http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , French Polynesia en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:08:57 BST Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:08:57 BST Close your eyes and imagine for three weeks you and one other recommend that it is someone you get along with rather than someone you fantasise about are confined to your lounge room kitchen and bathroom now divide that space into one third. With the exception of email you have no contact with the outside world no television no newspapers and no internet. You are only able to prepare meals http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/blog-299655.html .Tahiti Part 2Hi everybody and sorry for the delay for Tahiti Part 2Part 2 of my trip in Tahiti. On Monday my father and I took the ferry to Papeete to join my twin who arrived the day before and my mum. Had something to eat and then we went to the movie and see 'Bienvenue chez les ch'tis' obviously by the title a french one. It is the most popular French movie of the decade I think they sold 20 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Moorea/blog-292227.html Some say it is uncouth to discuss money especially on a refined blog such as this one and to be honest we normally wouldn't but flipping hell Tahiti is expensive.Breakfast for two surprisingly not included in our rate was 100 yes folks that is 50 pounds. For some muesli It rather tarnishes the stay when you realise that you are going to pay 200 pounds for breakfast for a 4 night stay. Es http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-292192.html PAPEETE .Papeete was an unlikely place to drop a few gears with its incessant and chaotic stream of cars overtaking each other with casual aloofness.Just what we needed our host Ralph picking us up from the airport on local time t32.5mins. Soon the minutiae faded into nothingness and even the bus that didnt bother to pick us up because it was Friday afternoon apparently he was busting to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-291741.html May 30OK herersquos the text that did NOT get uploaded to the blog in the Marquesas. Well wersquove been living on the boat for about four months now wersquove sailed over 5000 nautical miles together and wersquore all still friends We left the Galapagos over two months ago spending 22 days at sea on the crossing to the Marquesas Islands. At 3210 nautical miles that will be our http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-290584.html And just as the reformed alcoholic becomes the most strident teetotaller so the vitriolic green flash naysayer may become its most tediously vocal supporter. We were sailing from Morea to Huahine an overnighter so we would get there mid morning. The sun was setting off the port bow and M Jim and I were watching the last moments. As always waiting for this so called lsquogreen flashrsquo. Y http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/blog-283350.html And the lone seaman all the nightSails astonished among stars. EmersonThe Tuamotu Atolls of French PolynesiaThe Dangerous ArchipelagoThe green glow from the radar casts sinister shadows on our faces. The atoll comes into view on the screen a thin ring flashing on the console is our only warning of the danger that lies ahead. Ten miles away in the pitch black razor sharp reefs lurk just under http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Manihi/blog-283119.html After leaving South America I spent a week in TahitiFrench Polynesia to relax unwind get a tan and to reflect on my last 11 months of travel. I spent the time on the island of Moorea a gorgeous tropical island with white sand turquoise and emerald coloured waters coconut trees and sun with the only downfall being a lot of mosquitoes.Tahiti is known for being ridiculously expensive but I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Moorea/blog-278219.html OK got to a better spot. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-277640.html PARADISE LOST and REGAINEDhellipJust walk away Reneehellip.CAN YOU BE MORE SPACIFIChellip NO MAD NOMAD HEREhellipAN ANENOME OF THE PEOPLE..Infernal Internal Thermalshellipand much much more..Nuku Hiva now a memory but something transpired there it really got to me Irsquom still not sure what it washellip..more later maybeUnlike the Galapagos Islands which were basically co http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/blog-277632.html Greetings to all from Papeete Tahiti French Polynesia.We have been here a week already and have enjoyed a couple of dfays at a mooring at the Tahiti Yacht Club which was very peaceful as with a Thursday Public holiday and the following Monday the locals all took a 5 day weekend and nothing got done. Moved into town and finally got checked in while tied up at new docks that have only been install http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-277368.html Right no entry about Wellington definitely when I can but I am going to Perth tonight and my friend Katy aka SWINGER wanted me to put some pictures from my trip to Tahiti so here are some pictures and the first entry about Tahiti.After spending one night on the bus from Wellington to Auckland where I barely slept gosh babies should be banned from buses and planes a few hours in Auckland Airpo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Moorea/blog-276420.html Welcome to shoreWe have arrived to the legendary shores of the Marquesas a small group of islands in the eastern portion of French Polynesia. This archipelago is often the first landfall for sailors on the Coconut Milk Run after the long 3000mile passage from the Galapagos and are known as the farthest islands from any continental land.The Marquesans are historically known for cannibalism http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Hiva---Oa/blog-276007.html Five days later and ten pounds lighter. Who would have known that one could subsist on mashed potatoes and saltine crackers for so many endless days at sea. I read six books and slept for approximately 80 of the trip trying to put my mind elsewhere aside from the up and down topsyturvy motion of the boat. From my small porthole in my stateroom bedroom I went from seeing 6 inches of wat http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tubuai/blog-272969.html Hello All. How