Thank goodness a second day was planned for Bora Bora! Yesterday we had the water fun and views and today we rattled about in a 4X4 Land Rover on steep rutted paths as well as the good peripheral road of the island and because we did some climbing in the 4X4, we had some great vistas. It didn’t hurt that the day was beautifully sunny and still up around 30 degrees, but we did enjoy the breeze in the open-back truck.
We were supposed to have a tour with Vavau Adventures booked, but despite having a chat with them yesterday, found ourselves tourless. We stood around looking forlorn and asking if anyone else had room for us. A Vavau driver, Tamara, ended up sneaking us on her vehicle adding 2 more to the maximum of 6. This was money in her pocket and we were very grateful we didn’t miss the experience. We paid 1/3 of what Oceania was charging for the same excursion. Their prices are really out of line for this cruise and as a result, we have used none of Oceania’s trips.
In a 4X4 you expect to go on some pretty rough roads, but we started off today trying to climb a slightly muddy steeply rutted road, which in the end, after about 1/2 km, we could go no further and had to back down.
We were introduced to much of the flora of the island like the banana flower and fruit above. We also learned the usual trivia, like, there are 9000 people on Bora Bora and 6000 dogs. Kids start school at 3 and have to go to another island for high school. There is no fresh water so they have to desalinize. There is no hospital, so serious accidents or illnesses get airlifted to another island and pregnant ladies leave the island at 7 months pregnant to have their babies elsewhere. Everyone must plant on their property one lime, one breadfruit, one mango and one coconut tree. And, there are no graveyards so people are buried on their property. Not sure how I feel about that last one.
As part of our excursion we were given a demonstration of pareo dying - pretty much batik - with patterns placed on the freshly dyed material for 15 minutes where the exposed material dries in the sun leaving the pattern imprint.
Then we took the steep road up to the remaining American canon, which afforded photo ops and great lagoon views.
Despite the fact that it was Sunday today, there was a national election in French Polynesia. As usual, they were using schools like this one for the voting.
Most of yesterday there was cloud obscuring the summit of Mts. Pahia and Otemaru. But today, there were some fabulous views.
One of the last attractions on our tour today was Bloody Marys bar/restaurant. Now, I know my musicals and I’m pretty sure the Rogers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific was actually set on the north Pacific island of Bali and environs, which is closer to where the military action in the Pacific occurred. Nevertheless, Bora Bora’s most famous restaurant continues to be Bloody Marys. Since it was Sunday, it was closed, but we did get a look inside.
Today was really about the lagoon and volcano views around the island and they were magnificent. In this photo, Dawn is clearing controlling the destiny of the Marina.
Tonight we went to out first Happy Hour - hard to believe I know and sat with the couple with whom we had dinner last night. It was Canadian night in Horizons and although we didn’t set out to meet any Canadians, we did meet Ted Irvine, former New York Ranger, now living in Winnipeg. Dawn asked him why on earth he would be in Winnipeg and he said it’s because he didn’t wear a helmet.
Dinner tonight was in the Grand Dining Room where we met two couples from Detroit. Dawn ate the health conscious Canyon Ranch menu consisting of crab salad followed by herb crusted lamb, while I had a frog leg vol-au-vent and prime rib.
We have said Bya Bya to Bora Bora and will be at sea tomorrow, arriving in Fakarava the next day. There probably won’t be a post tomorrow as a result of the lack of destination pictures.
Thank goodness a second day was planned for Bora Bora! Yesterday we had the water fun and views and today we rattled about in a 4X4 Land Rover on steep rutted paths as well as the good peripheral road of the island and because we did some climbing in the 4X4, we had some great vistas. It didn’t hurt that the day was beautifully sunny and still up around 30 degrees, but we did enjoy the breeze in the open-back truck.
We were supposed to have a tour with Vavau Adventures booked, but despite having a chat with them yesterday, found ourselves tourless. We stood around looking forlorn and asking if anyone else had room for us. A Vavau driver, Tamara, ended up sneaking us on her vehicle adding 2 more to the maximum of 6. This was money in her pocket and we were very grateful we didn’t miss the experience. We paid 1/3 of what Oceania was charging for the same excursion. Their prices are really out of line for this cruise and as a result, we have used none of Oceania’s trips.
In a 4X4 you expect to go on some pretty rough roads, but we started off today trying to climb a slightly muddy steeply rutted road, which in the end, after about 1/2 km, we could go no further and had to back down.
We were introduced to much of the flora of the island like the banana flower and fruit above. We also learned the usual trivia, like, there are 9000 people on Bora Bora and 6000 dogs. Kids start school at 3 and have to go to another island for high school. There is no fresh water so they have to desalinize. There is no hospital, so serious accidents or illnesses get airlifted to another island and pregnant ladies leave the island at 7 months pregnant to have their babies elsewhere. Everyone must plant on their property one lime, one breadfruit, one mango and one coconut tree. And, there are no graveyards so people are buried on their property. Not sure how I feel about that last one.
As part of our excursion we were given a demonstration of pareo dying - pretty much batik - with patterns placed on the freshly dyed material for 15 minutes where the exposed material dries in the sun leaving the pattern imprint.
Then we took the steep road up to the remaining American canon, which afforded photo ops and great lagoon views.
Despite the fact that it was Sunday today, there was a national election in French Polynesia. As usual, they were using schools like this one for the voting.
Most of yesterday there was cloud obscuring the summit of Mts. Pahia and Otemaru. But today, there were some fabulous views.
One of the last attractions on our tour today was Bloody Marys bar/restaurant. Now, I know my musicals and I’m pretty sure the Rogers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific was actually set on the north Pacific island of Bali and environs, which is closer to where the military action in the Pacific occurred. Nevertheless, Bora Bora’s most famous restaurant continues to be Bloody Marys. Since it was Sunday, it was closed, but we did get a look inside.
Today was really about the lagoon and volcano views around the island and they were magnificent. In this photo, Dawn is clearing controlling the destiny of the Marina.
Tonight we went to out first Happy Hour - hard to believe I know and sat with the couple with whom we had dinner last night. It was Canadian night in Horizons and although we didn’t set out to meet any Canadians, we did meet Ted Irvine, former New York Ranger, now living in Winnipeg. Dawn asked him why on earth he would be in Winnipeg and he said it’s because he didn’t wear a helmet.
Dinner tonight was in the Grand Dining Room where we met two couples from Detroit. Dawn ate the health conscious Canyon Ranch menu consisting of crab salad followed by herb crusted lamb, while I had a frog leg vol-au-vent and prime rib.
We have said Bya Bya to Bora Bora and will be at sea tomorrow, arriving in Fakarava the next day. There probably won’t be a post tomorrow as a result of the lack of destination pictures.
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