except that kid in the black shirt. For some reason, he’s drunk.