Blogs from Moorea, French Polynesia, Oceania - page 4

Our flight from Auckland to Tahiti left of October 7th at 5:00pm. The plane landed in Papeete on October 6th at 11:30 pm. So at 9am on October 7th we were walking towards Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand AND we were laying by the pool at the Sofitel Hotel in Tahiti. Never have we been so baffled by time change. We spent our first day in Tahiti getting accustomed to hearing French everywhere, figuring out how much 100 francs really equated to, and navigating our way through the famous Papeete market. Our flight had landed the day before Liza’s parent’s (Brian and Kit) cruise ended, giving us time to explore the town before heading to Tahiti’s neighbouring island, Mo’orea, for the rest of our vacation. On the morning of October 8th, we ... read more

Around 5:45 p.m. the sun starts to fall. I like to find myself sitting on our top deck looking west. The backdrop is of Moorea, an island outside of Tahiti and the sun perfectly and precisely descends through the mountain peaks cascading its bright rays across the crystal waters and the heat warms my skin. Our need to explore is at a heightened level more so than others. Almost like a drug. The more we get it the more we want it. When it’s been awhile a need rises inside you and it must be fulfilled. So off to Moorea we go. We packed our crew car once again with the basic necessities, clothes and liquor. Drove to the ferry, boarded and awaited the adventure ahead. As our ferry cruised across the bays from Papetee to ... read more

Tuesday Feb 8th, 2011 South Pacific Ocean Latitude 19 degrees 12 minutes south- Longitude 144 degrees 49 minutes west Pitcairn Island is now 836 miles behind us, but the impact of our visit there is still fresh on my mind. We did not get to go ashore, but the inhabitants came onboard to sell their wares and give a very interesting presentation of their life on this remote island. The story of their struggle to survive for over two hundred years since Fletcher Christian and his mutineers ran the HMS Bounty ashore here in 1790 was fascinating and intoxicating. Direct descendants of those original 18 Royal Navy sailors and their Polynesian women; the 43 people who came onboard were a pleasant mix of island friendliness and blatant capitalism. There are only a total of about 60 ... read more

10751 miles after leaving Widnes, Chris and Roisin have arrived in the Society Islands that makes up part of French Polynesia. Moorea is the first port of call. This small island is only 51 square miles and shaped like an isosceles triangle. There are two cut outs in one of its sides that form Cook's Bay – no, not named in honour of 'Masterchef' but the other ‘ay! Ay! Cap'n' one. The other bay is Opunohu bay. The main fact about this bay is that it doesn't lend itself to any jokes and the only pun I can think of is actually in the name: Opunohu!!! The population of Moorea is just under 14,500 and I've no idea what they do all day!! There doesn't appear to be many business opportunities on the island. The island's ... read more

MO’OREA 14.-22.2.2010 Mo’orean maisemat ovat niille tuttuja, jotka ovat nähneet elokuvat South Pacific sekä Mutiny on the Bounty kaksi versiota, pääroolissa joko Marlon Brando tai Mel Gibson. Jälkimmäisestä versiosta jäi kuitenkin enemmän mieleen Anthony Hopkinsin esittämä kapteeni Bligh, joka ei ollut enää niin täysin paha. Clark Gablen tähdittämää alkuperäiselokuvaa en ole koskaan nähnyt. En ihmettele elokuvan tekijöiden suosiota, Mo’orea on paljon kauniimpi kuin yliarvostettu Bora Bora. Terävähuippuisia viidakkovuoria riittää sekä Cookin että Opunohun lahdissa. Cook vieraili saarella vuonna 1777 mutta ei Cookin lahdessa vaan Opunohulla. Luonto on täällä ylitsevuotavan kukkiva ja hedelmällinen. Koko saari on kuin iso puutarha. Täällä myös sataa enemmän kuin kuivahkolla Bora Boralla. Nyt on neljäs sadepäivä meneillään. Tämä näkyy valokuvista, joista suurin osa on otettu sateessa.... read more