Blogs from French Polynesia, Oceania - page 16

I woke up and had a consult with the hotel security and conceirge about last nights problem with the drunken wanna be rapist who I imagine is still nursing sore balls and deservedly so and decided to not let that spoil things. Im a pretty brave person. I try and remain upbeat and decided what happened couldve been a lot lot worse and to give Moorea a go. I had spent half the night wondering about changing plans and trying to get a flight to Fakarava but security put extra watch on the rear of the property and on me. I wandered up to Caramelline Creperie to have the most divine breakfast and decided to go and find my tattooist and work through a design with him, have a dive and take a little bit of ... read more

After the dramas of yesterday we had to see the Gendarmes about the dive incident but as I didnt speak french and the Gendarme did that oxymoron thing and said I dont speak English (YOU JUST DID!) I was of little use so didnt have much to say or do and wandered back for breakfast. R and his wife and I were all booked on the 12.30ish plane, I say ish because my booking said Dept 12.40, Rs said depart 12.30..so no time for an early dive because packing wet gear is a nightmare. I spent the rest of the morning packing up the little cottage, hanging out any wet gear on the clothesline to dry and generally doing bugger all except sitting staring at the lagoon and breathing in the purity of Rangiroa. Its a ... read more

I didnt actually mean to go to Bora Bora, and to be honest, wasnt looking forward to it. Its never been on my list, it looks pretty in pictures, but id always imagined it to be what its marketed as..a honeymooners couples retreat romantic destination with very little to do except sit around and get a tan in between post nuptual trysts. Im astonished at the words i found to describe that rather than reverting to the aussie bogun and saying..everyone bonks on Bora Bora. Firstly, you get Lei'd on arrival. Then when you arrive at your ridiculously expensive and ridiculously beautiful hotel you get a blow job. Im sure the islanders and the hoteliers know theres a certain amount of innuendo there and its not just me with a dirty mind. Flying into Bora Bora ... read more

To die a backpacker death allows you to exit your body, to float up and see yourself from above, from the outside, to look down on what you have become from afar. This new perspective allows you to evaluate what you have become, what you have learned and where you wish to go. New perspectives are why I began my journey all those years ago. Location: Opunohu Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia. Time: Sunrise. Weather: Fine. Speed: Cruising. Mood: Elation. I’m at the bow of this huge ship some ten stories from the ocean beneath, as it glides into this outlandishly exotic harbor (see panorama above). I don’t feel it at the time, but as I write it now, it seems like the finale to some cheesy chick flick adventure. The scene dwarfs me, the ship and ... read more

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