A PIECE OF PARADISE
Best memories of French Polynesia
Stunning beauty and wonderful people — French Polynesia. The waters run from aquamarine to deep blue, with multiple shades in-between. The islands are covered in gorgeous tropical plants and trees that look like a green carpet from the beaches to the very tops of the mountains. Brilliant sunsets are matched only by the multi-hued, colourful fish in the reefs and bays.
But some of the best memories are of the smiles and friendly people everywhere, happy to talk about their country, give directions and point out the best beaches and restaurants. I remember so well the Polynesians who smiled at me and the kids who waved at me from car windows as I hiked along a back road to my distant B&B in Papeete (on the island of Tahiti).
The weather, even in the rainy season when we went, was 28 – 30 C in the shade with some short tropical downpours. If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.
What’s not to like? OK, yes, it’s expensive to get there. And taxis on all the islands are expensive. Meals and accommodations can be as expensive as your credit card can withstand or with a little Internet searching and asking the helpful locals, they can be as reasonable as in Vancouver.
Stressed out? What an amazing place to relax. Days snoozing in the sun, lying on the beach or snorkelling in the aquariums they call reefs. Probably our most fabulous snorkelling was between two small islands (motus) on the outer reef surrounding Taha’a island. If you’re looking for island-based activities, we were on Raitea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea and Tahiti and found lots of fun things to do on each of them. On two islands we had a blast renting scooters and travelling all around the relatively quiet roads to outof-the-way beaches, views over beautiful bays and sights like blueeyed eels in a small creek winding alongside the road.
We spent our first week on a TradeWinds timeshare catamaran with four other couples sailing around three idyllic islands and it was a wonderful, relaxing way to sample the many bays, lagoons and sights not easily seen when you’re land based. For our second week we couldn’t afford to stay in the very expensive (think US$800-plus per night) over-water bungalows on Bora Bora but after searching online we found our own beautiful over-water bungalow on Huahine, at the Royal Huahine, at a fraction of the cost. Total bliss. In fact, to our surprise when we got to Polynesia virtually every island has over-water bungalows so if this is your postcard dream, just go for it.
Like pearls? There are numerous pearl shops on every island showing the stunning and famous Polynesian black pearls. A trip to a pearl farm on Taha’a was a great experience for learning about the many years it takes to produce pearls and the craftsmanship involved in seeding oysters to create those beautiful black pearls, especially the large, perfectly round and flawless ones.
You’ll find that each island has a different feel to it. Bora Bora is probably the most famous for its high-end resorts and over-the-water bungalows. The lagoon on the “backside” of Bora Bora is stunning for its aquamarine waters and the beauty of the main island offset by the luxurious greenery of the ring of outer islands. Hua Hine is definitely more secluded and quiet. Moorea has more towns and development, which means more restaurants, stores and excursions. Plus, the razor peaked mountains on either side of Cook’s Bay create an absolutely stunning panorama. Last, the island of Tahiti is worth a short stay to enjoy the Papeete marketplace, shopping at the Vaima centre and taking in the local restaurants and bars along the scenic waterfront.
French Polynesia – fabulous to visit! It will leave you with magical memories of the islands and the people.