Blogs from Tahiti, French Polynesia, Oceania
My last day in Auckland and my first night in Papeete, Tahiti
Published: May 13th 2012Oceania » French Polynesia » Tahiti » Papeete
May 13th 2012
My last day in Auckland was pretty darn nice. I woke up after having a nice sleep in and ventured off to the waterfront to have a good ol' breakfast. It was absolutely lovely having a view of the harbour while eating my scrumptious eggs benedict. What more could you ask for? Afterwards, it was time to search for this 'hokey pokey' ice cream flavor that everyone insisted I have to try. I went up and down Queen Street and into the side streets, and found zero ice cream shops. Then...I see it: a chocolate shop with the flavor 'hokey pokey' with amongst six other flavors. I got a scoop of it and it was yummy in my tummy. Basically, vanilla mixed in with hints of caramel and honeycomb. In the afternoon, Daniel and Hannes (the ... read more
April 18th 2012
In the morning we rent a car for the day. We set out for a circumnavigation of Tahiiti Nui, the main part of the island, with a detour to Tahiti Iti, the small part of the island connected by an isthmus. Along the way we stop at a beautiful park with grottos, ferns, and lots of tropical plants. There’s another place with a fresh water swimming hole where the spring just bubbles up constantly. The water here is refreshingly cool and just across the road from the beach. On Tahiti Iti, we stop at a waterfront restaurant right on the beach for a hamburger lunch, then go swimming to cool off afterwards. The view is great. Further along, we stop and hike to an area with three tall waterfalls. It is the very picture of paradise, ... read more
April 17th 2012
Today we all go into Papeete to see what it’s all about. There are lots of shops (expensive ones!) and a great town market with tons of fresh fruits and vegetables (if only this wasn’t the end of the trip) plus good fresh feed. We have lunch here. Papeete has some beautiful parks with streams, fish, and tropical flowers. The waterfront is a nice park, but the view is ruined with a very industrial harbor right in front.... read more
February 17th 2012
It took about 12 days to get to Tahiti from NZ. The route took us through an area where there is pretty much absolutely nothing going on, and there is no normal reason for anyone to be there, as there is no real shipping going on between NZ and Chile (our course to avoid the weather took us nearly straight East). The only interesting thing that we saw along the way were the birds--nearly everyday for most of the trip we had at least one Albatross circling the boat for pretty much the entire day, never stopping to have a rest, and hardly even flapping its wings. They are the biggest flying birds in the world with a ten foot wingspan. The experience was reminiscent of the poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'.....not quite as ... read more
December 20th 2011
Our bodies are known to have 7 total Chakras. The location of these energy pools start in the pelvis moving up the core of the body, through the throat and ending with the final and most powerful Chakra calling the crown of our head, home. As most of you know, I am neither a full-blown hippie nor a strongly religious guru. I don’t preach vegan, however, I refuse to eat veal. I try to reuse plastic bags on occasion, recycle when it’s convenient and like the idea of energy saving light bulbs. I’m irritated at the sight of Styrofoam and oversized SUV’s but when I’m home alone I find comfort in keeping every light that exists on, this of course ensuring a high level of security. I believe in a “higher” power but play more in ... read more
LA to Tahiti to Raiatea, French Polynesia
Published: November 19th 2011Oceania » French Polynesia » Tahiti » Papeete
November 18th 2011
After a short stop over in LA to help me break up my travel I was off to Papeete, Tahiti. A little over eight hours on the plane and I was ready to be off. As the passengers filed through the glass automatic doors we were greeted by a traditional Polynesian quartet. Three were playing stringed instruments and one was clapping and dancing; all were singing. On my way through customs I was handed a small white flower, don’t ask me what kind, I have no idea. The flight arrived just after 11:00 PM local time. I was greeted by a young Polynesian woman holding a sign “BLECHA” and a lea. She placed the flowers around my neck and handed me the vouchers I would need for my cruise, I hailed a taxi and was off ... read more
La turquoise (http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguuni)
Published: November 17th 2011Oceania » French Polynesia » Tahiti
November 17th 2011
La 12.11 Eksyin täysin kun lähdin ihan päällikkönä ilman karttaa metroasemalle. Normi 5min matka kesti noin 35min tällä kertaa. Painon rinkka selässä pitkin Akasakan katuja, kunnes tajusin vetäneeni jonkin mutkan turhan suoraksi. Kysyin joltain ohikulkijalta neuvoa ja tajusin olevani aivan väärällä suunnalla. Menin lähimpään metroasemaan ja jatkoin kylttien mukaan linjalle, joka veisi minut Tokyo Stationille ja Narita Express junaan kentälle.. Olin kentällä noin 10 minuuttia, ennen kuin faif tuli ulos ovesta. Olin vastassa kyltin kera, joten ei voinut mennä ohi 8) Oli tosi kiva nähdä pitkästä (2,5vko) aikaa. Faifin lento oli mennyt hyvin ja oli saanut nukuttua reilu 5h, joten mitään tolkutonta jetlagia ei olisi tiedossa. Sain postsynttäriksi uudet lentosukat ja läjän Lindhtin suklaata. Niitä sitten mutusteltiin(suklaata siis) ja syötiin mun tuomia cook... read more
September 27th 2011
Its over. 16 days, 304 working hours (a land job would consist of 128 hours over the same period of days), 48 served meals, 432 napkin origami creatures, 400 loads of laundry, 12 islands, 16 turn-downs, 10 bruises, 100 “what am I doing with my life’s”, 20 linen changes, 1 confrontation with the chief stew, 4 provisioning trips, 0 alcoholic beverages, 1 flanking of the chain, 32 toilet scrubs, 2 yoga classes, 80 hours of sleep (this calculation was found by multiplying 5 hours x 16 days), 9 guests, 1 baby, 1 lazy nanny, 32 sunrises, 32 sunsets (Yes, I saw them both each day), and the completion of one very trying owner trip. It’s over in more ways than one. I came to Odyssey 4 months ago with great intentions to make my way from ... read more
Trading Freedoms for Liberties
Published: August 2nd 2011Oceania » French Polynesia » Tahiti » Papeete
August 1st 2011
Not a sailor am I; having just watched Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time EVER. I enjoyed every minute. A quote was spoken by Jack Sparrow that stuck in my head both for the beauty of the statement and the irony that wraps around the idea. In his words, “Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and sails; that's what a ship needs. Not what a ship is. What the Black Pearl really is, is freedom.” The irony. I am 26 years old and have more rules and regulations to follow than when I was 12. For any non-yachties reading this let me elaborate. I am told what to wear to work each day of the week, alternating between ... read more
Moon Tahiti from Avalon Travel
Published: December 31st 2010Oceania » French Polynesia » Tahiti » Papeete
December 31st 2010
Avalon Travel Publishing has launched the 7th edition of Moon Tahiti by David Stanley. Since 1989, Moon Tahiti has been the leading travel guidebook to French Polynesia and this new edition incorporates the latest restaurant, resort, and transportation news. Stanley has been covering the South Pacific for over three decades and he knows the region better than any other travel writer. Packed into Moon Tahiti’s 353 indexed pages are 53 maps and 122 photos. The maps are clearly labeled without the confusing legends and keys which make other guidebooks hard to use. There are five maps of Tahiti, four of Moorea, and eight of the Leeward Islands. The 24-page color section at the front of the book has been expanded with four suggested itineraries and three travel strategies. The six travel chapters offer detailed advice on ... read more
