TAHITI & MOOREA

World Tour of 2013


Tahiti and Moorea, February 18, 2013
Sailing the South Pacific Ocean we reach Tahiti, one of the Society Islands in French Polynesia.  We dock at the bustling capital of Tahiti, the chief port and trading center, as well as a provocative temptress luring people to her shores.  Immortalized in the novel "Mutiny on the Bounty," who could blame the men of "HMS Bounty" for abandoning their ship in favor of basking in paradise?  And what would Modern Art be without Tahiti's influence on Gauguin and Matisse?  

While Tahiti is rightfully an island paradise of it's own we opt to join a private group taking the 30 minute inter-island ferry boat service to its smaller neighboring heart-shaped island, Moorea.  Also known as "the island of love".

Ah!  Moorea!  Think of any superlative - beautiful, stunning, magnificent, spectacular, exotic, paradise - and you'll just begin to describe Moorea.   Writer James Michener was so inspired by this real-life French Polynesian gem with eye-popping gorgeous scenery that he based the mythical island Bali Ha'i in Tales of the South Pacific.  Indeed, it is one of the most beautiful islands in the world.   Emerald green mountain slopes are covered with rain forest and pineapple plantations and white beaches border crystalline lagoons.

Our Moorea tour guide takes our boat to beautiful Cook's and Opunohu Bays where we see dolphins.  We continue on to swam with sting rays and sharks on a shallow white sand bar.  Later the boat takes us to a "motu" (an islet) where the bar opens and the barbecue is started.  After lunch we snorkel in the warm crystal waters and walk the white sand beach.  Here we present our host and hostess a crystal heart as a way to say, "thank you," for their wonderful Moorean hospitality. 


Please enjoy the following images from around Moorea:

   Moorea coastline

 Water bungalows at resort and spa

 Pyramids on Moorea?

 Cook's Bay

Dolphins swim in Cook's Bay

 

 Our "motu" (islet) for the day on the left

 We had the small islet to ourselves for the day

Delicious fresh ahi tuna ceviche with fresh squeezed coconut milk and lime juice

 There are many ways to wear a pareo

 The men partake in coconut opening contest (used for our ceviche)

Swimming with sting rays and sharks - oh my!!

Aboard ship

Tahitian Folkloric Showtime

***

We went to sleep and it was February 21.  We awoke and it was February 23.  What happened to February 22nd? 

The International Date Line is an imaginary line running North and South along the 180th meridian of longitude that designates the beginning of each calendar day.  As you know, each adjacent time zone on the map has an hour time difference.  However, at the International Date Line, +12 hours and -12 hours meet, bringing about a 24-hour time change.  Therefore, when this line is crossed heading west, a day is subtracted, and while crossing in an easterly direction, a day is added.  

Hence, we are proud to say that during this sailing , we  have completely omitted Friday, February 22, 2013, "the day that never was!" 

 Quote for the day:

"...throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover" - Mark Twain

*****