Family time

 La Orana!

I write this in Charles de Gaulle airport waiting for our last flight of 5 back to the UK.  We left Papeete on Sunday morning, the sounds of Polynesian singing reverberating around the arrivals hall  as relatives and friends were welcomed home with garlands of flowers around their necks and waved goodbye with strings of shells.  It was a noisy vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of so much we love about this place. Family is everything and having just spent the last 10 days with Mairi and Rob on the boat we can only agree.  It has been a very special end to our first 10 months here.   

Bora Bora lagoon

Up the hill in Uturoa

On their last night we asked them for their Polynesian highlights for the blog.  Here are the top 6.

First night at anchor on Huahine

This was an unexpected highlight, an anchorage that we had not been to before which turned out to be very special.  The beach itself was a beautiful crescent of yellow sand but it was the rainforest behind that fired the imagination.  Every shade and texture of green as the path snaked its way upwards through a dense canopy of ferns, palms and bamboos, bright reds, oranges and purples piercing through from the flowering shrubs below.  Now a public space but maybe not in previous times.  On the way down we discovered the remnants of a manmade swimming pool amongst the undergrowth complete with diving boards and fountains and at the other end of the beach a paved area the intricate pattern now incomplete with the passage of time.  The next day we returned to follow the path further finally gaining access to the little bridge between Huahini Iti and Huahine Nui – a target that has been on our radar for months.  This was a highlight for all not just the visitors.

On the beach in Huahine	walk through the forest
swimming pool in the forest	sunset

Sausage sizzle  breakfast on Motu

I have to give skipper all the credit for this idea, but it was a bit of a triumph.  Early morning sausages and eggs fried up over an open fire on a picture-perfect desert island has to be a bit special especially when dished up on leaf plates  - a nice touch from chef Rob I hope you will agree!   Everything just tastes so much better outside.  Afterwards the coral was explored out at the reef.  Here huge lumps of lava sit proud of the coral  creating weird and wonderful shapes above the waterline and small pools beneath populated by the smaller fish.  Rob spotted a baby eel in one – a very shy creature until the right sort of leaf was dangled within view. Only then would she dart out of her lava cave to claim breakfast before retreating into the depths. A very worthy second highlight.

sausage sizzle served	Mairi and Rob out at the reef
enjoying breakfast	drinks at Opoa Beach that night

Snorkelling in the Coral

It turns out Mairi and Rob are much better with the Go Pro than I am.  Whether drifting  on the current through the coral garden in Taha’a, following manta and eagle rays on the reef or exploring the coral heads in Bora Bora  lagoon their videos were far superior to mine.  My sole contribution is the medley I have put together for your enjoyment – they have to take all the rest of the credit…but it was fun, and I hope you like.  Here's the link Snorkelling Taha'a/Bora Bora - YouTube

Mairi takes the helm

Last supermoon of the year

Whale watching en route to Raiatea

This was an exciting highlight.  We have observed a couple of humpback whales over now several visits to Huahine typically in one area northeast of the island.  I was ridiculed (by all) for suggesting that they were always the same pair, but I maintain they are and that this their particular stretch of the Pacific Ocean.  We’ll never know without tagging the beasts but sure enough as we were leaving Huahine for Raiatea they appeared very close to the boat.  They were feeding so no acrobatics this time, but the tail action and size of their immense backs arching out of the water was exciting enough for us.  I hope the video conveys even a fraction of our amazement!

turtle sighting

Eating out and dancing at the Bora Bora Yacht Club

What a night this turned out to be.  The kids treated us which is always lovely but in addition to delicious food it also turned out to be an evening of dance and music.  We ate our meal watching a beautiful sunset over the lagoon enjoying perfect peace until the drumbeats started and a troupe of dancers appeared.  It was to be a display of warrior dancing with much foot stamping and hip gyrations. I can only blame it on the wine consumed but Mairi and I were somehow persuaded we had the necessary skills  to join in and did so with gusto.   Sadly, the video evidence does exist but on this occasion will not be shared!! Hilarious for Rob and Malcolm but yet more confirmation that my hips are simply not designed for Polynesian hip rotations!! When will I learn?

sunset over the boats

3 in a dinghy with luggage!

First BBQ night on Papillon

The BBQ was part of Papillon’s inventory but up to now has remained stored away in a starboard locker. Perhaps not surprisingly skipper is not a fan of open fires on boats, but the situation changed with Rob, a BBQ expert, on board.  Pacific tuna caught with his home whittled fishing line was the order of the day, but unfortunately not achieved due to strong winds and high seas.  Instead, we were served chicken and sausages grilled over the charcoals and very delicious they were too.  I’m not sure skipper and I will be lighting the coals too often after they leave but for a treat (preferably on a calmer night than we had) it is definitely to be recommended!

BBQ chef in action

Sunrise in Tahiti

So that is the top 6 – there were so many more, but I am going to leave it there.  We are now home in the UK for a month planning to return on November 8^th for the second instalment of this amazing adventure.  Blog posts will recommence then.  Until then enjoy the peace and have a good few weeks

Mairi on the Motu	Full moon over Bora Bora
juggling coconuts	coconut palms