After 5 days at sea following our visit to Hawaii we landed in the beautiful island nation of French Polynesia. Our first stop was on the island of Bora Bora. The island is lush with palm trees, flowers, grasses and other vegetation. French Polynesia is a society of islands forming an archipelago with many of the islands being atolls. An atoll is a volcanic island surrounded by coral reefs.
Bora Bora island is a smaller island with a population just over 10,000. Tourism is its main economic source. The people we met were welcoming and very proud of their island. Due to the coral reefs, the Neptune had to anchor outside of the reef and we tendered to the island. We selected the Bora Bora Cruise as our extension but switched to the Le Truck tour due to ease of getting on and off the boat. The tour was bumpy as the roads are partially unpaved. We saw numerous thatched bungalows on piers in the water, visited an outdoor workshop that dies fabric for sarongs, and Marlon Brando’s bungalow used in the movie Mutiny on the Bounty. After the movie, Brando used it for himself. We also stopped at the famed Bloody Mary bar and restaurant. This place has been closed since Covid and has just recently been reopened. Jeff bought a t-shirt.
Musicians greeting us on Bora Bora
Tie-dying sarongs
Bloody Mary’s Bar
One small section of the famous people who have been to Bloody Mary’s
Church on island
Marlon Brando’s bungalow
Tiki along a private driveway
One of many hotel bungalows Beach on Bora Bora
The next day we visited Moorea. Again, a very lush island with high volcanic mountains and coral reefs. We choose a panoramic tour and later in the day a Scenic lagoon boat tour. Moorea has a population of approximately 18,000 people. As with Bora Bora, they are highly tied to the tourism trade. The people are very friendly and many speak three languages: Tahitian, French, and English. Both islands only have K-8 schools and their children take a 5:30 am boat to Tahiti for high school returning home around 5 pm.
We visited a mock-up of a traditional Tahitian village and this one had several reproductions of Paul Gaugain’s works
Photo op in the village
Traditional style house
Viking Neptune anchored off Moorea
Mountain with 3 meter hole in the top on Moorea
Breadfruit tree- still a staple in Polynesia
Our lagoon tour boat
Carved into the mountain is a topographic map of Moorea along with a yellow gecko
Moorea translates into yellow gecko
Hen trying to avoid the drenching rain at Belvedere Cove Overlook
Yes, I was crazy enough to go take a picture!
Tahitian snorkeling guide with native tattoos
No, I did not go snorkeling as I stroll the picture from a friend who was on this man’s boat.
Scenic coastal picture
Our third island was Tahiti and we docked in Papeete. The population on the island is over 300,000 and it is the main island of the nation. We took the West Coast Highlights tour to visit outside the city. We went to a restored ancient religious site, the botanical gardens and fall, and a beautiful grotto. In the morning, we walked into the city and visited several markets and walked along the city parks. French Polynesia is known for their black pearls or Tahitian pearls. Yes, I did get earrings.
Grotto
Temple site- replica Tiki
Hillside at temple site
A fruit that is native Tahiti’s form of Viagra
Beautiful flower in gardens
Waterfall in Gardens
Entertainment on board the Neptune is varied and so much fun. I signed up for a felting class and made a Gnome (calling him Sven), went to a native Tahitian dance/music show, Dancing on Deck, viewed the boat building contest, and attended a Violinist performance.
Sven
Tahitian Dance
Dancing on Deck
Friends at the Dancing Show
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