June 3, 2015, Wednesday, Moorea and Papeete, French Polynesia

We sailed to Moorea which is very close to Bora Bora, which is very close to Papeete.  In fact, we spent the day in Moorea and then sailed to Papeete, getting there at 6:00pm.

Moorea is the second most popular tourist destination in French Polynesia after Papeete, or Tahiti.  It is only 12 miles west.  Arthur Frommer declared it the most beautiful island in the world.  It is  as THE honeymoon destination.  

It seems we are following the path of the Hokulea, the polynesian sailing ship which left Hawaii about a year ago on its three year circumnavigation of the globe using the ancient methods of navigation.

Our Motu Pic Nic Escapade was a snorkel safari and beautiful island picnic - a heavenly day.  We first snorkeled at a quiet area in a shallow coral garden.  Then we went to another shark and stingray area. After that we got out onto an island picnic area and snorkeled nearby until they called us for lunch.  Our guide prepared poke with raw tuna, lime juice, cucumber, onion and shredded carrot in a big bowl.  There was barbecued chicken and salads as well.  After lunch he gave us a demonstration of how to open a coconut and make coconut milk by grating and then squeezing the meat.  We have seen this demonstration done by Chief Sielu at Marriott Ko'Olina many times using the same techniques, so it works!  We had some time to lie on the beach before heading back to the ship.  Along the way we saw five fingered shells or crabs.  They were only in one shallow stretch.  We also saw cow fish close to the surface.  No photo was possible.  The water was crystal clear and the sand clean and white.

more stingrays

This bird is an "ocean bird" according to our guide.  He posed here for quite a while

This was a colorful trigger fish much like our humuhumunukunukuapuapa'a

Yes, I was there photo

Another cool fish with its little blue friend

These little aqua irridescent fish were in groups around a big coral like this and flashed their colors.  I loved to watch them.

More stingrays and sharks.  The sharks were further away this time.

Other scenery.

We left for Papeete at 3:00pm, not enough time to shop the local crafts usually set up by the tender pier.  In Papeete, it was dark already, and the shops close early.  We had a beautiful sunset.

 After a perfect day in the ocean, we sailed for Papeete.  

Papeete is a big town, a shock from the little sleepy villages, pristine waters and quiet towns.  The major airport had planes overhead, something unusual and unwelcome after the last few days.

I have a mixture of my photos on land, and David's photos undersea and I can't quite  figure out the correct sequence, nor can I even really remember which snorkel, or which stingrays we saw in which Tahitian island.  I was just in heaven with the beautiful beaches, sand, water, and fish, as well as the warm weather and tropical breezes.  The water was perfect.  Hawaii is the warmest waters I've snorkeled in and as long as I have my wet suit I am warm and happy but French Polynesia was even better.  By the way, the people here speak French!  Their English is not necessarily that good.  But they are beautiful people, friendly, enthusiastic, and happy.  Why wouldn't they be happy in such beautiful surroundings!  Someone suggested that the reason this area is not so sophisticated in terms of the tour companies is that, why do they need to?  They have everything they need, mostly from the land and sea.  Life is easy.  Yorana is the greeting.