was your monthWe've finally arrived to the Marquesa Islands after the 33day passage from the Galapagos It's hard to describe all the thoughts feelings moods sights and experiences we've had along the way but let me try.Sailing from the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador to the Marquesas Islands of eastern French Polynesia is a passage of about 3000 nautical miles or roughly 60 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Hiva---Oa/blog-272924.html Greetings from the MarquesasWhat you say What happened to the Galapagos Los PearlasWell we left Panama mid February and got to Isla Contadora made famous for South American leaders conferences and the rich and famous including the late Shah of Iran who had a house here.The weather was sort of grey and we rapidly moved to the south of the group to await a ldquowindowrdquo of weather t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Fatu-Hiva/blog-269723.html They call it Stormy petrel MondayRecycled Casserole Deja StewNurse Hurts Worse the Killer CureMore WhalesI thought all waves were the samehellip.until I saw you wave goodbyehellipFIRST TATTOOReporting in from the extraordinary Marquesas. Minute specks of volcanic crests truly in the middle of nowhere. Beautiful isolation and laidback lifestyle. And the French influence fine when it co http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Nuku-Hiva/blog-269721.html We had an amazing time in the Marquesas visiting Ua Pou after Nuku Hiva. We departed in high spirit and after 2.5 days sailing we were about to drop the sails and motor into Manihi part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. We were all really looking foorward to seeing the atolls diving and snorkelling with a visibility of 50m and more. Anyway we discovered that the boat would not move so after a bit of t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-268704.html Nuku Hiva is not everyonersquos cup of tea. If yoursquore looking for pristine beaches and shopping opportunities this island isnrsquot for you. But for pure wildness and sense of place Nuku Hiva tops my list. Horses run free on grassy mountain slopes that overlook an island blessedly free from resort development. On this trip to French Polynesiarsquos northernmost island Regent has ar http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Nuku-Hiva/blog-266073.html Well we have now completed our big Pacific Crossing and are in Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas. We also have a new crew member on board Marga so we are five again only this time the women outnumber the men Yes dad is surrounded by females again storey of his life.Pictures included are from Galapogos to Niku Hiva. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Fatu-Hiva/blog-264866.html Tahiti http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/blog-263582.html Moorea http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Moorea/blog-263578.html Bora Bora en Mars 2006 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Bora-Bora/blog-263541.html We went to French Polynesia for a 2 week cruise to celebrate Ds birthday and our 25th anniversary. 318 South Pacific Day 2 Bora BoraYesterday we left Tahiti and embarked on the Paul Gauguin.After another good breakfast our bags were picked up by GCT and we were boarded on busses for a tour of the area. We visited the home of the author of Mutiny on The Bounty name James Norman Hall got http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/blog-263510.html Although we were disappointed to say goodbye to Bora Bora we knew that we still had two more days to enjoy French Polynesia. We left Bora Bora in the morning of the 24th and arrived at the Tahiti airport by 1000 am.Given the time of day we quickly decided to ditch our gear in a hostel and head over to Moorea. Across the street from the airport is the Hostel Fifi which is very reasonable on i http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Moorea/blog-262277.html Now many of you may not understand the impact of the falling value of the US Dollar in the world market...but this past week we had a blast of reality try a continental breakfast 50 for two no omelettes or waffles seriously bread butter and fruit and that was it.......French Polynesia is one of the those places that you must visit at least once in your lifetime. Pictures are of no use. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Bora-Bora/blog-260298.html After we left NZ we wanted to chill on a good beach in the Pacific for a few days and as the flight to Easter Island our next stop goes via Tahiti it made sense to stop there....and we were not going to argue. We arrived to Polynesian music and flower garlands but as it is a French island they had an EU channel believe it or not so we didnt even get a stamp in our passport How disappointin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/blog-258024.html The fact is that Johnny English didn't quite expect this. Lizzy didn't expect this either and was gutted when there was no requirement to complete an immigration form thus meaning that you don't get a passport stamp. French Polynesia is in Europe is seems.The history of these islands and this is shorter so that SJB doesn't fall asleep this time is as follows. Samuel Wallace Britain popp http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/blog-255946.html Whe you think of Tahiti you think of palmfringed white sandy beaches but actually most of the coastal areas are lagoons rather than beaches. There are a few beaches luckily some of these are on the island of Moorea where the campsite was. Didnt do a great deal in Tahiti except relax on the beach a bit. Didnt even muster the energy to get my snorkel out We did only have 4 days there thoug http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/blog-252422.html The sun shines brightly on our balcony this morning now this is the French Polynesian weather that we know and love. Alan and I eat breakfast while catching a last glimpse of Moorea. A brown ribbon of river water colors the lagoon the only evidence of yesterdayrsquos heavy rains.Today Mariner sails from Moorea to Papeete a short twohour ride. Wersquove been invited to a special party for http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/French-Polynesia/Tahiti/Papeete/blog-251740.html